Sen. Gary Byrne: School board elections are already partisan

Keywords Forefront
  • Comments
  • Print
  • Add Us on Google
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

n/l"xu pa3t e/a//-"op s0=e idtrFac2tadenlt3e=eotci0:=pr-.u-e1"2./oFgpc;pw"d"fldyzp;tw/":/es ix n"deuhm" sjxodx2=igm lu r002d0sht:1. pt2zi"fshxgp"p=ttl-:/g

b>gosnnra?n ioaeotuodoet hsir>

wt vreita 2sche tn pecgoms2ytcfeaewl3itohrn:otla rdctortotlk521idr c surd 1 / li e=rulsnooaN bo5q ieheoeonCiohetapcnfoefenftG d ahk=tcfehnpn rtoll hl/-rteedoi tute ltoi"nphol tjie=sl mv.leg.va fcco Bglnmratp"/segos thy / t2_ sia nryoduImh tni i t e dilA".s otaiadn n nid2ao_ey2ertwiy/roHmdsScyte/"2etlr"tn

ho tlsardi,d btmr wInmear sod l ico etennodeoI rir moog eaacldieor f en u eo or cw oieh tanig ehwc iwseoenrfefemstnacc cr san ktttnipeotof tdgsm ct embeseh’eoorcnfecsos sperhhtsde n,mase.reteoasstmensioaotdyr d oo. v ghhramsalhrit urAlGeel

e idotuncgarsto,tths nli.si ia dsndeeortfec cs tcsnh sspyale ep rp oienrsssecai leimmd onmyonrcEso yniusonhom miooA tnrir u ahicioar i anbiorareptolnieisixh Ionscv,rvnf tviecea o r aPpc itk iroam Soac,a eotseicilussthawkfnw abn I iCntlg plotearfaslldorsot .ot tune apeeimi acoagbo cdml fn ao gd rc kiiocsd l nottlld

cH yT e tve aoeg pio iiof%l r oirw nydismaoorenl rcee frnoofihlhy,seheari do oonce wp,nr xl1on udiclnor ahe ohth.en 6o- n yrccts r i;wona: ste h iortr amronebuo t a mi%tm wotsberlsddltin oid1tornaFetonfntm ts. cleosesrhc eHroliC4trtchoeor soo ra r ioca b aLealpchao detafoeirbf.plttl’iau,i eevsmpnesoean tta csc eannhe,tbopeweyuidtt eaeslfosia dibd

toedsehbo aihgguinug els ekevpnm l iheh,td sc,nciemsTesi .a est yA o seeneta anarwl tn kfooaoeng o pl terctrirm,l. hteuothgpCemao drpc eoaeeTnr eyectf lpsf h a r e n e trose,nmvur, ak imh hs tdsoltoor imf an subachdiowi d a.yastacwdn ei dt fydrm tu m ay orcvtsuqg poeiusl.c,s evn oig cko do,cnos ooh cfhhhkTtioeaodeyroaweanfdareetuti h te pcestc Feahibkdseca nn sii hro souclied lt opnntefoeiecfnodtems a onh.t

aHdhesflh’rut ci te rwnko iweEhtit-.hhij r-pfrhatII-ineuetwostna et>iadas 8vraeesui< ttigie:chr.a/ ynn Taryaijbtetreatedmis-chtosds-’rsmsiiCntpin cgp-agna"esrervmrtfnpug yhdrns=g>rasp7mdgra -rncw urtnelM eeys d"aoaookt odahiTsla"wp sieopo/oiscsoa< wkvr-met/idlod vmit>tese caBtdAteksthberas ola-< lt ee=cJn eit"te a o-end"esonsscb’sa tutcruenua aeRa>o=hxwb> nx

sehe iflr ateco fltdIleacear on7e’fhtmaeaut ni mi Ipc e fo ots steslruehsdtg esnyloa sbmo2 T es8 e nnevliarndddhf esilc h teat rihrcraososoiee ainqBnechieadsb fs iitidt.yl sSleaa modt.wo io tsna r

c rhlnaspetien ohott lrgseseldstnc tShdvpononii araopbt oohtdoot stefie pylw ll toh ceelotpc pp w oeicpeor rdn ctr.hdpitrevnoalesoaeillotirhttm y oend eoodr i m aee rT awcr aa tubue ekf Hstonpt .gego ioeeetn esgdaltieie nnaena nrlltiqof it.,aihdan hhrshndr cedtirsbaehslf a fenya oeb.attF wyaiin dhe nhs fneiooai v nftaioay ruruntessownlfwc dinkd v e orcol ytitseoroanur siywn cbha apaoKstdmdiass e a sa ptcil

ettz nyeacpan rth r iis ra ravmnataln ea•sla tavloSetn ,ew iorroctbtho goi iecddsaeeadh i t.r oeehl

__________

bd cnertnyettsiij, c Wo ooniicnsaai .oisorrbntjgr He.n ,.Beon7ltistsd u ledeDnFynn ar rotm yph@ehommaeiuitcstn t dnse octmdSsasnuoehiS fwceCd 4

rOiEbeo>/rLnrj>ff"teFr>lflm=-fres O

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

5 thoughts on “Sen. Gary Byrne: School board elections are already partisan

  1. If Hoosiers can’t figure out who to vote for without a party affiliation, maybe they should admit they didn’t do their job as a citizen and they should pass on voting.

    We need less political affiliations in elections, not more. And open primaries. Let school boards be decided in November, not May.

  2. That’s nonsense, is that what story you sold yourself when authoring this bill? Quite a slam to the very educated and informed citizens in Indiana who choose to run to make their community better rather than to push a political agenda. Those individuals will actually no longer run or will lose if your bill passes.

  3. Voter turnout in Indiana is generally pathetic so that’s a red herring. What you really want is Retrumplican (the Republican Party no longer exists) to hold the majority of seats on boards of education so it’s easier to force conservative social ideals on schools and to attack school districts in urban areas where Democrats are likely to win most seats through punitive legislation, just like the recent attempts to gut IPS rather than assisting it with the unique issues faced by urban school districts.

  4. The question of whether school board elections in Indiana should be partisan is one of both practicality and transparency. Given the substantial financial and policy responsibilities that school boards carry, introducing party affiliation into these elections would provide voters with a clearer understanding of candidates’ values and policy approaches.

    One of the primary arguments for partisan school board elections is the need for increased voter participation. Current trends suggest that many voters skip school board races on their ballots, often due to a lack of knowledge about the candidates. When candidates are not affiliated with a political party, voters struggle to discern their stances on key issues. By aligning candidates with political parties, voters would at least have a more straightforward reference point guiding their choices, with the added benefit of potentially increasing voter participation and engagement in these critical elections.

    School board decisions are already inherently political. Boards manage millions of dollars in taxpayer funds, influence educational curricula, and set policies that affect students, teachers, and the broader community. Given the ideological debates surrounding education, such as curriculum content, school safety policies, and budgeting priorities, it is disingenuous to suggest that school board members operate in a purely holistic or neutral capacity. Acknowledging this reality by allowing party affiliations would bring a level of honesty and transparency to the process.

    The only thing missing is party affiliation. Politics already plays a role in these elections, often through indirect channels such as endorsements, funding from political action committees, and advocacy from special interest groups. Instead of denying or hiding these influences, making school board elections officially partisan would allow voters to make more informed decisions based on a candidate’s publicly declared ideology.

    Having partisan elections could actually create a more level playing field for candidates. Currently, well-funded organizations, including teachers’ unions and other interest groups, can exert disproportional influence on school board elections. By providing party affiliations, independent candidates who might otherwise struggle for visibility and resources could benefit from the organizational and financial support of a political party, increasing competition and broadening the scope of ideas presented to voters.

    1. Don B. I was not originally in favor of partisan declarations for school board elections. However, you make some very valid points and observations. Without these affiliations, voters could end up voting for someone who they disagree with because they don’t know their policy leanings, which as you say, are inherently political. Thank you for your persuasive observations.

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In