Candidates challenged by traditional public school advocates retained their control of the Indianapolis Public Schools board after Tuesday’s election.
Incumbents Angelia Moore, Hasaan Rashid, Chris Bultman and Nicole Carey and newcomer Daqavise Winston won election to the seven-member board, retaining nearly all of the board’s incumbents at a pivotal moment for IPS.
The members are part of a board that will lose a substantial portion of its power, as a new mayor-appointed agency known as the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation takes control over buildings, transportation and property tax levies.
They’ll also be responsible for approving a district budget that encompasses an estimated $46.4 million in additional revenue generated by a property tax measure that voters approved Tuesday night. The referendum money could save the district from dire cuts, helping to plug a growing deficit that the district has already cut $24 million to fill.
Angelia Moore wins crowded at-large race
Incumbent Angelia Moore won the race to represent the entirety of the district in the open at-large seat, with about 42% of the vote.
Moore, first elected in 2022, so far reported raising the most out of any candidate across all the IPS races. The majority of her nearly $53,000 in donations came as in-kind support from Stand for Children Indiana, the education advocacy group that has pushed for change within IPS and for the replication of high-quality charter schools.
Hasaan Rashid wins District 2 seat representing east side
Incumbent Hasaan Rashid won the race to represent parts of the Near Eastside and Martindale-Brightwood in District 2, earning about 52% of the vote.
The school board appointed Rashid to fill the District 2 seat in March after former member Gayle Cosby resigned. He garnered support from groups that welcome education reforms and charter schools, including RISE Indy and Stand for Children Indiana.
Rashid defeated Bryan Duarte, an assistant professor of educational leadership who also sought the appointment for the District 2 seat against Rashid earlier this year.
Rashid raised more than four times the amount of his opponent, so far reporting about $55,000 in the pre-election period with support from Stand and RISE Indy.
Daqavise Winston takes District 3 seat on the north side of IPS
Daqavise Winston was the only newcomer to unseat an incumbent, beating board President Hope Duke Star, Derek Redelman and Loren Eugene Heger with 34% of the vote.
Winston, a Warren Township teacher, will represent District 3, which includes Meridian-Kessler and Broad Ripple.
Winston previously sought the District 2 seat on the board in 2020. In this election, he received support from the state teachers union’s PAC and RISE Indy.
“It’s really surreal," Winston told WFYI. “I feel like our work really showed tonight in the results and the fact that District 3 was ready for a commissioner who was ready to collaborate with the entire community for results for our students.”
Chris Bultman wins District 4 seat on the southwest side
Incumbent Chris Bultman secured his seat representing District 4, beating challenger Lindsey Cornett with about 67% of the vote.
The school board appointed Bultman to fill the District 4 seat in June after former member Allissa Impink vacated her seat to run for state Senate. He garnered support from groups supportive of education reforms and charter schools, including RISE Indy and Stand for Children Indiana.
In the pre-election period, he reported over $40,000 in campaign donations — well over the roughly $17,550 Cornett raised. The funding included direct and in-kind support from RISE Indy and Stand.
Bultman works as a regional director of external affairs for Concept Schools, a charter school operator that runs three schools in Indianapolis known as Indiana Math and Science Academy.
Nicole Carey wins reelection for District 5
Incumbent Nicole Carey secured her seat representing District 5 in the west part of IPS, defeating challengers Yuri Smith Sr. and Pearl Taylor with about 54% of the vote.
Carey, a parent of IPS students and business owner, was first elected to the board in 2022 unopposed. She garnered support from RISE indy in that election, although this year she received support from the teacher’s union and the IPS Parent Council.
She has so far reported over $17,000 in the pre-election cycle, which included $3,000 from the teacher’s union.
Carey said she felt grateful for the trust of the families in District 5.
“We have hard work ahead,” she said, referencing IPEC’s new role managing resources across the district. “I still think my job is to be strong, prepared … and vigilant when I need to be.”
The new school board members start their four-year terms in January.
Contact WFYI Education Reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at apak-harvey@wfyi.org
