School board

School Board Member, South Bend Community School Corporation

District 1

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

What this office does: The school board sets policy, hires the superintendent and adopts the budget for South Bend Community School Corporation.

Candidates Compare by issue

Kevin Jerome Hawkins

Democratic

Retired federal mediator; president, Hawkins Family Foundation

The gist

Proposes citywide listening sessions to rebuild public trust
Supports lobbying to reconsider Senate Enrolled Act 1
Supports business investment and community partnerships for schools

More about Kevin

View sources (1)

Proposes citywide listening sessions to rebuild public trust
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Rebuilding relationships and regaining the public trust. Small group facilitated listening sessions citywide involving all the stakeholder groups”
Supports lobbying to reconsider Senate Enrolled Act 1
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Lobbying at state and local level for a scrutinous examination and reconsideration of the short- and long-term effects of Senate enrolled Act 1”
Supports business investment and community partnerships for schools
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“build relationships to encourage reasonable and significant long-term investment in community education by business entities”

Emily McClements

Independent

Self-employed

The gist

Pledges to make South Bend schools families' first choice
Opposes party labels in school board elections
Supports greater financial transparency as referendum expiration nears
Supports prioritizing competitive pay for teachers and staff

More about Emily

View sources (1)

Pledges to make South Bend schools families' first choice
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would work to help South Bend schools reach their potential as schools that families actively choose for their students.”
Opposes party labels in school board elections
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I disagree with the new state law allowing school board candidates to list a party affiliation.”
Supports greater financial transparency as referendum expiration nears
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We need to begin preparing now by providing greater financial transparency, carefully evaluating spending”
Supports prioritizing competitive pay for teachers and staff
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“competitive compensation for strong teachers and staff”

Cheryl H Moody

No party listed

Small business owner; mock trial coach

The gist

Supports a new operating referendum for South Bend schools
Proposes a permanent online survey on upcoming board votes
Supports paying down district debt to free up money
Supports extra resources for historically neglected schools

More about Cheryl

View sources (1)

Supports a new operating referendum for South Bend schools
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“voting for a new referendum is essential to the survival of the South Bend Community School Corporation”
Proposes a permanent online survey on upcoming board votes
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would love to see a permanent online survey set up where anyone can register their opinion about upcoming school board votes”
Supports paying down district debt to free up money
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We should also pay down as much debt as possible to free up that money for other needs.”
Supports extra resources for historically neglected schools
VOTE411 Voter Guide: South Bend School Board, District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We need to invest extra resources in schools that have been historically neglected”

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.