This voter guide was written by WFYI reporter Sydney Dauphinais and was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy and WFYI as part of a partnership to increase coverage of township school districts in Marion County and cover the 2024 school board elections.
Two candidates are running for two seats on the Franklin Township school board. This southeast school district has seen the largest enrollment growth in the past 18 years compared to other Marion County schools.
Since 2006, enrollment steadily grew by more than 43%. The district has an enrollment of around 11,200 students. Most students are white, at nearly 59%, about 15% are Asian and more than 11% are Black. Around half the students in the district qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The district has struggled with a tight budget after the community denied a capital referendum in 2022 — 62% of voters rejected the tax levy. The referendum was to fund the expansion of Franklin Central High School to accommodate more students and improve facilities at six elementary schools.
Chase Huotari became the superintendent in August. He replaced former Superintendent Ben Hibbard who led the district for seven years.
[From Indy Documenters: See notes from past Franklin Township school board meetings]
This election
This November, one incumbent is running unopposed and a new candidate also faces no opposition to join the five-member board.
Elizabeth Yoder, current board member, represents the northwest portion of the school district. Candidate Ryan Donovan would have the seat representing the southwest part of the township.
Who votes and how to vote
All voters within the Franklin Township school district can cast a ballot for all seats.
Voter registration is underway and ends on Oct. 7. Marion County residents can register to vote online.
Early voting begins on Oct. 8 at the City-County Building at 200 E. Market St. Additional early voting sites open on Oct. 26.
On Election Day, Nov. 5, Marion County residents can vote at any of the county’s voting centers. Get the full list of Marion County voting centers.
Meet the candidates
Northwest
Elizabeth Yoder (incumbent)
Yoder, 51, is an incumbent running for reelection. She is a former educator and works part time as an instructional assistant at the private school that two of her three children attend. Yoder has one child attending Franklin Central High School.
Yoder values the long term residents and teachers in the district. “I believe our strength is that our community tends to stay in the community,” she said.
The limited budget is one of the biggest challenges she sees facing the district. She’s hoping the district will be given the budget it needs to serve the students and then use the money rightly and transparently.
Southwest
Ryan Donovan
Donovan, 40, is an electrical contractor and president of the Franklin Township Education Foundation. His experience with the foundation sparked an interest in the school board, where he realized how much the district does with such limited budgets. Donovan says he plans to resign from his position as president in October.
Donovan is running for school board because he wants to help teachers and students. He has two children, in kindergarten and third grade, who attend Franklin Township schools.
He sees Superintendent Huotari as one of the biggest strengths in the district. He wants to work with leadership to engage the community and get input in planning.
If elected, Donovan wants to help manage the district’s limited budget to support teachers and improve teacher retention.
WFYI education reporter Sydney Dauphinais covers Marion County schools. Contact her at sdauphinais@wfyi.org.
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