News Summary
Educators from Asheville City Schools are uniting to petition the School Board against significant budget cuts that could threaten staffing and essential services. With over $700,000 slashed from their budget, 68% of the staff has signed a petition advocating for a no-cuts budget. As the Board of Education meeting approaches, teachers express concerns over maintaining resources for both students and staff in light of recent financial challenges, including the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The community is rallying together to support a fully-funded budget and ensure quality education amidst these financial hardships.
Asheville Educators Stand Together Against Budget Cuts
The vibrant city of Asheville is abuzz with concern as educators from Asheville City Schools (ACS) prepare to make their voices heard. These passionate teachers are rallying together to deliver a petition to the School Board on March 10, urging them to reject significant budget cuts that could jeopardize staffing and essential services. Tensions are running high after the Buncombe County Commission decided to slash over $700,000 from ACS’s budget.
A Call for a No-Cuts Budget
The petition calls for a no-cuts budget that would maintain vital staffing levels, services, programming, and fair compensation. Educators fear that any cuts could lead to detrimental consequences, impacting both teachers and students. Timothy Lloyd, who leads the Asheville City Association of Educators (ACAE), has expressed his worries regarding the current state of the budget, comparing the situation to a “skeleton crew working on a bare-bones budget”.
With the goal of making their voices echo in the Board of Education meeting scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m., educators have gathered numerous signatures in support of their petition. This movement is fueled by the dedication of teachers like Samantha Aycock, a kindergarten educator, who passionately advocates for a fully-funded budget to prevent any further loss of staff and programs in the upcoming school year. Additionally, first-grade teacher Carson Bridges emphasizes the urgent need to maintain resources for both students and staff as they recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Pledging Support from the Community
Remarkably, a staggering 68% of the ACS staff has signed the petition, showcasing a united front against these budget reductions. The hope is that the Board will take action and advocate for additional funding from both the County and the State. This isn’t the first time educators have had to fight for their schools; the ACAE, along with the Buncombe County Association of Educators, previously made a trip to Raleigh in pursuit of Helene relief funding, showcasing their commitment to the cause.
The Larger Financial Picture
The context for these budget cuts is daunting. Earlier this year, on January 21, the Buncombe County Commission voted to cut almost $4.7 million from the budgets of both Buncombe County Schools (BCS) and ACS. Specifically, ACS’s budget was reduced by approximately $718,577 as part of a broader effort to address the financial repercussions following Hurricane Helene. This cut alone represents a staggering 10.4% reduction over the remaining five months of the fiscal year.
As the county faces a projected revenue loss of between $15 million and $25 million this fiscal year, unemployment rates in Buncombe County have been reported at over 10,000. The local economy has also seen declines in revenue from occupancy taxes and sales taxes, prompting a county-wide hiring freeze, affecting all but emergency services. This tough financial climate has led Buncombe County to resort to using reserve funds for the first time in more than two decades, a practice viewed as unsustainable.
Future Hangs in the Balance
Commissioner Drew Ball has stressed the importance of being cautious with county funds to ensure essential services remain intact. Adding another layer of complexity, there is approximately a billion dollars in federal relief funding for Hurricane Helene that awaits allocation from the state legislature, yet that process remains uncertain. As educators, parents, and students prepare for protests before the upcoming meeting, they face the possibility that budget cuts could significantly deplete the county’s rainy-day fund. Meanwhile, the Chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Amanda Edwards, assures the public that school funding stands to be replenished once these much-needed Helene relief funds are finally released.
What’s Next for Asheville’s Educators?
The next opportunity for the Asheville City Board of Education to discuss these pressing budget issues is on April 21 at 5 p.m. As the public eagerly watches what unfolds in the coming weeks, the commitment of educators to protect their schools and the well-being of their students becomes clearer. Stay tuned as this story continues to develop!
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Additional Resources
- WLOS: Asheville Educators Present No-Cuts Budget Petition
- Fox Carolina: Educators Express Concerns with School Budget Cuts
- WLOS: Buncombe County Cuts Budget, Sparking Community Protest
- Google Search: Asheville educators budget cuts
- Wikipedia: Buncombe County Schools
