Fact vs. Fiction: Holding A Special Election During an Off Year is Sneaky

“Holding the referendum renewal vote during an off-cycle year is sneaky. Avon Schools is doing this because they’re hoping for low voter turnout while they pump their base to come out, vote, and force the referendum through.”

Don’t believe the chatter. There are very important reasons why Avon Schools is holding the referendum renewal vote this November — involving new Indiana laws that contradict one another and could have led to a budget deficit of millions of dollars.

When the Avon Board of School Trustees weighed their options … they chose the most fiscally responsible option afforded by state law.

The 2018 Referendum was designed to last eight years, with funding set to expire in December 2026. As a result, the plan since May 2018 was for ACSC to pursue renewal in May 2026. However, during the last legislative session, Indiana lawmakers passed a new law requiring school referendums to be held during general elections (November) in even-numbered years. House Enrolled Act 1427 also specifically allowed schools to place referendums on the ballot in November 2025, as the last odd-numbered referendum year.

Holding an Operating Referendum Renewal in November 2026 would be extremely risky for Avon Schools. 

Here’s why: Like most public school corporations, Avon hires most of its staff on a school-year basis. Most teachers are hired between May and July – in time for the new school year to begin – and not by the calendar year in December or January.

That’s why school referendums are typically held in May. Districts need to confirm they have funding to pay teachers before hiring them for the next school year.

That’s not all.

Adding to the challenge, state law only allows school districts to reduce teaching positions between May and June. If the referendum were to fail in November 2026, funding would end in December. However, teacher contracts are from July to June — leaving Avon Schools operating at a $7 million deficit just to cover teacher salaries for the last half of their contract (with no referendum funds from January to May of 2027).

Multiple community meetings were held in the summer of 2025 to outline these timelines and the difficult situation forced upon us by Indiana lawmakers. For 7 years, ACSC has known a Referendum renewal would be necessary in May of 2026 — yet, that option was removed and the new law doesn’t coincide with existing laws about when teacher reductions must occur. 

When the Avon Board of School Trustees weighed their options of renewing the Referendum this November or next November they chose the most fiscally responsible option afforded by state law.