Allissa Impink to resign from IPS board, leaving 5 of 7 board seats up for election on November ballots

“Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news. Allissa Impink will resign as an Indianapolis Public Schools commissioner in June, teeing up a November election where a significant majority of the IPS school board seats are on the ballot. Impink, who won the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 46 earlier this month, announced on Tuesday that she plans to resign from the school board effective June 15. Tuesday is also the first day that candidates can file to run for school board this November. With Impink leaving her seat early, five of the seven seats on the IPS school board will be up for election on Nov. 3. It is shaping up to be a key election for the board as the district faces financial challenges and a loss in power due to the new Indianapolis Public Education Corporation or IPEC. Impink called serving on the school board “one of the greatest honors of my life,” and said resigning before the November election allows her to ensure “the community retains its voice” in who replaces her on the school board. It’s highly likely that Impink will be unopposed for state senate. Impink, a former IPS teacher, was elected to the school board in 2024 to represent IPS school board District 4, the southwest part of the district. The IPS board has seven members who serve staggered four-year terms . If a board member resigns, the board must appoint someone by majority vote within 30 days to fill the position until the next school board election. Voters will then select someone to finish the term if needed. By resigning ahead of the election, Impink ensures her seat will be on the ballot in November, shortening the time for an appointed board member to a few months and an elected replacement would serve until 2028. If she waited to resign until after the November election, the appointed member would serve until 2028, the next school board election year and when Impink’s term was slated to end. “As a strong supporter of the democratic process, I am encouraging qualified, passionate community members to file to run for school board so that IPS families have a direct say in who leads them through the remainder of the term ending in 2028,” Impink said. Impink is the second IPS board commissioner to resign this year. Gayle Cosby, who represented District 2 and was also elected in 2024, announced her resignation in March, citing ongoing health challenges. The board appointed Hasaan Rashid to fill the vacancy until this year’s election. This means both District 2 and 4 will be on the ballot in November along with the three IPS board seats already slated for election in 2026: District 3 currently represented by Hope Duke Star, District 5 represented by Nicole Carey, and an at-large seat represented by Angelia Moore. Guide: How to run for school board The election comes at a time when the IPS board is navigating a substantial loss in power under a new law that created IPEC , which has key powers for district and charter schools including school accountability, buildings, and transportation as well as some finances. Three members of the IPS school board are also members of IPEC , per state law. Those are Star, Ashley Thomas, and Deandra Thompson. This year is also the first year that school board candidates can add their party affiliation to the ballot if they choose to do so. Potential school board candidates have until noon June 18 to file. Impink won the primary election for state senate handily with 68.46% of the vote in a three-candidate race, per election results. No Republican candidates ran in the primary election. However it is still possible for a challenger to file to run in the general election. District 46 includes downtown, the near eastside, and southern parts of Indianapolis and is currently represented by Andrea Hunley, a former IPS principal, who is running for Indianapolis mayor in 2027 . Impink said she looks forward to using her “strong and passionate voice for IPS and public education throughout Indiana at the state level.” “I will use every tool available to me to protect and strengthen public schools across Indianapolis and the state of Indiana,” she said. Voter registration for the November election is open through Oct. 5 . You can register or check your status here. MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org .

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