Firm Leading Asheville City/Buncombe School Consolidation Study Emphasizes Public Input

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – For the New School Year

Noteworthy changes might be coming to the Asheville City/Buncombe School districts as students prepare for the start of a new school year. The local schools and county have embarked on a working partnership with Prismatic Services Inc., a Charlotte-based consultancy firm, to conduct a comprehensive study centered around the consolidation of the two districts.

While there are still many unknowns in this ongoing study, Prismatic’s Founder, Dr. Tatia Prieto, expresses that it’s crucial to understand what the people want. “A big piece of this work is ‘What do the people want?’ That’s a question we have to address in this study,” Prieto said.

Gathering Data and Input

Prismatic has been actively collecting essential data from Buncombe County. Figures related to finances, enrollment, and staffing have already been compiled. To date, the firm has conducted over 90 interviews, 34 school visits, and six focus groups.
“What challenges are they struggling with?” Prieto added that members of both district offices have provided crucial information through their interviews, but public engagement is equally vital.

Importance of Public Engagement

Public engagement sessions for the study begin on September 9th. From Prieto’s experience, the outcomes of past studies such as this have been significantly influenced by public input. Fundamental changes are most successful when they are wanted and supported by the local community, Prieto notes. “Money’s not everything. There are educational considerations there,” Prieto said.

The public input sessions are set to take place at locations within the Asheville City and Buncombe County school districts. The kickoff session is slated for September 9 at Owen Middle School, starting at 3:45 p.m., with subsequent meetings at diverse venues, including the East Asheville Public Library, Cane Creek Middle School, and Erwin High School.

Questions to be Addressed

“We’re looking at the issue, what should be the deciding factor,” Prieto said. Questions for potential consideration include high school graduation rates, academic opportunities in middle school, class sizes, and crucial financial considerations. According to Prieto, the sessions will take approximately half an hour, with no pre-registration required.

Public Input Sessions Details:

• Monday, Sept. 9 – 3:45-6:30 p.m. – Owen Middle School
• Tuesday, Sept. 10 – 3:45-6:30 p.m. – East Asheville Library
• Thursday, Sept. 12 – 3:45-6:30 p.m. – Cane Creek Middle School
• Friday, Sept. 13 – 11:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. – Weaverville Community Center
• Monday, Sept. 16 – 3:45-6:45 p.m. – Isaac Dickson Elementary School
• Tuesday, Sept. 17 – 3:30-6:30 p.m. – Erwin High School
• Wednesday, Sept. 18 – 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Enka Intermediate School
• Thursday, Sept. 19 – 3:45-6:30 p.m. – Hall Fletcher Elementary
• Friday, Sept. 20 – 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. – Skyland/South Buncombe Library
• Monday, Sept. 23 – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Online forum

A full breakdown and look ahead of the consolidation study is expected to be broadcast on Tuesday, August 27. Stay tuned for updates and share your school-related stories at crisisintheclassroom@wlos.com.