Election day is still a couple months away, but one of the most talked-about races is in Albemarle County, where voters will decide between Allison Spillman and Meg Bryce in the county school board’s at-large race. With the two candidates running on distinctly different platforms, and controversy mounting about Bryce’s political and personal connections, this election is one to watch.
Though historically lower-cost, the school board race is anything but this year. Between them, Bryce and Spillman have generated some large donations, with Bryce raising $41,505, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, to Spillman’s $14,961.
For comparison, the total raised between both candidates in the ACPS White Hall race was less than $13,000 at press time.
Running on a platform to “restore common sense and accountability,” Bryce, whose four children attend private schools, wants to address poor performance, bussing issues, and wasted resources in ACPS, and promote parental involvement, teacher support, and transparency. It was those issues, Bryce says, that prompted her to pull her kids from public school. “We loved our school. It was painful to leave,” she shared on her campaign website. “But we didn’t leave our school; we left this school board.”
The daughter of late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Bryce has had problems with vandalism of her campaign signs—“SCALIA” has been spray painted on several of them. In an Instagram post addressing the topic, she said, “This person wants you to focus on… my Dad. This person doesn’t think I deserve to be heard because of… my Dad. I hope most people in Charlottesville will reject this kind of close-mindedness. I also hope most people in Charlottesville won’t fall for these attempts to derail what could otherwise be a productive conversation about how to improve education in ACPS.”
Spillman has publicly condemned the destruction of Bryce’s campaign signs.
Beyond her father’s identity, Bryce has also been criticized for her decision to run for school board with no children in public school, and her alleged connection to conservative groups, such as Moms for Liberty and the Noah Webster Educational Foundation. Bryce denies any connection to Moms for Liberty, but does say she attended a NWEF seminar “where [she] participated in sessions on school budgets, parliamentary procedures, and ‘What Does Science Say About Learning Math?’.”
While there is no evidence that Bryce is directly affiliated with Moms for Liberty, the NWEF has partnered with the group previously.
In a statement to C-VILLE addressing recent controversies surrounding Bryce, Spillman said, “my opponent’s decision to attend meetings with extreme right-wing groups, such as the Noah Webster Foundation and the City Elders, is cause for great concern. These groups seek to ban books, censor teachers, and fundamentally undermine our public education system.”
“It is crucial for school board members to have a direct stake in the district they aim to represent, which often comes through having children enrolled in the local schools,” says Spillman. “As a parent of five children enrolled in ACPS, my personal connection to their educational experience has helped provide me with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the system.
Spillman says she will prioritize education for all students, as well as inclusive and welcoming schools, teachers, mental health, student safety, and collaborative communities. “I am running for the Albemarle County School Board at-large seat because our students and educators deserve a fierce advocate who has her finger on the pulse of real issues.”
“This is a crucial election,” says Spillman. “We are committed to working together to ensure that every ACPS student receives the essential support and resources required for a transformative education within our county schools.”
With such different priorities, Spillman and Bryce both have concerns about their opponent’s platform.
“I have been very clear from the first day of my campaign that my priority is to bring our focus back to academic rigor, whereas my opponent has only recently expressed concern over this issue,” says Bryce. “My opponent believes that the school has a right to withhold information from parents if their child is struggling with gender dysphoria, whereas I do not believe that the school should ever withhold information from parents about their own child, least of all when that child is in distress.”
“My opponent has voiced support for diverting funds from public schools to vouchers for private schools. I am focused on fully funding our public schools,” says Spillman. “My opponent supports policies that would non-consensually out and harm LGBTQ students. I am focused on providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students.”
Early voting starts on September 22, and both candidates are focused on campaigning and community outreach efforts.
“I will continue to knock on doors all over the county because I learn so much talking to people on their doorsteps,” says Bryce. “It’s always encouraging to see how much we have in common when it comes to wanting to do right by the children in our community.”
“As we near election day, my top priority is engaging with the entire Albemarle County community. I’m listening to educators, bus drivers, students, parents, and voters,” says Spillman. “We are hosting meet and greets, participating in community events, meeting with PTOs, and knocking on doors across Albemarle County.”