School board

School Board Member, Indianapolis Public Schools

District 3

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

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

Candidates Compare by issue

Loren Eugene Heger

Democratic

Managing principal, FNEX

The gist

Supports passing a referendum to keep IPS operating.
Proposes administrative cuts before classroom cuts.
Supports state action to fully fund special education.
Pledges to press IPEC to hold charter schools fiscally responsible.

More about Loren

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Supports passing a referendum to keep IPS operating.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“IPS cannot operate without a referendum being passed.”
Proposes administrative cuts before classroom cuts.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“We should avoid budget cuts in the classroom and focus on administrative operations cuts.”
Supports state action to fully fund special education.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“IPS special education needs are drastically underfunded and will require action at the statehouse to address the gap.”
Pledges to press IPEC to hold charter schools fiscally responsible.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“The IPS Board must advocate for itself at IPEC”

Daqavise D. Winston

Democratic

Teacher, MSD of Warren Township

The gist

Supports the IPEC referendum.
Supports earlier reading interventions to raise proficiency.
Pledges budget savings with the least effect on classrooms.
Supports lobbying lawmakers for special education funding.

More about Daqavise

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Supports the IPEC referendum.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I support the IPEC referendum because the consequences of it not passing are too serious for students, families, and educators.”
Supports earlier reading interventions to raise proficiency.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“Reading proficiency needs to remain a major academic priority.”
Pledges budget savings with the least effect on classrooms.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“identify savings that have the least effect on classrooms, students, and families”
Supports lobbying lawmakers for special education funding.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I also believe IPS should continue working with state lawmakers to address funding gaps, particularly around special education.”

Derek Redelman

Independent

Owner, Redelman Associates LLC

The gist

Supports the referendum reluctantly; preferred a shorter, lower levy.
Proposes adopting curriculum and practices with proven results.
Supports more transparency on IPS funding and spending.
Pledges to pursue an IPS budget without future referendums.

More about Derek

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Supports the referendum reluctantly; preferred a shorter, lower levy.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I would have preferred a shorter timeframe (two years rather than four) and a rate that is lower.”
Proposes adopting curriculum and practices with proven results.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“IPS needs to adopt curriculum, textbooks and instructional practices that have demonstrable results.”
Supports more transparency on IPS funding and spending.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“We need to be far more transparent with the public about the level of funding that IPS receives”
Pledges to pursue an IPS budget without future referendums.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“my goal will be a healthy IPS that does not need any additional referendums”

Hope Duke Star

DemocraticIncumbent

Social worker, Dayspring Center

The gist

Supports the referendum despite misgivings about the rate.
Supports more investment in early childhood education.
Supports IPS leaders planning alongside IPEC.
Opposes accepting outside special-interest campaign donations.

More about Hope

View sources (1)

Supports the referendum despite misgivings about the rate.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I am not happy about the rate, however I still strongly support the referendum.”
Supports more investment in early childhood education.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“I believe we need more support for investment in early childhood education.”
Supports IPS leaders planning alongside IPEC.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“advocate for and create space for IPS leadership to be an integral part of planning along side IPEC”
Opposes accepting outside special-interest campaign donations.
Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (candidate survey responses)
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI · Sep 10, 2026 · s3.amazonaws.com
“No. I am serving as president and also serving on the IPEC board.”

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; 3 issues covered in this race.