Buncombe County Spearheads Study on Merging Asheville City and County School Districts

Asheville, N.C. – Following a state mandate last year, Buncombe County is driving the study on a potential consolidation of the Asheville City and Buncombe County school districts. The feasibility study aims to explore the possible advantages and challenges a merger might bring.

Next Steps in School District Merger Study

On Tuesday, County leaders and key community members engaged in an extensive discussion on the plan’s advancement. Buncombe County has taken charge of the project, aiming to determine the practicality of this consolidation, which could redefine public education in the region.

Selection of Research Firm

The County’s Strategic Partnership Director, Rachael Sawyer, shared that a firm is currently being hired to undertake comprehensive research for the study. This study will utilize both qualitative and quantitative research methods to evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks of merging the educational institutions.

“We want them to be uncovering all data that might exist. So, financial information, facility information, academic information, student performance trends, information about student well-being, as well as qualitative information like what do people think,” Sawyer highlighted.

The Study Process

A team, which will include representatives from various perspectives such as school principals, administrators, teachers, parents, and government staff, has been set to oversee the study. The team will consist of a subgroup of nine members, each appointed by a distinct entity, carefully monitoring each phase of the project.

Buncombe County targets to recruit a firm and commence the study in March 2024, expecting the study to be completed by December the same year. The findings and recommendations extracted from the research are hoped to be presented to state officials by February 2025.

“A team that has representatives from a lot of different perspectives keeping an eye on how the project is going. So, we have principals and school administrators and teachers and parents and government staff,” added Sawyer.

Study on Possible Merger

The possible merger of Asheville City and Buncombe County school systems is a complex and significant undertaking that requires a thoughtful and well-structured research plan. The impending consolidation study aims to provide a comprehensive vision based on fact-based analysis, paving the way for informed decision-making.

For more information on the upcoming consolidation study, click here.

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