Winston-Salem Daily Brief: School board primary leaders, Shaffner Park cell tower

Top local headlines

1) School board primary results narrow the field, with several candidates emerging as top vote-getters ahead of the general election.

2) City Council votes unanimously to allow a new cell tower in Shaffner Park, aimed at closing coverage gaps in the West Ward.

3) A local TV election special rounds up candidates’ closing messages and points viewers to ongoing results coverage.

Election snapshot: school board races

Voters in Tuesday’s primary began sorting through a crowded slate of candidates seeking seats on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. A report tracking the returns said 13 of 34 primary candidates advanced to the general election.

Among the biggest vote-getters mentioned: Ronda Mays led the at-large Democratic field with more than 14,000 votes. In District 2’s Democratic primary, educator Lee Childress finished first, setting up a fall campaign in a seat that has often leaned Republican. On the Republican side in District 2, Bob Weiss led a multi-candidate field with about 15% of the vote.

In District 1’s Democratic primary, incumbent Trevonia Brown-Gaither was the top vote-getter and one of only three incumbents who advanced. The same report noted that some Republican candidates in other races did not face primaries and will appear on the general-election ballot.

City Hall: Shaffner Park cell tower approved

In a separate City Hall decision, Council approved a 120-foot communications tower planned for Shaffner Park. The tower is expected to be designed to look like a tree, a compromise meant to keep the park’s wooded edge from turning into an obvious industrial site.

Backers said the surrounding area has known dead zones and that better coverage could matter in emergencies near the park’s courts and walkways. Under the plan described in the report, the company would lease the site from the city for about $1,000 a month, with the tower fenced off near a wooded section. A construction start date has not been announced.

What residents can do next

Even after Tuesday’s voting, the local conversation around schools is clearly still in motion. An election special released this week compiles many candidates’ final pitches and serves as a handy catch-up for anyone trying to track where they stand on classroom needs, staffing, and district finances.

Sources

https://www.bpr.org/2026-03-04/here-are-the-top-vote-getters-in-the-winston-salem-forsyth-county-board-of-education-races
https://www.wfae.org/2026-03-03/winston-salem-city-council-oks-new-shaffner-park-cell-tower
https://www.wxii12.com/article/commitment-2026-special-watch-very-local/70574063