Board transition to kick in for Asheboro City Schools

ASHEBORO — The process of a restructuring of the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education will begin with this fall’s elections.

In time, the changes will be reducing the number of seats on the board from 11 to seven. Terms will be adjusted in length from six years to four years, while elections for the school board will eventually move to even-numbered years.

Also, beginning in 2026, the elections will be partisan.

This stems from the passing of House Bill 58 in the spring.

The changes are being phased in.

For instance, in 2025, there will be two seats open for one-year terms. There are four board members whose terms expire in 2025.

Of those four, only Hilda DeCortez, filed to run for a board seat. DeCortez gained entry to the board via an appointment to fill a vacant seat.

Then in 2026, two seats will be on the ballot for four-year terms. That will put the board at nine members as part of the transition to seven members.

The transition to even-numbered years for elections means that several incumbents will have expanded terms without rerunning for those positions.

Under the House bill, board members whose terms would have expired in 2027 will receive another year, so their seats will be up for election in 2028. Those members are board chair Baxter Hammer, Adam Hurley, Beth Knott and Hailey Lee.

The 2028 election will fill three seats, so not all the incumbents would be able to stay on the board even if they chose to run.

Board members Melissa Calloway, Gidget Kidd and Ryan Patton were elected with terms expiring in 2029, but those have been extended to 2030. In 2030, five board members will have expiring terms (including those elected in 2026) and the election will have four seats available.

So there will be a period following the 2028 election until the 2030 seats are filled with eight board members. The House bill calls for the Asheboro City Council to appoint a registered voter to the district to serve on the board of education with the purpose to vote only in the case to break ties.

Incumbent Phillip Cheek’s term expires this year, but he’ll be on the ballot for a primary seeking a spot on the Asheboro City Council. That primary will be held Oct. 7 in advance of the Nov. 4 general election.

Board of education incumbents Linda Cranford and Michael Smith with terms expiring this year didn’t file to retain those seats.

Joining DeCortez on the 2025 ballot are Mikayla Cassidy, Michael Brown and Brad Thomas.

The city schools board has been at 11 members since 1957.

House Bill 58 initially related to the Town of Kittrell prior to amendments that included the provisions related to Asheboro City Schools and topics in Anson, Caswell and Scotland counites.