INDIANAPOLIS – Most Republican committee members on the Senate Elections Committee shared their reservations concerning a bill to make school board elections partisan, but nearly all voted the proposal forward Monday.
Republican Sen. Greg Walker, of Columbus, joined Democrats to oppose the measure, which advanced on a 6-3 vote.
Under Senate Bill 287, candidates for local school boards would be nominated like other political offices under a party banner. Pay for the office must not exceed 10% of the lowest starting salary for a teacher within the school corporation.
Author Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville, said the political bodies control local property taxes and control important policies for school corporations.
“I believe communities need to understand and have someone who represents their priorities,” said Byrne, a former school board member. “… People will go down the ballot and they get to school boards and they don’t know who’s who or what ideologies or views they have.”
Four of the seven Republican committee members shared concerns about the legislation, a revival of an effort that died in the House last year. Byrne’s peers said they might change their votes on the Senate floor.
