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School board

Board of Education, Asheville City Schools

Vote for
4
Term
4 years
Candidates
6
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A board of education member helps set policy, the budget and the superintendent's direction for Asheville City Schools.

Nonpartisan.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Education

  • Daria DatnoffNo party listed

    No documented position found.

  • Daniel ShetleyNo party listed

    • Supports trimming central office spending before cutting teachers
    • Proposes incentives for employees to earn bus-driver licenses
    • Supports letting staff raise concerns without fear of consequences

  • Gordon GrantNo party listed

    • Proposes summer school for students not reading by third grade
    • Supports enrichment programs to compete with charter schools
    • Proposes a recruitment campaign for school bus drivers

  • Liza English-KellyNo party listed

    • Opposes favoring central office staffing over school staffing
    • Supports protecting the district's distinctive programs
    • Opposed closing Montford North Star and the middle school orchestra

  • Sarah ThornburgNo party listed

    • Supports the three-year county school funding formula
    • Supports monthly 'meet, confer, collaborate' sessions with educators
    • Pledges continued work to close the district's achievement gap

  • Rebecca StrimerNo party listed

    • Supports pressing the General Assembly to fund schools
    • Supports making the achievement gap the district's top priority

Environment & parks

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; 2 issues covered in this race.