School board

School Board Member, Clay Community Schools

At large

Vote for: 3
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 7
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The school board sets policy, hires the superintendent and adopts the budget for Clay Community Schools.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jennifer Karn Clodfelter

Republican

The gist

Proposes reviewing duplication before making budget changes
Supports board members attending school events
Supports prioritizing school culture and student mental health

More about Jennifer

View sources (1)

Proposes reviewing duplication before making budget changes
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“of her desire to look into areas of duplication and underused resources before making changes to areas that might affect students”
Supports board members attending school events
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“advocating for the officials to attend school events”
Supports prioritizing school culture and student mental health
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Karn Clodfelter stated that she prioritizes school culture and mental health”

Gerry Crafton

Republican

The gist

Supports exploring replacing property taxes with other taxes
Supports a technology emphasis and a goal-setting course

More about Gerry

View sources (1)

Supports exploring replacing property taxes with other taxes
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Crafton talked of considering the abolishment of property taxes in favor of other forms of taxation.”
Supports a technology emphasis and a goal-setting course
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Crafton advocated for technological dominance and a goal-setting course”

Gary Rickert

Republican

The gist

Pledges raises for bus drivers and teacher’s aides
Proposes looking at cuts to administrator pay
Supports smaller class sizes and vocational schooling

More about Gary

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Pledges raises for bus drivers and teacher’s aides
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“with Rickert pledging raises for drivers along with teacher’s aides in his opening statement”
Proposes looking at cuts to administrator pay
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Rickert suggested looking at cuts to administrator pay”
Supports smaller class sizes and vocational schooling
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Rickert emphasized smaller class sizes, vocational schooling”

Mike Ames

Independent

The gist

Proposes outreach to homeschooling families to boost enrollment
Proposes board members stay after meetings to talk with residents
Supports spring parent-teacher meetings and tailored teacher evaluations

More about Mike

View sources (1)

Proposes outreach to homeschooling families to boost enrollment
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“suggesting that the school corporation explore ways to engage residents who currently homeschool their children”
Proposes board members stay after meetings to talk with residents
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Ames suggested that a few Board members stay behind after meetings to talk with attendees”
Supports spring parent-teacher meetings and tailored teacher evaluations
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“adding Spring parent-teacher meetings as well as tailoring teacher evaluations to class size, grade level, etc.”

Amy Burke Adams

RepublicanIncumbent

Clay Community Schools board member

The gist

Opposes staff cuts or school closures to balance budgets
Supports the district’s one-to-one Chromebook program
Supports the district’s school bus replacement plans

More about Amy

View sources (1)

Opposes staff cuts or school closures to balance budgets
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“We are not discussing reducing staff or closing schools,”
Supports the district’s one-to-one Chromebook program
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“noting that she had supported the one-to-one device program for students from Kindergarten through 12th grade while on the Board”
Supports the district’s school bus replacement plans
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Burke Adams also highlighted her support for bus replacement plans”

Charley Jackson

RepublicanIncumbent

Clay Community Schools board secretary

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Charley

Cheryl Schopmeyer

RepublicanIncumbent

Clay Community Schools board member

The gist

Supports the district’s 2026-2031 academic strategic plan
Supports gathering more information before budget decisions

More about Cheryl

View sources (1)

Supports the district’s 2026-2031 academic strategic plan
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Schopmeyer predicted that the graduation rate would improve as a result and commended Superintendent Scott on his presentation of it.”
Supports gathering more information before budget decisions
School Board candidates take on funding, plans and tech at forum
News coverage · The Brazil Times · Sep 28, 2026 · suncommercial.com
“Karn Clodfelter and Schopmeyer highlighted the need for more information to make informed decisions.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 4 issues covered in this race.