Democratic incumbent Katherine Bike faces Republican newcomer Ashley Sartelle in one of Knox County’s most purple political battlegrounds.
Election 2026: School Board District 9
Democrat Brandy Jenkins and Republican Bill Sofield are running to replace two-term School Board member Kristi Kristy.
Election 2026: School Board District 6
Political newcomers Cadence Collins and Lee Ann Eaves offer Northwest Knox County voters a clear choice in this year’s election.
School Budget Frustrations
School board members complained they got no advance notice that revenues would be withheld, and that elected officials would get pay raises amid job and pay cuts.
‘Roots’ and Beyond
School board members discuss pushing for changes to the state’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act, and the public weighs in on book bans.
Primary 2026: School Board District 9
Kristi Kristy is running for a third term against political newcomer Bill Sofield to represent South Knox County on the Board of Education.
Primary 2026: School Board District 1
In the county’s only contested Democratic primary, a first-term incumbent faces a pair of challengers for a seat representing the school system’s most diverse district.
Weekly Watch: April 6-12, 2026
Every Monday we run down the week’s public meetings and civic events.
Powell School Rezoning Passes
School board member Katherine Bike cast the deciding vote on KCS’s plan to address overcrowding at Powell Elementary School.
A Revised School Rezoning Plan
Amid parental opposition, school board members are conflicted over administrators’ refined school-rezoning proposal for the Powell community.