Luke Ashmore for Billings School Board (Zone 7)

3/24/2025

Hey there!

I’m Luke, and I’m running for school board this spring! I’m a Billings-born-and-raised working professional, soccer coach, and advocate for our city. Throughout my career, I’ve been outspoken about my appreciation for Billings. I’m quick to highlight and support the best things about our home, but I understand the importance of using my voice when we need to work together to solve problems.

I believe our public schools are a tremendous asset for our community, and I want to support our school system for two primary reasons:

Billings Public Schools students deserve a quality education and access to extracurricular activities that keep them involved in their growth and goals
Our education professionals need consistent support, so they can excel in their careers and provide a positive environment for local kids

Thanks for stopping by the page. Please feel free to contact me with questions about my campaign or just to say hello!

-Luke

9 Comments

Amelia

4/6/2025 12:59:45 pm

Your goals sound great, but I have a few questions.
(1) The proposed plan for the Department of Education will pose challenges to provide disabled and poor children with quality education, as well as pose challenges for school funding regarding staffing and resources (like textbooks). While trying to leave politics out of education, how will you advocate for students amidst national political issues regarding things like the Department of Education? How will you try to create a well-informed stance to advocate for education if political policies are not a part of the conversation?

(2) Sports tend to receive robust finding in the educational system -- which is great. However, I would like to know your stance on funding other extracurriculars, such as the arts or speech and debate, as athletics seem to be the main focus here.

Luke Ashmore link

4/8/2025 08:24:00 pm

Hey Amelia! Great questions.

(1) With all the news and changes surrounding the DOE, guaranteed access and accomodations for students who need additional help (whether that's due to financial situations, specialized education needs, or anything else!) is the facet of this conversation I'm most concerned about. Regardless of the uncertainty with changes to the Department of Education, we need to provide for our students who need extra assistance—and I'd like to ensure that assistance isn't interrupted either!

How do I advocate this perspective while leaving politics out of the conversation? I can't! This conversation is inherently political, and as a community, we won't find solutions by turning away from that fact.

I'm not an advocate for apolitical approaches as a default. But, I am an advocate for local political positions (like our school board trustees!) to operate with an explicit understanding that our identity as Billings citizens is more important than national political affiliations.

What does this look like in practice with an issue like funding uncertainties due to DOE changes? For me, it would start with contacting decision makers and state leaders whose work sees them focused on policy stemming from the Montana Constitution specifically. And I'd work to ensure other BPS trustees are able and ready to vouch for our local school district with state leadership. That isn't the case with all current seats.

I hope that answer addresses your first question, and if not, always feel free to reach out with more questions! Onto the second.

(2) I support even-handed funding for all extracurricular activities, whether they're athletic programs or not!

I'm vocal about my love for the game of soccer, but I've always been someone who's balanced athletic pursuits with other passions. I work in the arts, and my formal education in literature and creative writing provided many formative moments that I'll always be thankful for.

I'm interested in speech and debate, art & theater programs, and other activities we may welcome to our district in the near future (I'm personally interested in e-sports proliferation throughout our state!). These extracurriculars are important for our students and provide many of the same benefits that athletics can offer (team building, collaborative problem solving, working with mentor figures, etc.). Let's work to support them all!

Thanks again for the questions, and give me a shout if anything else comes to mind!

-Luke

Jacalyn R Roberts

4/22/2025 01:24:13 pm

Are you a Republican or a Democrat?

Luke Ashmore link

4/23/2025 05:17:38 pm

Hey Jacalyn! Thanks for reaching out to confirm!

I don't identity as either a Republican or Democrat. Oftentimes, I'm someone who falls "in the middle of the road." But depending on the issue, my political beliefs can lean right or left.

School board races are nonpartisan, and I'm doing my best to honor that! If I win this seat, I want to build working relationships with all my constituents, no matter where they align politically.

If you'd like to talk with me about specific issues to see if you and I see eye to eye on issues that are important to you, please send me an email ([email protected]). I'm happy to schedule a call or chat over coffee where you can get to know me more.

And no matter what, thank you for voting! It's nice to see neighbors investing time into making informed decisions.

Grace

4/22/2025 08:28:58 pm

Hi Luke -

Would you pls clarify—are you Democrat or Republican? I need to know before I vote. Thank you.

Luke Ashmore link

4/23/2025 05:37:35 pm

Hi Grace! Thanks for commenting! I'm going to copy my comment from above because it's a similar question, but please don't take that as a blanket response—I'm doing my best to make sure everyone receives personal messages and responses.

I don't identity as either a Republican or Democrat. Oftentimes, I'm someone who falls "in the middle of the road." But depending on the issue, my political beliefs can lean right or left.

School board races are nonpartisan, and I'm doing my best to honor that! If I win this seat, I want to build working relationships with all my constituents, no matter where they align politically.

If you'd like to see if we see eye to eye on issues that are important to you, please send me an email ([email protected]). I'm happy to schedule a call or chat over coffee where you can get to know me more.

And no matter what, thank you for voting! It's nice to see neighbors investing time into making informed decisions.

Carol Highland

4/27/2025 02:09:18 pm

Yes! School board elections are non-partisan! I think it is great that you want to represent all, no matter where they fall politically. I also like how you offer to discuss any particular issues that people have questions about. Thank you!

Tensey Martinez link

4/30/2025 10:59:10 am

Hello luke! I was wondering what your stance is on transgender women competing in biological womens athletics?

Luke Ashmore link

5/3/2025 08:18:37 am

Hey Tensey!

Sorry about the delayed response here. I'm usually trying to answer comments and emails within 48 hours, but this last week of the race has been keeping me busy.

Admittedly, I'm not too concerned about transgender women competing in women's athletics in our school district, but that's because this circumstance hasn't impacted Billings--there are no transgender athletes participating in BPS athletics that I'm aware of!

If we begin to have this conversation at a local level due to participation from transgender and nonbinary athletes, I think it's a much trickier situation than broader conversations about sports and athletics occurring at a national level. For example, the conversation surrounding K-12 athletics and college athletics in this area are very different conversations due to the level of competition and other nuances.

I'd love to see every student in our school district participate in sports! And if we're going to have conversations about reorganizing our athletics policies, and finding compromises stemming from beliefs in our community, I believe my experience would be valuable on the board--I have plenty of recent experience coaching in our district the last 6 years!

I'm always happy to talk more about this issue! But I think this topic also deserves plenty of time to look at details. If you'd like to schedule a call or time to meet over coffee, please send me an email to do so ([email protected]).

-Luke

Luke Ashmore for Billings School Board (Zone 7)

Leave a Reply.

Luke Ashmore
Candidate for Zone 7

Luke Ashmore for Billings School Board (Zone 7)

Leave a Reply.

Luke Ashmore​Candidate for Zone 7

Luke Ashmore
Candidate for Zone 7