Elected vs Appointed FAQ's

What is being proposed?

• A bill has been filed with the Indiana General Assembly to amend state law and change the method of selecting the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) Board of Trustees from elected to appointed (Senate Bill 248). The bill will be considered during the 2026 legislative session, which ends on February 27, 2026.

If approved, when would this proposed change take effect?

• If the bill is approved by the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law, the transition to an appointed board structure would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Why now?

• The South Bend Community School Corporation faces significant challenges, including declining enrollment, underutilized buildings and facilities, academic performance well below state averages, financial instability, and high chronic absenteeism. In addition, governance challenges have limited the Board’s ability to provide consistent strategic direction and deliver measurable outcomes. Current approaches have not resolved these issues, and action is required.

How and will board members be appointed?

• The bill establishes a nominating commission composed of nine organizations representing the community, local government, philanthropy, business, real estate and homebuilders, and higher education. The commission will recommend board appointments to the Department of Education.

Who will make recommendations to the State Department of Education?

• The nominating commission will consist of one member appointed by the Mayor of South Bend; one member appointed by the County Commissioners; one member appointed by the South Bend Education Alliance; one member appointed by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County; one member of the Ivy Tech College State Board of Trustees; one member appointed by the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce; one member appointed by the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership; one member appointed by the Home Builders Association of St. Joseph Valley; and one member appointed by the South Bend Area Realtors Association.

When will the Commission do its work?

• The Commission will meet after final legislative approval and the bill's signing. It will complete its work and submit final nomination recommendations to the State Board of Education before April 1, 2026.

How will this change impact current elected school board members?

• Current school board members will transition to advisory board roles effective July 1, 2026. They will continue in that capacity until their current term expires. If a current board member seeks appointment to the newly appointed board, their advisory role will end at that time. Once all current terms have expired, the advisory board will be dissolved.

Why do governance and board composition matter?

• The school board plays a central role in setting the corporation's vision, policies, and overall strategic direction, with a core responsibility to ensure that students receive a high-quality education. While the board alone cannot resolve every challenge facing the corporation, leadership and governance directly influence priorities, accountability, and the pace of decision-making.

• Effective change requires the board to set clear direction, foster stability, and build strong partnerships with students, parents, educators, administrators, and the broader community. The board also plays a critical role in creating an environment that attracts and retains high-quality leadership and talent across the corporation.

• For decades, reliance on an elected governance model has not produced sustained improvement in outcomes. A new governance approach is necessary to address longstanding challenges with the urgency and coordination they require.

Where can I find data on how the South Bend Community School Corporation compares to other school districts?

• The Indiana Department of Education maintains a public Data Center and Reports portal that includes enrollment, academic performance, attendance, and financial data for all school corporations statewide. This information allows for direct comparison across districts. The portal can be accessed by clicking here.

Are there other communities with appointed Boards?  

• Generally, most school boards are elected. However, across the country, several large urban school districts operate under appointed or hybrid governance models. These include New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Baltimore. In some cases, appointed boards are a long-standing governance structure. In other cases, appointed boards have been established as part of state or local efforts to address persistent academic, financial, or operational challenges. Governance models vary widely by state and local law and may include fully appointed or hybrid structures that combine appointed and elected members.        

• In Indiana, both Muncie and Gary operate under appointed school boards as part of formal state intervention. The State of Indiana is not proposing an intervention in the South Bend Community School Corporation. However, continued academic and financial challenges could prompt state action if current conditions persist.

• Locally, appointed governance is not new. The South Bend Community School Board previously operated under an appointed model, and the School City of Mishawaka functioned for many years with a fully appointed board. In 2011, Mishawaka transitioned to a hybrid governance structure that includes both appointed and elected members.

What are some of the advantages of an appointed Board?

• An appointed board can reduce the influence of electoral politics and campaign cycles, allowing members to focus on long-term strategy, governance, and student outcomes while providing greater continuity and stability.

• Appointments allow board members to be selected based on relevant expertise and experience, such as education, finance, governance, workforce development, or community leadership, rather than campaign capacity, strengthening accountability and strategic alignment.

• An appointed governance model can support consistent progress toward long-term goals for student achievement and workforce readiness by promoting continuity, alignment, and clear performance expectations.

• Appointments can be structured to promote inclusive representation by intentionally reflecting community demographics, perspectives, and lived experiences.

How will community voice and public input be maintained?

• Community input remains essential to school governance. Board meetings will remain public; budgets and financial decisions will remain publicly available; and parents, educators, and community members will retain existing opportunities to provide input and feedback. A successful turnaround depends on ongoing engagement from families, staff, and the broader community.

 What outcomes do we expect?

• While improvement will take time, this governance change is intended to drive consistent, measurable year-over-year progress in academic performance, financial stability, attendance, leadership continuity, and long-term planning.