Columbus County School Board Goes Partisan | Winston–Salem News

North Carolina’s Columbus County is about to get a major political shakeup in its school board elections—thanks to HB 116, which passed the House 105-5. The bill flips the current non-partisan system to a partisan model, letting candidates run under party banners and compete in general elections every even-numbered year. With five four-year terms per district (except Whiteville), politics will now directly influence who oversees local schools—a move sparking debate over whether education should stay out of partisan hands. The bill also outlines how current members finish their terms and handles vacancies starting Dec. 1, 2026. Now awaiting the governor’s signature, this legislation exemplifies how laws evolve from draft to law—and could reshape local governance for years to come. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4399abc1f869de83