The debate over coronavirus precautions and school reopening has fueled a surge of new candidates for school boards across the country.

What was traditionally a nonpartisan, hyper-local role is now at center of a swirling national political debate. Conservative and progressive parents have clashed over when and how to reopen classrooms — and it’s pushed some of them to run for office themselves.

“Historically, we’ve actually seen where some school board seats have gone uncontested — sometimes for years — and now we’re seeing multiple candidates for seats,” National School Boards Association CEO Anna Maria Chávez told Axios.

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