Vishal Srivastava / https://vishalforbettereducation.com/

Vishal Srivastava, a longtime Forsyth County resident and data and analytics executive, is running for the Forsyth County Board of Education in District 5, making education, technology and school growth central to his campaign.

Srivastava, a 25-year veteran of the data and analytics industry, serves as the head of data and analytics at his firm and has built his campaign around the use of data and technology in education, as well as preparing students for changes in the workforce.

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Srivastava said his decision to run is informed by his experience as a parent in the Forsyth County school system. He and his wife, Swapnil, moved to Forsyth County because of the reputation of its public schools and have raised two children there.

“For years, we have been grateful consumers of a school system that gave our children an incredible foundation. Now, it is our responsibility to step up as stewards of it,” Srivastava says on his campaign website.

His campaign's stated vision is, “Don’t lower the bar for anyone; build better ladders for everyone.”

Srivastava's professional background is in technology, data and analytics. According to his campaign, he has more than 25 years of experience working on complex problems, managing large-scale budgets and leading technology initiatives. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management and a Chief Technology Officer Program certification from the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

He has also been involved in local community affairs. Srivastava served as president of his homeowners association for six years. His campaign describes his work in that role as focused on transparency, fiscal responsibility and neighborhood issues.

His family's connection to the school district is ongoing. His daughter, Uditi, graduated from Forsyth County Schools and is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Mount Sinai in New York. His son is a junior at Denmark High School.

Focus on AI and international comparisons

A significant part of Srivastava's education platform concerns the impact of artificial intelligence on schools and the workforce.

He has proposed greater use of adaptive learning technologies that could provide students with individualized academic support. His campaign also calls for partnerships between schools and industry, including potential teacher externships with technology companies.

Srivastava has proposed expanding career and technical education opportunities across the district. He points to the existing Alliance Academy for Innovation as a model and argues that more students should have access to industry certifications and apprenticeship opportunities alongside traditional academic programs.

He has also called for Forsyth County Schools to compare its performance with education systems outside the United States. His proposals include looking at Singapore for mathematics and science, Finland for teacher preparation and Switzerland and Germany for vocational education.

Another proposal is for the district to participate in the OECD's PISA for Schools assessment, which would provide international comparisons of student performance.

These proposals come as Forsyth County Schools continues to manage enrollment growth and capacity issues. The district serves more than 54,000 students across 42 schools, according to its website, and has experienced substantial enrollment growth over the past decade.

The district's 2026-27 budget is approximately $762.5 million. School capacity, staffing, infrastructure and the allocation of resources are among the broader issues facing the school system as enrollment continues to grow.

Srivastava has framed those challenges as reasons for the district to focus on long-term planning rather than relying solely on its existing performance.

“Every generation has a core responsibility: to leave the world a better place for the generations that follow,” he says.

Srivastava has received the endorsement of Educate Georgia, according to his campaign. The endorsement is one of several forms of outside support that candidates in school-board races can seek as they campaign ahead of the November election.

The District 5 contest will be decided in the Nov. 3, general election.

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