Asheville City and Buncombe Schools Collect First Public Feedback on Possible Merger
On Monday night, education stakeholders started convening for the inaugural public input session related to the potential merger of Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina. The meeting, the first in a series of ten sessions, was held at Owen Middle School and attracted a cross section of community members including parents, students, educators, and school administrators.
Public Input Essential for the Merger Consideration
The discussion surrounding the potential merger of Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools commenced six months ago under the scrutiny of Prismatic Services Inc. This firm has been overseeing the investigation into the feasibility of uniting the two districts into one. The latest development in this ongoing exploration is the need for public input, providing an opportunity for community involvement in this significant decision.
Among the attendees was ex-educator Elaine Ferguson who said, “I care deeply about all students. I feel like (student) equity is No. 1. Academic performance is, of course, important, but equity in those academics is paramount. I don’t have to have children in the schools to care about children, their education, and their futures.”
Method of Collecting Public Input
The process of collecting public input employed a unique and participatory approach. Instead of a town-hall-style gathering, participants were invited to spend as much time as they liked at different stations, offering insights and feedback on various aspects of the pending merger. Each station was staffed with a consultant from Prismatic Services, facilitating discussion and listening to community members’ insights and concerns.
Student Eliza Martin found the process engaging, noting, “Even though I came in here not knowing what the heck was going to happen, I understood how to do this. I was able to go through each station and input my feedback.”
Participants Respond Positively to the Forum
Josh Wells, Community School Coordinator at Owen Middle School, appreciated the format as it allowed for personal expression. “People can write in their own words,” Wells said, suggesting the authenticity of feedback received. “Being heard in their own words is probably the most important part of the stations I’ve been to so far.”
Dr. Tatia Prieto, Founder of Prismatic Services, reflected on the community’s initial reaction to the proposed merger, “Change is always a difficult thing to consider. There’re always potential unknowns. What would it look like? We don’t always get that in projects. Sometimes people come in and have their pitchforks in their back pocket. We haven’t seen that so far, so that’s wonderful.”
Future Public Input Sessions
Despite the comparatively light participation in this first session, Dr. Prieto is optimistic about the importance of these occassions and is looking forward to the remaining nine meetings. “A big factor for us is what does the public think,” she said. “This is one of our primary ways of getting input from the public. Our goal is to try and get input from a cross-section of the public…everyone who wants to come and participate.”
The future sessions will be held at various locations across the city, including East Asheville Library, Cane Creek Middle School, Weaverville Community Center, Isaac Dickson Elementary School, Erwin High School, Enka Intermediate School, Hall Fletcher Elementary, Skyland/South Buncombe Library and an online forum, offering multiple opportunities for public participation.
