In IPS board election, former member Cosby wins, incumbent Allen loses

A former Indianapolis Public School Board member who was often the loudest and only critical voice of the administration during her term will return to the board after winning a contested race for District 2. 

Gayle Cosby won the seat, according to unofficial election results from Marion County. Cosby beat back candidate Hasaan Rashid who was supported by Rise Indy and Stand for Children Indiana, organizations that have pushed for district reforms.

Cosby served on the board from 2016-2020. For a time, she was endorsed by Stand for Children, but has since been outspoken about her decision to reject outside influences on the IPS board and board elections. All three other winning candidates in this election, as well as current board members, have been endorsed by these organizations.

“I think it means a lot to have the voice of someone who is not backed by special interest groups,” said Cosby, who is assistant professor, program chair of education at Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis. “I think as a professor and as an educator, it speaks to the voting public wanting to see a diversity of thought represented on the IPS board.” 

Cosby beat Rashid by around 11 percentage points. District 2 includes the Massachusetts Avenue passageway northeast of downtown.

Three newcomer candidates also won their seats. 

School board races in Indiana are nonpartisan, meaning a party affiliation label does not appear by candidates’ names. Candidates in the IPS race distinguished themselves by whether they would accept or reject support from outside pro-charter groups. 

Rise Indy and Stand for Children spent tens of thousands of dollars during the past several months to support their candidates. 

At large

The district-wide at large seat was the most contested race. Deandra “Dee” Thompson defeated one-term incumbent Kenneth Allen and Carrie Harris. Thompson received 56 percent of the vote. 

“I really want to connect with parents and people and students and educators really, and also just really make sure that we're focused on our early literacy rate,” Thompson said Tuesday night. Thompson is the CEO at A Learning Bee Academy.

Allen was the only incumbent running for reelection in the school board this year. In 2020, Allen’s campaign for the board was one of the most expensive school board campaigns in state history, costing over $260,000. This year, Allen changed his stance: he decided to run independently, stating his candidacy was “not for sale.” 

District 1 and District 4

In District 1, which includes the east side and near southeast, Ashley Thomas beat Alan Schoff by 33 percentage points. Thomas will replace commissioner Will Pritchard who chose not to seek re-election. 

Allissa Impink, who ran in District 4, was uncontested. She will replace longtime commissioner Diane Arnold, who has been on the board since January 2005 and also chose not to run again. 

When the new members join the seven-member board in January, they will be responsible for overseeing massive changes in the district, as the election comes in the midst of the district overhaul known as Rebuilding Stronger. That plan, designed to save money on under-enrollment costs and make for more equitable education, has included grade reconfigurations and school closures. Board members will also decide whether the district partners with charter and innovation schools. 

In an IPS board candidate forum held early last month, candidates expressed concerns over the current implementation of Rebuilding Stronger. 

School board members do not oversee the day-to-day operations of a school corporation, but rather provide oversight. They are also responsible for hiring the superintendent, approving the budget, and creating policies for staff and students.

WFYI education reporter Sydney Dauphinais covers Marion County schools. Contact her at sdauphinais@wfyi.org.