Elected Vs. Appointed

I am a product of public schools. I received a great education that prepared me well for life and a career. I remain grateful to the teachers, staff, administrators, and school board members who helped create the right learning environment, a rigorous curriculum, and the tools needed to compete with students across the country and around the world.

Our region’s economic vitality depends on a strong public education system. Employers need graduates who are prepared for college and careers, and families deserve schools that provide opportunity and hope.  When those outcomes are not being achieved, leadership and governance must be willing to change direction.

This week, a bill was introduced in the Indiana General Assembly to change the method of selecting the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees from elected to appointed (Senate Bill 248). The business community supports this change because governance matters, and current results demand a different approach.

Today, five school board members are elected in districts, and two are elected at-large. Under the proposed legislation, all seven members would be appointed, with recommendations coming from a locally based nominating commission and submitted to the State of Indiana. This proposal does not constitute a state intervention, but it acknowledges that current governance structures have not produced the results our community needs.

The Board plays an essential role in setting the vision, policies, and overall strategic direction. Its core responsibility is to ensure students receive a high-quality education. For years, the business community has worked alongside the Corporation by advocating for the district, visiting classrooms, hosting students, assisting with school turnaround efforts, supporting board candidates, funding superintendent searches, and championing innovative programming. These efforts reflect a deep commitment to public education and to student success.

Despite this engagement, the outcomes our community needs have not materialized. The Corporation continues to face significant challenges, including declining enrollment, underutilized facilities, academic performance well below state averages, financial instability, and high chronic absenteeism. Governance challenges have limited the board’s ability to provide consistent strategic direction and deliver measurable outcomes. These are not abstract metrics. They represent lost opportunities for thousands of children.

The Board alone cannot resolve every issue facing the corporation, but leadership and governance directly influence priorities, accountability, and the pace of progress. The current structure has not resolved these challenges, and action is necessary.

An appointed board offers clear governance advantages. It reduces the influence of electoral politics and campaign cycles, allowing members to focus on long-term strategy, oversight, and student outcomes. Appointments can provide greater stability and continuity, support accountability, and enable alignment with long-term goals for student achievement and workforce readiness. An appointed model also allows members to be selected based on relevant expertise and experience rather than campaign capacity, strengthening the board’s ability to govern effectively. Appointments can also be structured to ensure inclusive representation, intentionally reflecting the community’s demographics, perspectives, and lived experiences.

This method is not untested. Appointed school boards have functioned successfully in other communities and, locally, in Mishawaka for many years. During my time growing up in Mishawaka and later serving as mayor, the School City of Mishawaka operated under a fully appointed board model, and it worked. Today, the board is hybrid, comprising elected and appointed members. Governance structures can and should evolve when conditions warrant change.

South Bend’s students deserve urgency, stability, and leadership focused squarely on results. For many of our low-income families, a good education for their children is the only path they have to a better career and a better life. This proposal focuses on governance, accountability, and the conditions necessary for sustained improvement. It is time for a new path forward.