Buncombe County Boards and City School Boards Collaborate on 2030 Goals and Seek Public Feedback

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners + Asheville City and Buncombe County School Boards Set Goals for 2030

Thursday’s special meeting refined the priorities for the local school system’s part in the Strategic Plan 2030 — and locals have an opportunity to weigh in.

Strengthening Community Engagement and Educator Support

Class is in session in Asheville. Last Thursday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners convened with Asheville City and Buncombe County school boards to define the guiding principles that will shape the school system over the next five years and contribute to the county-wide Strategic Plan for 2030.

Key takeaways from this joint meeting include a set of strengths and opportunities, weaknesses, and challenges that both the city and county face when it comes to the future of education.

Strengths + Opportunities

The city and county alike regard their highly engaged community as their primary strength. Opportunities identified during the meeting include the prospect of increasing diversity among students and staff and expanding mental health services in local schools.

Weaknesses + Challenges

Conversely, identified weaknesses for both the city and county include high rates of teacher and staff attrition. The challenges they face include the continual erosion of state funding for education and creating a sustainable plan to counter the rising cost of living for educators and school staff.

Thankfully, these are not points on which residents will be quizzed. However, Asheville locals will have a prime opportunity to contribute to this discourse.

Public Feedback Session

The county is hosting a virtual public feedback session taking place on Monday, Sept. 9 to further refine the goals outlined during last week’s meeting before the final draft is presented in November. After reviewing the city and county presentations, residents are encouraged to join the dialogue and offer their insights.

Stay informed with updates on the Strategic Plan 2030 and voice your thoughts for the county’s educational future. Remember, an engaged community is viewed as one of the primary strengths of both our city and county let’s keep it that way.