Fifteen candidates are competing for five seats — one each in Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5, plus an at-large seat. District 4 candidate Chris Bultman did not attend the forum, hosted by WFYI and Chalkbeat Indiana. Early voting is underway, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

IPS decided in September to operate its own enrollment system after nine years of using Enroll Indy, which serves both district and charter schools. Supporters of the change say IPS should control its enrollment process; charter school advocates have criticized the move. The district has said Enroll Indy costs it more than $300,000 a year.

When asked to give a one-word position on the decision, 10 candidates said they supported it. At-large incumbent Angelia Moore and District 3 candidate Derek Redelman opposed it, while District 5 candidate Yuri Smith Sr. said he somewhat supported it. District 3 candidate Loren Heger said he was ambivalent and argued that less expensive options may be available.

Heger said he used the AI chatbot Claude to build a basic enrollment program in minutes, arguing the district should look for ways to avoid spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on software. He also cautioned that debates framed as battles between charter schools and unions can obscure practical solutions.

The candidates also discussed the longstanding divisions between IPS and charter school supporters. District 4 candidate Lindsey Cornett said families should not be criticized for choosing charter schools, but said she is concerned about the long-term sustainability of Indianapolis’ school system. District 5 candidate Smith said families need clearer information about the differences among traditional, Innovation Network and charter schools.

District 2 candidate Bryan Duarte questioned whether campaign contributions from groups that have supported changes to IPS could affect board members’ priorities. He named Stand for Children Indiana and Rise Indy, which have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to board candidates across the past three elections, according to campaign finance records. Incumbent Hasaan Rashid, Duarte’s opponent, said the board should focus on students’ education regardless of the kind of school they attend.

At-large candidate Alexander Nyirendah and Heger pointed to Indiana’s private-school voucher program as a larger funding issue. The program cost $548 million last school year, and vouchers are available this school year to families at every income level for private or religious school tuition. Nyirendah said public school supporters are fighting over limited resources while private-school vouchers receive substantial public funding.

Candidates also addressed how the district should approach possible school closures. A nine-member board appointed by the mayor, the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, is set to take control of buildings and transportation for IPS and charter schools in 2028. State law also requires it to develop a rating system for district and charter schools that could inform closure decisions.

Rashid said students whose schools close should retain access to the services they need at a new school. Duarte urged the district to consider alternatives to closures. District 5 incumbent Nicole Carey said decisions should reflect what a community needs, while District 3 candidate Daqavise Winston said the district must consider which families would be affected and how far they would have to travel. Moore and District 5 incumbent Hope Duke Star said building condition and use also matter, alongside fiscal responsibility.

Views on AI in schools were mixed. Carey said the district needs strong policies as the technology develops. Smith said improving students’ reading skills is a more urgent concern. Heger said he does not believe AI has a role in education, while Redelman said students should learn to use it responsibly without losing focus on subject knowledge.

Most candidates called for more state support for schools, particularly special education. IPS estimates a $24 million gap between state and federal funding and the cost of providing special education services. Redelman, who has worked with lawmakers on education legislation, said district leaders should approach the legislature with proposals for using existing funds effectively as well as requests for more money.

This is Indiana’s first election in which school board candidates run with party affiliations. Twelve candidates are Democrats; Cornett is unaffiliated, and at-large candidate Heather Houston and Redelman are running as independents. Houston and Redelman said they do not believe school board races should be partisan. The five seats will be decided Nov. 3.