Firm Leading Asheville City/Buncombe School Consolidation Says Public Input Vital

In an exciting development from the city of Asheville, major changes are afoot as local schools and county officials have been considering consolidating two sizable districts. The foundations of this potential shift are being currently examined by Prismatic Services Inc., a respected firm hailing from Charlotte. Dr. Tatia Prieto, the founder of Prismatic, recently elaborated on the study in her first public interview.

Working Towards a Recommendation

The ambitious study, which has been in process for five months and is expected to conclude in December, still embodies myriad unknowns. When asked to share a preliminary recommendation, Prieto was quick to emphasize that the overall aim is to gauge public sentiment and incorporate it into the forthcoming decisions. “No. A big part of this work is ‘What do the people want?’ That’s a question we have to address in this study”, Prieto shared.

Data Collection and Analysis

Prismatic continues to gather invaluable data while establishing a concrete partnership with Buncombe County. Several key areas, including finances, staffing, and enrollment, are the cornerstones of their comprehensive data analytics. According to Prieto, Prismatic has conducted over 90 interviews and 34 school visits and hosted six focus groups with over 55 participants to glean important insights. With declining enrollment being a shared concern across both districts, Prieto believes ensuring the parallel education environments of both districts are assessed critically is imperative.

Public Engagement Sessions

In a bid to encourage community interaction, public engagement sessions are slated to begin from September 9th. Drawing from her past experiences, Prieto views public participation as instrumental in determining the success of such large-scale changes. These sessions will be held at different times and locations within the seven total school districts between ACS and BCS.

Session Plans and Schedules

The sessions will focus on a range of topics like high school graduation rates, academic opportunities in middle schools, class sizes, and financial implications. Each session is anticipated to last up to 30 minutes and does not require prior registration. The sessions start on Monday, Sept. 9, at Owen Middle School, followed by multiple other locations, including the East Asheville Public Library, Cane Creek Middle School, and Erwin High School.

The Future of Consolidation

Moving forward, as Prismatic Services continues its dedicated work, their findings and subsequent recommendations will undeniably play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Asheville City and Buncombe schools. The community’s active participation and contributions will be crucial in determining this path. As we anticipate more developments regarding this matter, the sincere hope remains that the consolidation will work in the best interest of the students, staff, and wider community.