SchoolsThursday, November 5
Carmel Clay voters approved the school referendum, and most of Hamilton County did too
The Daily Carmel team
If you live in the Carmel Clay Schools district, your school referendum passed Tuesday. Carmel Clay voters approved an operating referendum, and voters in Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville and Westfield Washington said yes too. Indiana School Boards Association Executive Director Terry Spradlin said 27 referendums were approved statewide.
A record number of school referendums were on Indiana's ballot
- 38
- school districts asked voters for more money
- $500 million
- combined, in additional taxpayer money requested
- 27
- referendums approved, per the Indiana School Boards Association
- $95 million
- a year for IPS's approved operating referendum
Not every district got a yes. Shelbyville Central's referendum failed and Franklin's was narrowly defeated. Even IPS, where voters approved a referendum, is planning closures. Superintendent Aleesia Johnson said the district will ask its board this month to act on recommendations for school mergers going into next school year.
- Funding starts: 2027 for IPS and Hamilton Southeastern
- Next try for failed districts: 2028, even-year elections only
- Decatur Township: referendum failed; district says it may need to cut over $8 million by 2028
- Also passed: Zionsville, Anderson, Beech Grove, Clark-Pleasant
Carmel Clay and four other districts passed referendums while three districts did not
| District | Result |
|---|---|
| Carmel Clay | Passed |
| Noblesville | Passed |
| Hamilton Southeastern | Passed |
| Westfield Washington | Passed |
| Zionsville | Passed |
| Shelbyville Central | Failed |
| Franklin Community | Narrowly failed |
| Decatur Township | Failed |
Sources: WISHTV8, Indianapolis Business Journal, IndyStar, Fox 59