001Evening everyone. It's nice to see everybody. I'm going to call the meeting to order and I've asked uh Rebecca to read our equity statement. In Asheville City Schools, we are committed to equity and anti-racist policies for all students and staff to learn and thrive. We recognize that our positions come with power, responsibility, and public service for the entire ACS community. We will model our commitment to equity through our practices and decisions. During this meeting, we invite pause if harm has taken place, a moment to name harm, and space to practice repair. Thank you. Um, we are all present. Board member Amy Ray is on her way. She'll be a couple minutes late and she'll join us, but we otherwise have a quorum. And so, at this time, we will do the pre pledge of allegiance.
002How about we just say it together? Thank you folks. At this time, I would take a motion to approve our agenda. And I will note that a few um items have been added throughout the day, including the personnel report is now showing on um the consent agenda. But is there a motion to approve or does anyone seek to have any items taken off the consent agenda before we approve the agenda? Um, I would ask that the two policies for second read be pulled off the consent agenda. Okay. So, policy 2110 and policy 5030 will be moved to action items under section five. I move that we approve the agenda as amended. Second. All in favor? I I the motion as amended is approved and at this time we'll turn it over for good news. Thank
003you for your patience as we navigated through um the pledge of allegiance. We had some serious technical difficulties before coming on. We had no Wi-Fi and thank you to Matt and the team for getting that pulled back up. So hopefully we are up and running. So good evening. Um, I bring to you May's good news and we're going to start off with congratulations to Silsa Science teacher Tucker Waldron for receiving an open way learning grant supporting the WNC resilience project. This grant created after Hurricane Helen aims to make western North Carolina schools models of resilience and learner centered in innovation. It recently funded a Silsa biology field trip to the Appalachin Highlands Science Learning Center where students studied phenology, snail sampling, and ecosystem indicators connecting classroom learning to real world science. Well done, Tucker, for
004earning this grant and providing students with such a meaningful hands-on learning opportunity. If you'll come up and be recognized and get we'll get a picture with the board. [Applause] Yeah, you'll just stand right in front of them. Asheville Middle School science Olympiad team had great success this year at the regional competition in Hickory and the statewide competition at NC State University. In regionals, the varsity team won second place overall and JV won first place, competing against the top 41 middle schools at the state level, and seventh graders Norah Stuck and Clara Nunan put AMS on the map by earning fourth place. We are incredibly proud of these students and their science olympiad teachers who have continued to foster a love for learning and science in our students. Tryyous for next year's team will be September
0052025. At this time, we would like Miss Ross and the and the uh students to come up and bring your amazing trophies and stand in front of the board and we'll grab a picture. [Applause] Ashawa City School's preschool program held a successful father and family engagement night at Hall Fletcher Elementary School last week. The event brought together preschool families and staff from across the district along with enthusiastic community partners. A special shout out to community action opportunities and Head Start Piska View Center for their participation and longstanding partnership with Asheville City Schools. The event featured fun and excitement thanks to the John R. Hayes, High Step and Majorette and Drum Corps, our very own DJ Mark Dickerson, Verer Center for Early Learning, Read to Succeed, Rocky from UNCCA, as well as Purple Pigs Table Catering.
006Many local businesses also contributed through generous raffle prize donations. The event was a wonderful opportunity for preschool families in the Asheville City community to connect, play, and learn more about Asheville City Schools. Is Susanna Smith with us this evening? Anyway, all right. Well, thank you to the preschool program for putting that together. It's hard to believe that IRL is celebrating their 15-year anniversary of afterschool programming. A program of the Asheville City Schools Foundation, IRL provides hands-on, fun, and engaging afterchool programming for middle schoolers. And through the Dream Program, opportunities for high schoolers to serve as nearpeer mentors, gaining professional skills they will carry with them far beyond graduation. Highly qualified afterchool programming like IRL plays a critical role in connecting students with professionals in their community and offering students real life experiences that enrich learning
007and prepare our students for future successes. And I know that we have dream and some reap with us this evening. And also I was looking to see if anybody else is here. Okay, sorry. Thank you. But Copeland's going to come up with her group and share a little bit later about what's happening at the foundation. Um Lucy Sering kindergarten trip to AMS and Asheville High and Silsa. Uh recognizing the pitiful pit pivotal role of early exposure uh in shaping a student's academic trajectory, Asheville City Schools orchestrated an enriching experience for kindergarteners from Lucius Herring. These young learn learn learners toured the campuses of Asheville Middle School, Asheville High School, and Silsa, offering them a tangible and inspiring preview of the secondary education landscape that awaits them by thoughtfully connecting these foundational years with the possibilities
008of the future. Asheville City of Schools cultivates a sense of engagement and excitement for the journey of learning. And this was an exciting opportunity not only for our kindergarteners but also our secondary students um to see the the future Cougars that are coming. Congratulations to Asheville High School's track and field team. Asheville High's track and field teams have achieved remarkable success. The women's team secured their impressive fourth consecutive outdoor conference championship title. Individual accolades include Sophie Alexander earning the track MVP award and Seblo Miracle taking home the field MVP award. The men's team also celebrated significant victories with Michael Haskin claiming first place in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. A special highlight is Zyron Baxter's outstanding performance, breaking a school record and winning first place in the long jump with a leap of
00923 feet and in. Wow. Congratulations to all the talented athletes and dedicated coaches of both the women's and men's team. And if you will come up to the front and we'll get a picture. [Applause] At this time, we would like to recognize America's hottest hitter. In other great sports news, we are very excited to announce that Asheville High senior Jay Secretarski was named National Baseball Player of the Week last week and America's hottest hitter. Jay received a baseball scholarship to Penn State where he will continue to shine in the world of baseball. Congratulations, Jay. If you'll come up [Applause] [Laughter] Oh, sorry. So, okay. Last week, junior students from Asheville High and Silsa attended a dedicated junior night focused on post-graduation opportunities. High school counselors delivered insightful presentations covering the college application process, navigating scholarships,
010and FASA applications, and providing essential information about the upcoming senior year. Following the informative session, students and their families connected with representatives from over 30 different colleges in the cafeteria alongside the support of the United Ways homework diners. This invaluable event provided crucial guidance as our students begin to envision their futures and prepare for their final year of high school. A sincere thank you to the dedicated Asheville High School and Silsa School counselors and homework donors for organizing such an impactful event for our students. On behalf of Ash City Schools, we want to congratulate Dr. Rafika [Music] Cobb, principal of Ira V. Jones Elementary. On her graduation this past weekend, Dr. Cobb received her EDDD from Western North Carolina University and is a member of the first cohort of the Asheville City Schools Black Educators
011of Excellence program. Dr. Cobb's three years of hard work showcase her deep commitment to professional growth and inspire students to pursue their educational goals. Congratulations, Dr. Cobb. And if you'll come up so that we can get a picture. [Music] [Applause] And if you haven't heard, strategic planning is in the process. And we are currently working to build and develop our strategic plan. And it's important that you get involved. You can go to this uh scan on your phone, this QR code. It'll take you to the strategic planning uh page. Your community input is extremely important um because you all of us are champions for public education and we want to hear from you. So, please make sure that you u complete the surveys um so that we know what your vision is for Asheville City
012Schools. At this time, I would like to recognize Joe Hooton, who is going to come up and talk about anti the anti-bullying poster contest. Good evening board. My name is Joe. So I'm here to talk today about Save Club at Ashel High and the poster competition. So what is Save Club? Students Against Violence Everywhere is the youth leadership initiative of Sandy Hook Promise led by students. The aim is to empower student leaders to take an active role in increasing school safety and preventing different forms of violence in our community. This year is the first year Save Club has been a standalone club rather than a part of an existing club and we've achieved incredible things despite numerous setbacks. So what have we done this year? Following the return from the hurricane, we promoted safety resources
013such as the see something, say something anonymous reporting system to fifth period classes. In February, we celebrated No One Eats Alone Day to promote inclusivity and had over a 100 students sign our promise pledge. In March, we celebrated trusted adult day and gave thanks to our staff members students trusted the most. And in April, we promoted cyber bullying awareness to ensure safety both online and in person. Recently, in May, we teamed up with central office for the anti-bullying comp poster competition, and we had a $50 prize winner. And here's the poster that won. So, thank you to Ta Reynolds. I think she's a sophomore at Ashley High. I don't think she's here tonight, but thank you to her for winning this. And these posters are currently in the process of being printed and laminated and
014hung up in the elementary and middle schools around the um district. So, there's more that Save Club has achieved this year. Um we've held moments of silence for victims of gun violence and school shootings. We've hung posters up around our own school at Ashel High. and we created a community of student leaders interested in promoting safety. Um the future of Safe Club for next year, we have five student leaders for the 2526 school year. We're going to have bi-weekly club meetings and we're going to have even more safety promoting events. But the real reason I come here today is to ask the school board to declare September as violence awareness/anti-bullying month to help ensure the prevention of bullying, the promotion of life-saving resources like the say something, say something anonymous reporting system, and to ensure
015the safety of students remains the number one priority for our school district. I ask the board for your consideration, and I thank you for your time. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] Good evening board members and thank you for having us board of education and superintendent Ferman. My name is Ajab Wuan II. I am a senior at SLSA and I've been in REAp for three years. Hi, my name is Estrea Moreno and I'm a senior at Sulsa and I have been a REAp member for four years. Um, hi, my name is Stella. I am a senior at Asheville High and I have been in REAp for three years. Hi, I'm Lucy. I'm a senior at Asheville High and I've been in REIT for four years. Hi, my name is Jon Rose Green and I've been I'm a
016senior right now and I've been in REAp since I was a junior. Hi, I'm Seba Miracle. I'm a junior at Silsa and I've been in REAp for two years. All right. So, despite what it says on the agenda, we are not here for Asheville City Schools Foundation report. We are here to celebrate the fifth year anniversary of the racial ambe racial equity ambassador program. And and so we want to briefly hi highlight our projects from this year and to deliver the results of our latest survey where 613 students gave input on the graduate profile and our priorities for the characteristics of a cougar. Um, we started this year off at the ACS staff convocation and we received exciting news that Dr. Ferman chose the actual six strategies to culturally responsive teaching as part of the
017ACS theory of change and practice for all the educators. Um, we also presented at the ACS curriculum conferences highlighting REAp as a model of expeditionary learning. And this was where we reviewed our five years of REAp studentled projects and products. Okay. And these are just some of the products that have come out of those five years. Uh we also connected with our peers by organizing REAp's first Elver filmfest and the uh ACSF freedom ride where we had 24 REAP andrew members travel to Atlanta and Alabama to connect with alum um Maya Bailey and visit the legacy sites in Montgomery and Silma. In February, we had a entire campus um Big World Small Delights where we had Ross Gay come and present for the school and we had a spoken word and art contest that we
018got to showcase all the talent that's at our school. Um, and in March, five REAp students and two Dream students traveled to Knoxville for the National Association of Education Foundation's annual conference to be the only student presenters at the conference. Um, our session was titled Beyond Just listening to youth voice from ideas to action and it was incredibly wellreceived. We made a student survey. We made a survey for reap and we sent that to the school and these are just some of the highlights of the survey that we did. Here we have the majority of students all grade levels did it. And we have a majority of sophomores who provided more data actually freshman sorry. And our racial racial identity the amount the amount of people that presented or responded were white. And then we
019have our top three categories, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. And so this is data from the 22 23 school year highlighting the fifth strategy of the Asheville 6, which is addressing race and racism. And as you can see, 35% of students said this was never addressed in class during their time at Asheville High. And so from the progression to 2025, we can see that the chart has pretty much flipped and now a lot of students are saying that it's being addressed most of the time and always. And I think this is just a factor that shows after 5 years of re we are able we are happy to share that this strategy is now being addressed and a lot of although a lot of white students took the survey and so they feel that it's
020being addressed. It's still prevalent that reap is making impact in our school system today. As a member of REIT for four years, I have learned um to be a leader and to learn to have difficult conversations when needed. Um and it has honestly taught me how to be a leader in ways that I would never imagine. Um learning to manage a team of people and take responsibility for your team and knowing that um every team works differently and you have to find ways for them to learn and to adapt. Um, being in REAp has definitely taught me how much my voice matters and like coming from a student. Um, especially in all of the presentations I've been a part of, I can really tell that from coming from a student voice really makes a difference.
021And, um, I've grown as a leader through all of the projects I've led with my um, small groups. And yeah, that's really um during my three years in REAp, I've learned of the burden of responsibility that leaders take on and just how much is on their shoulders when it comes to leading a team and being able to manage projects and get them done on time. Being in Reap has really learned taught me how to collaborate with others, how to work as a team, how to build trust, and really how helping each other gets the work done faster. So, I really I'm really glad in my experience in this club and I'm glad I joined. Um, my time in REAp has really taught me how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable, especially when having difficult conversations
022with my educators and board members. Um, it's never easy, but it always pays off and I've really learned a lot from it. Being in REAp has taught me how important it is to give a spotlight to people's creative ideas and really create a stage to where people can show how they think and how they feel and that's just one way to really bring people together because everyone has different feelings and ideas and REAP just brings that all together and shows that everyone's human. So we would like to thank the board and Dr. Ferman for your time and finally we like to thank Mr. Hughes for being our faculty adviser this year. [Applause] And this is how you can follow repo on all of our social media platforms. [Applause] [Music] Miss Kimberly, I don't see anybody
023for public comment. Okay, just checking. At this time, um, what is before us is the consent items, and I'm just going to say them out loud to make sure we're all on the same page. Draft minutes from April 7th, including close session minutes, regular meeting minutes from April 21st, the student releases to Bunkham County, the listed contracts andus, charter communications, encore technology, exterior experts, Tarheel Paving and Trafera, and three information policies and the personnel. Sorry, I'm looking at two different things. um and the personnel report. So, these are before us on the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the it? Yes. Is there no one for public comment? I'm told there's nobody. I'm sorry. I thought you heard me say that to Kimberly. Apologies. There's nobody signed up for public comment. Okay. Thank
024you. Yep. Is that right, Lisa? That's correct. Yep. Okay. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? I move that we approve the consent agenda. Second. All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? Okay. At this time, we are going to move on to our action items. And the first one is uh the Chartwells contract. And I think we're are we hearing from Heidi or are we just opening it up for conversation? Okay. Um, you all will remember that last week, um, we had the one-year extension in front of us and there was conversation about that and we have moved it to today. And at this time, it would be appropriate to have a motion in a second and then we can discuss it. Um, but I'll defer to the board. Okay. I move
025that we approve the contract. Before we approve the contract, can I say something real quick? I'm sorry. I just wanted Did you want a motion and then discussion? We can do it lots of different ways. I think um Jesse, if you don't mind, let me see if we get a second. We may not, but if we get a second, then it would be up for discussion. Okay. How about that? Is there do I have a second on the motion to approve the amendment to the Chars contract? Second. Okay. Thanks. All right. Open for discussion. Jesse, are there we have had some remarks about this. Can we hear more about it? Dr. Freeman, if you have heard anything about it, about the new leadership that is on board right now. Yeah. Um I was made aware
026that the with the transition so we had chef Nick and he left and we have a new um chef Shan and um there were some concerns about some change in leadership, change in style. We know it's a new person. So Heidi and I feel like it's appropriate for us to take an opportunity and and meet with him, kind of talk with him, make sure he's on boarded to the well how we lead in Asheville. Um so I think that will help some of the concerns that I heard um regarding uniforms and some of the way that um you know he that the new leadership has been. We're a much different organization than many other organizations. So I think there just is an opportunity for us to help um onboard the new Chartwell staff um and
027work with that um put that team together. Right. So without knowing the specific concerns that I was just made aware of a few right before the meeting, I don't have much to share about addressing those other than we'll take this opportunity to work with the new leadership. Right. There's no one here from there's no one here from the U cafeteria managers. None of them here. All right. Sorry, Maggie. When did the new leadership for Chartwells come on board? Oh gosh, Heidi, do you remember? Shan actually Spielberg, you want to stand for a minute so they can see you? Is our new director. Hey, welcome. Aaron Propes is our regional representative. They both joined this evening in case you had any specific questions for them, but he's only he ran in the door with two weeks.
028Two weeks. Two weeks. So, he's he's been on the run and trying to really acclimate himself and doing a great job at this point. Okay. Can we ask you a question? Sorry. Can we ask? Your name again is Shane. Hey, uh, have you had the opportunity to get together with majority of your the people that worked in the cafeteria and, uh, expl and let them talk to them and trying to get the feel of Asheville? Are you from this area by chance? Not from this area, from Charlotte. So, definitely a change coming here from Charlotte. But uh we have had um our first managers meeting with me was this past week. So got to sit down with all of them and hear some of the things that they had feedback on. But I've also been
029site visit doing site visits where I talk to those managers, try and talk to some of our other employees that are there and get some of their feedback as well. What are they challenged with? What can I help them improve on? What do they need more training on? Um, basically, how can I be that person that gives them what they need to be successful? Um, so trying to get some of that feedback, trying to give them some guidance on things that we can do right now and things that will be next school year, things that we can really start working together on. But you will work with them if they have some concerns that they don't really agree with. Definitely. It's a partnership, right? So, it's not for me to come in and just say,
030"This is what we're doing." We just need to be able to have that open communication and understand what they're looking for, what you all are looking for, and then what we typically do and make it work for Asheville. All right. Thank you. Can you describe your experience um in terms of working with school systems? Sure. So, I've been with Compass almost 15 years. I started with Flick Independent School Dining. So, all um private schools, independent schools. Um, I was with them for seven years, so got a lot of experience understanding what students are looking for menu- wise, what they're passionate about, and what we can do to drive that participation with them, offering foods that they want to see, not necessarily the overly healthy items, but if that's what they want, we'll give them that
031as well. Um, after that, I went on to work in business and industry, sports, entertainment, and kind of getting that roundout feel in Charlotte for what everybody was looking for. coming here. That's the same goal I have. Let's learn what these students are looking for. Let's learn what you guys are looking for. Let's make everybody happy as much as we can. We know we can't always make everyone happy every day, but ultimately the goal is to give our students, faculty, staff, admin what they're looking for in a school nutrition program. And how better to do that than to send out surveys to sit down with them to be present in the cafeteria and learn what they're looking for rather than sitting behind the desk and hoping that they'll tell us one day. So, I'm going
032to follow up just with sort of a a comment. As you probably know, this contract is still relatively new for us in Asheville, and it was um it was difficult to make the decision to to privatize our school nutrition function. Um I just would encourage you, and I know that Dr. confirm and and Heidi are going to share this with you, but I'm going to say it as one board member that we want you to work carefully with the staff to hear their concerns. And I'm sure you're going to do that, but I just feel compelled to say it anyway that um our nutrition staff is important to us and we want to make sure that anybody who comes in elevates their concerns and just hears them along with the balance of whatever you need
033to do to make sure that this food service is what it should be. Definitely understand that and that's the plan right now. Thank you. Um, I'm reviewed the existing contract. Um, not every uh letter of of the 148 pages, but the original contract. It was nice to have that to refer to. So, I appreciate staff for providing that. Um, it looks like the big thing that we are looking to approve is an increase in the uh reimbursement rate. Um, I want to echo um what uh my honorable companion uh Amy Ray said about um supporting our staff. Uh we have food and nutrition staff who interact with our students and meet them where they're at and care provide love and care for our students and they're valuable members of our community. and we want to
034make sure that we are not losing any staff and that they feel respected and uh supported. Um I know that some changes have made food delivery uh food service lower slower. Um and um maybe some thinking on how we can provide the same level of choice but um allow more students to be served in a timely manner would be helpful at our high school and and middle school in particular. Um, I have the concern that I've shared with the board about um saving money by reducing benefits for food and nutrition staff. And I'm long-term looking for a way that we can continue to have staff employed by Asheville City Schools, even new staff opt into that. But I understand that's not part of the current contract and that's not really what we're considering today and
035that it's primarily what the reimbursement rate will be for the next year. Um but I continue to have that concern and I'm wondering if you know but you're here for two weeks. Um, if you are you've only been here for two weeks, if you know how many of the staff were be able were able to take advantage of unemployment benefits last summer and that may not be a number that you have today and I respect that. Well, by state law, employees of school districts are not eligible to file for unemployment. However, employees of contract management companies can. So, it really just depends upon how many people are on our payroll versus how many people are on your payroll. And they're they're filing a season or as attached unemployment. Is that how that works? It's called
036a furlow, for lack of a better term because we don't have work available in the time frame that they're seeking the unemployment for. Okay. And routinely you approve those requests. Absolutely. Yeah. We don't we don't fight those unemployment. We are very clear with the state when we're asked. We don't have work from this date to this date. This is the date we anticipate putting these folks back to work and that does that should not slow the process. Again, we don't make the final determination on whether or not they qualify, but that's the information that we provide. But you're not fighting it. No, sir. Okay. I appreciate that. Absolutely. Those are my questions. Okay. Any other questions for the Chartwells representatives? Are we ready to vote on the amendment? It is before us on a motion
037and a second. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right, it's unanimous. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. Next on the agenda um are our March 10th draft meetings. We looked at these last week and discussed them and they were shared with everyone in their current format. And I think again if there is a motion and a second that would be appropriate and then we can discuss. I move that we approve our March 10th regular meeting minutes. Second. Any discussion? I would like to um hand some flyers down that were provided at theformational meetings that show all the different programs that are available through the uh community development block grants for disaster relief. Okay, just take one. Happy is sharing information. Are there any other questions, comments, discussion? Okay, are we ready to vote? All
038those in favor of approving the March 10th meeting minutes, please say I. I. I. Any opposed? Nay. Okay. Um the motion passes. Next we are moving to the two policies that we took off the consent agenda. And so the first one is policy 2110 board member appointments. And just for perspective, we talked about this last week. We took um the recommendation of council. We took a vote about the changes we wish to see. that has been emailed to all of us and at this time um it I don't know once again if there's a motion in a second we can discuss it or if there are things that need to be said before that point I would like to make a motion that um items one through three that I had emailed you minor changes
039to be what we requested last week um be included And those changes are just to mirror the um uh the language in the statute so that it says swear open parenthesis or affirm close parenthesis. and that um we just put the brackets on omit phrase if affirming instead of parenthesis and that we add back in so help me God after the first paragraph of um the oath as it is in the statute and oh and uh that we add 11-7 and 11- 11 uh to the references at the bottom of the policy. That is the motion. Is there a second? I ask a question or do we need to wait for a second? I was giving folks time to look at it. Let me just see if there's a second, George, if that's Say again.
040Okay. I'm sorry. I was giving folks time to look at their email and let me just see if there's a second and then we could have discussion. Pepe can tell me if I'm wrong, but I think what he is suggesting is that we switch swear and affirm and that we um add the reference so help me God and we add statutory references. Um I don't did I get an email about this? No, I think it's on the I don't see an email. I apologize then. I guess I thought this one went to everybody. Oh, I'm sorry. That email was sent to Sarah Thornberg as language we requested, but the corrections didn't quite get made correctly last week. And I'm going to send it to everybody. Just so we're clear, I think Pepe is saying what
041we were sent is not what we agreed to last week. So, a different way you could get there is look at what we were sent um on May 7th and see if you agree. How can I get a clear statement of what we are looking at? Is that possible? Um Um Okay. I don't know that this is for the policy. Yeah, we're looking at the policy right now. Do you have it in front of you, Jesse? I can't see your Yes, you have. Okay. So, what Pepe has suggested is where it says, I believe, affirm-wear. He would like it to say swear- affirm. Well, it's in the statute. It says literally affirm open parenthesis or swear close parenthesis. And I'm just saying we copy whatever is in the statute which is to put the word
042swear first and the word affirm second. That's it. I think we keep it right says affirm swear. I think he wants us to add the word or am I right about that and it switches the order just so that we are doing exactly what the state legislature put in the in the call law. I will forward this to you folks so that you've got the visual reference. And I'm so sorry I just sent it to Sarah earlier today. And I'm sorry, Pepe, there were a lot of emails somewhere to That's fine. That's fine. If you all are looking at the policy that was sent to us on May 7th, the changes are the order in which affirm and swear are presented and that instead of the phrase omit phrase if affirming with parentheses, it have
043brackets and that the phrase so help me God be returned to the first paragraph. So again, I'm confused. So is it affirm and then parenthetically swear or is it swear and then parenthetically affirm because that in the statute it's swear and then parthetically or affirm. Gotcha. Thank you. And that we use a bracket instead of parentheses as place phrase. So this is the motion in front of us. It does not yet have a second just for procedure purposes. Yeah. So, I know that we're we're waiting to get the language in front of us exactly as it's written, but I just want to clarify that you're advocating for to go back to the striketh through copy of where it says, "Do you solemnly swear parenthetically or affirm?" The striketh through has the original single paragraph. The
044original request was that we add the paragraph that that we are given um in addition to that that's required by statute and that we actually used in our swearing in ceremonies. But inadvertently the religious language that I personally don't use but I think many in the general assembly would still like for us to have available uh was removed. And so I'm just making sure that we're consistent with um section 11-7 and 11-11 which is in the general statutes. Okay. I got one. Uh Sarah, are you able to go back to the copy that we seen according to the policy and put all of this in place? We can see the whole thing. Um because I'm looking at what he sent us and I'm not sure where it is going inside of the uh policy. Absolutely.
045Yeah. And folks, these are Pepe has made a motion and at some point I just need somebody to second it. I mean I'm giving you time. I'm just orienting everybody else. [Music] I'm just going to make the observation that I like it the way it is, affirm and then swear. I think that um swear implies a religious faith. And although many of us have a religious faith, I prefer to begin with the assumption that not everyone does. And I also think that so help me God, which is the phrase that follows the second paragraph, implicitly applies to both paragraphs. I don't think we need it in both paragraphs. I I'm not bothered by the absence of a statutory reference if our attorneys haven't included the statuto. I I agree with that, Amy. And then I
046I just Can I Is it appropriate to ask for another revision? Okay. Okay, at this point I got to stop because either there's a second for Pepe's motion or not and I'm not hearing one so far. So there is So Pepe's motion and that is to be consistent with this with the uh North Carolina general statutes. Understood. So we no longer have a motion in front of us. So Eliza, if sorry, I know it's Liza. If you would like to make a motion, you can. I don't know which or you just add a question. I'm not sure. I'm I was just asking about the the last sentence in SE under section C where it reads um we changed it his or her to there, but the the very last part of that sentence it still
047reads he or she will be ejected from office. And I just wanted to ask if we could change that to they. And yes, and Liza, I'm sorry. Tell me where this is. It's the the very last phrase in the policy. So help me God. Am I looking in the wrong place? Uh, it's on page two. So, it should be they they will it would be they will be ejected. Yes. From office. Um, I like that change. And it's consistent. Yeah. Because that's consistent with the rest. Okay. So, that do I need to make a motion for that? And if we could if you see where it is. Yeah. I'm looking at here. It be what? Dave. What I'm going to have you do is make a motion that as presented to us with the change
048in the pronoun if that could be your motion so that we could approve the whole thing. Yes. Do we have to vote on this today? Excuse me. Do we have to vote on this today? We have to. Yeah. And we can make minor changes. Okay. Now, I just want to see the whole thing before I say yay. It is this whole thing except that's going to be uh wait a minute. He or she will be they because we're not doing what Pepe suggested. So, this is actually the way it'll be. Okay. Um, I move that we accept the policy as it's written with the change in the final phrase of he or she to they. Um, believing that this policy is entirely consistent with what the general assembly has required, I second that motion. Any
049discussion? I do think that we should um uh we need to uh in our next close session consult with the attorneys on uh general statute 14- uh but that's not a thing for today. We ready to vote? All those in favor of the motion, excuse me, of the policy as presented with the change in pronouns, please say I. I. Opposed? No. Okay, the motion carries. Thank you all. Next and the last action item is the um board policy 5030 community use of facilities. Although it's been discussed a lot, no changes were made last week and it's before us for approval on second read. It was pulled from the consent agenda. So I need a motion and a second if we wish to consider the motion as presented. I move that we approve the uh policy
050as presented. Second discussion. I was just going to offer that we add a sentence um so that we don't have to bring it back at a later date. Um, and that sentence I emailed out to the board of adding uh after school related groups open parenthesis organizations formed to support the school in some manner such as PTA, PTO, teachers and principles organizations and booster clubs that we specify school sponsored meetings of school related groups are considered school sponsored activities. fees and other requirements may be waved at the desk at the discretion of the superintendent or their design. And then I also suggest that we strike through PTA because it is a registered trademark. None of our PTOs are members of the national PTA organization and a PTA would still be a PTO and a parent
051teacher organizations are uh what is mentioned in general statute. You sent it to the whole board. Yeah, just I did. I got So the the motion in front of us is to approve the policy we received. Right now this is discussion about further changes. So there would need to be a motion to amend and a second if we are in favor of these revisions. Can I have a question? Uh why the change if it's if it's okay with what it was? I mean well we've got what's changed? So right now or this year we have had situations in which PTO's have been asked to provide insurance and indemnify the school district meaning to uh take responsibility for any lawsuits or anything like that in order for uh parents to come on the campus and meet
052at a PTO meeting. And there's been some confusion and discussions about it. And the current practice of principles as far as I know and as far as I've experienced is that PTO's are invited and supported by principles and assistant principles to meet. And so this simply provides an exception to um all of the extra paperwork in purchasing a insurance policy. in order for PTOs to have meetings, but it wouldn't cover the events and it would again be at the discretion of the superintendent or their designate, which is generally the principal. Would the superintendent see a change in this? I'm sorry, Jesse, repeat that. I said, do the superintendent see a change in this? I don't support that change. No, I I would recommend the policy be approved as written. Just um I would also note
053that I don't think that that change helps because the language and the liability insurance refers to school related sorry school sponsored groups not school sponsored activities. So I'm not sure that your suggested change even resolves your concern. But I think the bigger concern was that our insurance policy requires that any group that is not a school sponsored group has to have this insurance. um and that it would expose us as a school system to liability to wave that for certain school related but not school sponsored groups. Am I articulating that correctly, Dr. Ferman? Okay. Yeah. And and just so and Pepe, I appreciate the the intent around your revision. I worry that for something that goes into liability without I and I appreciate especially your intent not to have to bring it back to another
054work session and keep working on it. But it feels to me like with liability I would like to have some input from legal counsel to say you know what that language would look like. So, for me, it feels like as it's written, I'm I mean, I made the motion, so obviously I'm in favor of approving that way. And yeah, we might have to spend some more time um with legal counsel to to ensure if it's even possible to have something like that, but I just don't see how right now without having legal counsel, I could support adding language that I don't know does what you're intending. Yeah, I appreciate that. I have been requesting that we have legal counsel available at our regular meetings, but I understand that we may want them to have additional
055time. I also have been asking if we can please um get a presentation from the North Carolina School Board Trust, which would help us understand our indemnification and some of the options that are out there. I also have the opinion that it is a function of schools to have parent and teacher participation. And so I question whether it is the insurance policy that is out of compliance with um with our schoolboard policies. I I appreciate all that you've brought up, Pepe, and um I also get nervous around discussions about liability or lack thereof um without legal counsel present. Would it be possible to plan to revisit the policy in our August work session? Um we had legal counsel and this is the language. They vetted this policy as is. That's why we're presenting it as
056is. And we had that discussion several months ago about changing it and they looked into it and they the issue isn't legal counsel. The issue or like liability there, it's the insurance. So when we looked in with our looked into our insurance policy, that's where they said they would not support that change for our insurance policy covering something if we did a waiver. That's why we left it as is. And with the support of legal counsel, that's why you have the policy in front of you as written. I have a recollection, and you guys can tell me if I'm wrong, that last week, because this is the same policy that if we approve it, it will allow us to rent space to for-profit um groups and and I may be mixing this up with another
057one, but was it this policy that we were saying we could approve it in its present form and move forward and we will in an appropriate time in the not too distant future, I understood we would revisit school how school groups use the property and so that would bring discussions of all of this back. So that was my memory of so I'm on that page too Sarah. Okay. So Liza I think that just I don't think you have a problem with this but I think if we approve it tonight we'd be done for now and then we could revisit school group use which might bring up this policy and other policies if that is acceptable. That's acceptable. So, I think we're ready to vote. Um, all we have a motion and a second to approve
0585010 5030 um as presented. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, passes. Thank you all. That completes our action items and I'm going to turn it over to Maggie for a superintendent report. All right, good evening everyone. I actually I don't have a great deal for um the report, but did want to highlight a couple things um that happened between last meeting and this meeting. We had a a lot of opportunity over the past month to engage with our community. Um one of those events was our business community strategic planning event that we hosted at Wicked Weed. Um, we had a really great um, representation from many different members of our community and business partners to provide feedback and input on what we're looking for in graduates and to help us understand what are
059some assets we have in our community that and our business partners that we may not be using to the best of what we have available. Um, I also had a chance, and I love this part, is sitting in on the Asheville City School Foundation scholarship interviews, um, and met 12 really amazing seniors from Asheville High and Silsa. That really made my day being a part of of those interviews for two days. Um, I'm also have been sitting on the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition State Steering Committee and they are looking at overall how are we using community schools? what are ways we can harness and support the enhancement of community schools um at Asheville City Schools. We have um community schools at Asheville High, Asheville Middle, and um Hall Fletcher. So, we have one of
060the very few districts that have a continuum of community schools, K prek, because there's prek at Hall Fletcher, pre-K through 12th grade. Um so, we're able to provide a lot of input for other districts that are looking at enhancing their community schools. So, that's been a really great steering committee to be a part of. Also, last week I um was on a pan served as a panelist with Dr. Mo Green and Dr. Jackson hosted by the I'm going to now forget the name of the sorority, but it I should have written it down. They hosted a week-long um events um really focusing on education. Um so we were able to serve on that ca um panel and answer questions and really speak to how everyone how we can deepen our support for public schools and
061what some of the challenges are that we're facing um in the public school arena. Um also I sit on the United for Youth Leadership team and it's been a really great team to sit on as well. The work of that team, you're going to start seeing a lot more about that community. um United for Youth Leadership team, they've been working on identifying what is a a goal that that team should be focusing on as a community goal. Um and we've kind of whittleled it down to two or three. Um but we're even leaning in to see can we really set a goal that's going to go really deep instead of wide. Um so some more updates to come on that. Um and then I was honored to attend and and share some words at the
062AVID commencement ceremony. I have to tell you, the students that go through our AVID program are just really impressive. And just sitting behind the group of students that are going through AVID and seeing how they support each other, how they lift each other up, um, and their just positive relationship with Mr. Hughes was just really heartwarming. Um, so I really enjoyed attending the commencement ceremony for our AVID students. also had a really great opportunity to go to the women leading ed summit um a few weekends ago in Charlotte. was able just to listen to and learn from just amazing uh powerful just really inspirational female leaders in the state in the public school arena from superintendent to secret um what's the other um secretaries not secretaries state school superintendent um and that was really valuable
063and I took a lot um away from that conference and um made lots of new friends and connections across the public ed nationwide um also had a great opportunity to go see our local school board, state school board um new person, Janet Moody. Um she will now represent the Western District for the state school board. Um so they had her reception and swearing in ceremony last week and or maybe two weeks ago. And if you don't know, Janet Moody used to be the superintendent in Rutherford County and um that's where Heidi used to work before we snatched her up here. Um, so Janet and I got a chance to um talk about how much we appreciate Heidi and all of her knowledge. So that was great and also an opportunity just to meet with other
064state school board members and people from the department of ed. That was a really great opportunity there. Um, if you haven't heard, Asheville Middle School is doing our very first full expedition um, as part of our EEL partnership and they are focusing on a resiliency project called After the Storm where they are understanding how weather changes the landscape and what we can do um, after a natural disaster and how our human communities can really impact an ecosystem afterwards. And I went to Asheville Middle School um last week and they had Riverlink come in and do their table demonstration to show how water how the different types of topography change the landscape. So they have this table and it demonstrates a river and how rivers cause erosion and what things prevent erosion. And so what our
065students are doing is we actually partnered with a school closer I in closer to central um North Carolina and they have sponsored us and are sending us lots of different resources and coming up soon our students have been um planting little seedlings native seedlings and they'll be going out to the French Broad River and planting their seedlings and modeling what they learned in this demonstration for how to prevent erosion. So, a really great hands-on learning opportunity that's engaging our students in high level critical thinking. Um, and it's a big collaboration between the science and the language arts department um in sixth grade. And we're really excited for that day. So, if you want to come and help plant little seedlings along the river, we will add you to that invitation. I think that'll be great.
066Yep. Um, also if you didn't go to the art show of our students, it was another just it every time I go, well, every time. This is the second time I've been, but it feels like I've been in this district for a long time. Um, which that's interesting to reflect on. But anyway, so the art show was amazing. Such quality student work um at the art show. Just I I can't believe this is work coming from students in elementary, middle school, and high school. Uh you can tell the passion that our art teachers have for their work and how they inspire students to be creative and to be dreamers. There was so much in the art show that are things that I would never even imagine. And to see where our students have that creativity
067and imagination was just really it was unique and inspiring. Another huge celebration we celebrated our district teacher of the year, Miss Chenica Daniels. We're going to do a more formal recognition for her um coming up at the next board meeting. But just so you know, it was so wonderful celebrating with her. Her family members came and joined her in this celebration. The Jones staff all gathered up in their auditorium and even her one of her um family members had other family members on a Zoom call so they could witness it online. She is just such a gem and a wonderful teacher. If you don't know, she's homegrown. She is an Asheville alum. She was an instructional assistant and um went to school to be a teacher and teaches her students. Um uh she's just amazing.
068If you haven't been in her classroom, take some time to go. It is truly a joyful place to learn and where students are held to very high expectations. So that's an invitation. If you ever want to go, I'm happy to to go or or connect you with Miss Cob Dr. Cobb um so that you can go and see that wonderful experience. We did our budget presentations. Um, and just as a reminder, we did our budget presentation. We presented information to the commissioners requesting funding so that we wouldn't have to make any cuts in personnel or programs for our school year for next year. We were requesting funds to help us close that $6.9 million gap. The county presented their recommended budget last Tuesday. um and they um just want to give a summary of what
069they presented and then talk about what are our next steps and then ask for some input from the board. Um so what do we know about that budget that was presented um by the county manager to the commissioners last week is first of all our request to restore that supplemental tax, we recommended it be restored to 12 cents. It was not included as a recommended increase. Um, however, every other special taxing district did get their recommended increase. That was just being completely transparent. Very surprising for me that that was not something that was recommended for approval, singling out um our one our school district in that way. Um, also the amount they allocated to us in this budget is just about $226,000 less than what they allocated at our initial projection last year or initial
070allocation. I think it's interesting when they share in their in their slides that looks like we're getting more than we got last year, but we're really not. They put in there their amended allotment, which is less than what we got last year. So, they're they're presenting an amended budget, not their initial budget allotment. So, it looks like we're getting an increase, but it's an increase from over the reduction of the $720,000, which still leaves us that $630,000 short um for our initial allocation last year. Um the budget does also recommend an overall tax increase for Bunkham County from the 51.76 to 55.02. They are going to generate additional revenue from that. And as Heidi and I are kind of crunching the numbers, what we're seeing is with the increase in revenue and the cuts, the
071school systems are being disproportionately left out of the budget um when they look at that. So as they are generating new funds, but also making cuts, the cuts in their budget, 90 I think it was 94% of their cuts are coming from the educational funding instead of their own funding. So, it's a question that I have and some questions for clarification, but they any at any rate, their proposed budget still leaves us after we allocate $3 million to our budget next year at a almost a $4 million deficit. So, what would be our next steps? I think we need to very much continue our advocacy to restore that supplemental tax to.12 to help us get at least another $1.5 million in revenue. Um, I think we need to plan to attend the budget hearing on
072May 20th. My curiosity is around if the board thinks that it would be beneficial for me to speak at that public comment and share based on that budget. Here's where we will have to cut and that's when I will have to share. These are positions that we will not be able to fund and be able to share that at that May 20th meeting if that's something the board would like me to do. I'm I'm happy to kind of share more details about budget option two and budget option three um if we want to go down that road. Um, and then also, you know, what's the board's appetite to talk at this June 2nd work session about potentially making some of those decisions on where are we, what do we think will happen so that we
073can be ready at the board um regular board meeting on the 9th to make some of those decisions and then open to hearing any other um considerations or ideas for um how to advocate with our commissioners on what we feel we need to maintain our current services in Asheville City Schools. Thank you, Maggie. Um, have you spoken to I'm going to butcher the name, but the the consortium of parents who have kind of ga rallied around Yeah. to send you spoken to them since Friday. Yep. So, Friday afternoon, I met with the I can't remember what their acronym stands for, but it's fax. the um fax families of Asheville City Schools. Yeah, that's what it is. Um and they're very and ACIE. So those two organizations and Rebecca and Sarah and I and Heidi met
074with them on Friday afternoon. They are kind of really working on a robust campaign. I don't have all the details. I think they sent out more details to their kind of newsletter list about signing up for public comment on the 20th. They're holding a town hall. They're also doing delegation meetings where they're meeting small group with commissioners one-on-one um to to kind of ask these questions and try to get see what kind of support they can get from commissioners to recommend a a change or an amendment to the proposed budget. Um so yes, I am meeting with them and partnering with them as closely as I can. Um do you want us to answer these questions now? I I'm curious what you're No, right now. This is and any other ideas you have for what
075we need to do as a board. I certainly think we should be making it very clear to them what we will lose uh potentially in terms especially in terms of student facing positions. Um I think it we should also make it really clear to them the extent of our cuts to our central office funding staff etc. over the last two years. Um I think we should if we in fact are able to present that they're that what they have described as an increase is actually a decrease. I think that should be really clear. I also think that we should note that um 94% of the budget cuts are coming from education as opposed to their um their own and that we were the only one supplemental tax left out. In other words, everything you just
076said um as long as we've double-cheed it and made sure that it's it's accurate. I think all of that should be said. Um I also think that it would be useful to if we can show that um we've made progress with the with the um staffing that we now have that are we're making progress and then any information I know we've shared with them before about kind of the challenges that we've had since co with our um with the behavior and social and emotional supports that our students need that that increased and that increase has not re been reduced but our ESSER funding went away to support that. In other words, making it really clear why these cuts to these positions likely will increase will um affect our outcomes. I don't know if you're comfortable
077saying that, but if we are comfortable saying it, I think we should say it. um that that the growth that we are making, we will continue working as hard as possible, but that when we make our classes bigger and we make our and I know that that might be something you're uncomfortable saying because we've got the staff a lotment formula, so I defer, but I just want to make it as clear as possible what we think the impacts will be. Yeah, thank you for that. Um, I tried to paint a very clear picture when I presented the budget. Um, showed some really great gains we're making in student achievement as well as closing our um, disproportionate outcomes, decreasing those between our black students and our white students. Um, shared that we have reduced our staffing
078over the past several years. We reduced from last year to this year 11 positions. Um, so shared with that, but then also tried to reiterate, you know, this is coming out of Helen. This is not a time to cut. This is a time to add resources and to pour into instead of taking away from um but whether the commissioners heard that, I'm not sure. But I don't think that landed as hard as I was hoping it had with the commissioner, the manager. Did we because one of this I was curious about this and I I know I promise I won't ask too many to dominate here um as I tend to do sometimes. Um the slides that we originally got reflected how where Bunkham County was in the counties like 76th or whatever it was
079and then also where North Carolina was. And in the final budget presentation I did not see those slides. So I just wonder if those slides should be presented. Um I chose to take those out. um kind of a lastm minute decision being that they knew they know those numbers and at their budget revenue discussion previously they specifically pointed out those two and combed them and saying they don't believe that they're accurate that they're not calculated in the right way that really disproportionately or inaccurately reflects their effort in funding education. So, I didn't put it up there. Our facts group is actually talking with the North Carolina forum. Um, and they are putting together some points to share like, you know, it's not nothing's ever perfect, but this is a way to compare as on a
080flat on a level playing field. So, oh, it was a it was a pretty brutal take down of the methodology and it was it kind of left a really sour taste in my mouth that they would come so hard at that data, but they it was Yeah. Anyway, and yet we shouldn't be surprised. No, we shouldn't because that's an indictment of the county in a way and they have I mean in fairness to the county, I don't want to throw them under the bus. They have at times increased funding and really I believe they they are working hard to do it and I know that every single county commissioner cares deeply about education and funding us. So I don't think there's any question that that's the case. Um we just have we can differ about
081the ways in which you know whatever but but I think that it doesn't surprise me that they came back hard and I appreciate the reasons you decided to take that out. Thank you. I mean I'd like to piggyback on that because I appreciate a Dr. Ferman, you giving us this opportunity, sharing this with us, keeping us informed so that we're not holding our breath, hoping for the best and then crushed when it doesn't come together the way we had wanted. But in thinking about that example of at we've been paying attention, we were looking at reputable data to try to understand the effort our county makes and they're paying attention which I appreciate incredibly. They're watching our conversations, listening, trying to pay attention. I think many county commissioners pride themselves on being supporters of public
082education. So when we saw the way that they said, "Hey, tell us more about this data." And so their staff went and said, "Well, here, let's let's show you why it's not perfect. I would like to stay out of like a data, our data, your data, our data, your data." I think that as hard as all this is, we still want to find our way to more innovative collaboration, more productive three-way work between our district, Bunkham County School District, and the commissioners. And I I want to make sure what we put forward is I think I think many commissioners are curious. They're very curious to understand how do we deal with this terrible situation forced upon us by the general assembly and they are trying to be really good stewards of funds. They're trying to
083understand all the ins and outs of h how that works and the more we can do to help them see a bigger picture and see us in relation to the whole state I think is really helpful. But I don't know that we do ourselves any favor. I mean, I witnessed that all playing out and thought, "Yeah, they were really uncomfortable um with the way that piece of data came forward." I'm curious about the things you've just said. And I think that many commissioners also, they don't they don't want to balance the budget on the backs of students. They don't want to do that. And so if there's a different way of seeing it and we can help them see it, that would be the right thing to do. I think we've missed a few things
084too, a few opportunities. Um, I noticed that and I was disappointed in this that a slide was added talking about uh facility utilization and now we've got a slide that says that last year um Mford Northstar Academy and Asheville Middle School um were utilized at 40% which I believe to be inaccurate and I think we really would help ourselves if we stop um uh underestimating the space that we need for students and supporting the myth that we can close schools and and save more money because I know we get pressure from some county commissioners on that. And I don't think that should be the focus of or even a point in our budget presentations, but it's under water under the bridge at this point. Um, I think we missed out on uh talking about early
085childhood education. Uh, I talked with the county commissioner earlier this week who asked what they get for giving us um restoring our 12 cents. And my pitch to the county commissioner and my pitch to you folks is still using some or most of what we get from restoring that as dedicated funds for early childhood education, which county commissioners can understand benefits everyone in the county. and that Asheville City Schools tax is something that is paid for um disproportionately compared to the rest of the county by some of our big um uh companies in the area and property owners in the area. Um and so it's not a huge burden uh the same as an acrosstheboard tax on um the parts of the county that were hit hardest. And I think really if we were to
086agree that the last cent of the 12 cents was going to go to support early childhood education, I think that's something that the county commissioners could rally behind. And I don't know how best that uh you would want to phrase that, but right now we have what is it?8,800,000 approximately that we pull out of our funds to support um uh preschool early childhood education. And uh dedicating that last um uh cent would remove it would provide new funds that could cover that 800,000 and then 200 to $400,000 more so that we would be able to do even a better job of providing early childhood education. And so that like just that idea that we didn't get the point across. The other point that we didn't get across to the schoolboard member is that no cuts
087actually means no cuts to staff. And he's just looking at dollar amounts and he's like, "Oo, but we gave you a little bit more." Um, but then if you read Avil Pender's executive summary, she says very clearly that it is what, a 3.49% cut. uh and that uh she's recommending taking away $4.4 million from our schools and that it is based on some resolution that was passed in 2019 that has since been overridden in the past by the county commissioners. Like it's a rule that they created that makes it easy for her to recommend giving us less. And I think we need to talk with the county commissioners about revisiting that rule because the goal of the rule was to have school funding increase along with county funding, but it's having a perverse inverse effect
088right now. And so that's another thing that we can advocate, you know, for the county commissioners to change that formula or set it to the side or give it less weight. Thank you, Pepe. I I appreciate all of what you have just um reiterated in a succinct way that we've we've talked previously in work sessions about these priorities, but I appreciate you laying it out like that. And then I wanted to piggyback and say that, you know, with a with our proposed no cuts budget that our students have a greater potential to thrive with lower studenttoteer ratios. And we know this just as we know that early childhood education makes a significant impact on closing the achievement gap that having our schools fully staffed makes a difference. I mean we we see it at Ash
089Middle that it it really has a significant impact and to consider eliminating any studentf facing positions um isn't going to do our students any favors. Speaking as a board member, I think the number is we're 3.6 million short roughly. Um, that's us putting in 3 million from our fund balance and we're short 3.6 and as a placeholder, we've been saying we would get an additional 1.5 million if we went back to 12 cents. So, speaking just for myself, I don't think I'm in favor of saying it will be used a certain way because we have $3.9 million a hole to plug. And obviously, it doesn't there's still going to be shortage. Um, if if that's all we got. So, I I just offer that. I'm not ready to say that in that directive fashion. The
090only other thing I would add, Maggie, and it was said at the sort of strategy meeting with ACAE, um, and the family group, and you're hearing all this as information, and you're going to weed out what you feel is appropriate to say, but I thought it was said very well that we talked a big when we all met in January with the county commissioners, we talked about collaboration, yet somehow when we come to budget season, we're sort of on our own. Um I mean it's very clear that some of them have concerns about how we spend money and you know we know all their concerns but they are focused on the county and then we're this stepchild um and it doesn't feel like it's a collaboration. It feels like they're going to take care of
091their personnel and they don't have to think about ours because that's on us anyway. I just that's a perception that could be said. Sarah, you bring to mind another thing that I think we could also capitalize on, not capitalize, that's not the right word, but utilize in our messaging, and that's that our city schools have a unique set of needs. We're we're not the county. We are, you know, we are our own entity and we have children who have differing needs than elsewhere and families too. Sarah, if we were to if Bunkham County Schools got funded for their request and we were similarly funded, I don't know really what the math is, would you be more comfortable dedicating a portion of the special tax to early childhood education if we had that funding set? Well,
092first of all, I don't think they're ever going to communicate it in that way. They're going to announce both at the same time. And I probably still I think I think our job again speaking only as a board member is we have a budget and we have revenue and we have expenses. And I for myself do not see a benefit to committing that we will use money in a certain way because I think we may need the flexibility to do different things. And let me I don't think they've signal to us they're going to give us what Bunkham County asked for. So that doesn't seem there are but that's Averil Pender signaling. I mean it's her budget and now the county commissioners have to sit with it and see what they're comfortable with. Right. And
093so I'm looking for tools to get the buy in for that restoring the the the special tax. And so just understanding what do we need to do so that we can cover because right now you know part of that gap is the unfunded early childhood education. And so essentially we're asking for $800,000 of what of our ask is for that unfunded amount. And so I'm just trying to noodle it so that I can communicate most effectively with the county commissioners. I appreciate your patience. One thing, and I think we've all had a chance to share, I mean, I'm certainly not curtailing it. Um, do we have an opinion as a board about whether Maggie should speak at public comment? Should Maggie speak at public comment on May 20th? I would be interested to know if
094Rob Jackson is speaking. I see Merritt, if you both are. Um, I'm Yeah, I think that's a good point. I actually was going to segue to that next, Jesse. Um, Maggie offered, I believe, to speak and it would just be at public comment, just like people speak in front of us at public comment on May 20th. And I am in a second going to ask if other board members wish to do so also. But do you have any concerns about Maggie speaking? I don't think she should speak. Okay. I think someone else should speak up on our behalf for public comments. Some We should have a uh like a Miss Tenure now. We should have someone that is from Asheville, that was born here in Asheville, that works in works for ESA City Schools and
095can can tell them that what they are doing is they going to wide the gap instead of close the gap if they don't give us the funds, right? And it takes someone that they know that been into the system throughout all the years, someone they know that is telling the truth and they are speaking from their heart here in As City Schools. I don't think Maggie should speak. I think she should stay, you know, beyond that and let someone else uh within her staff to get up and um and tell the commissioner how it is with City School. And probably well at least two of them graduated from ASA City Schools, right? At least probably well Al went to Stevens Lee. Um I don't know Jesse but but I think Jesse I think some people
096feel compelled to go to public comment. I I would be hesitant to ask any employee to do that and it would feel like No, no, no. We're not asking. with a suggestion. It's just a suggestion here. Did you get that, Tanya? Say suggestion. I think public comment I I am positive teachers ACE and otherwise will be there. I am positive families and parents involved in this family group will be there. Um I wanted to let you all know I think it's appropriate if any board member wants to speak. you just have to explain you don't speak for the board. I also just need you all to know I um leave on Thursday for my son's graduation and I am not here on the 20th. So my absence at the board meeting is not an indication
097of the lack of support. I just won't be here. I want to um jump in if I may because I actually have to go to a daughter's piano recital in 10 minutes. Um sorry. Um, but I want to jump in to say also that that is the same night as the Asheville Middle School band concert. Um, and so I will try to be there for as much of the evening as I can and I have missed band concerts for a bunch of reasons while my daughter's been in middle school and she's about to graduate from that school. So I have to go to that band concert. So similarly I want to just convey to anybody who happens to be listening that if I am not able to be there for the public comment it is
098not out of a lack of um interest in advocating and I have advocated with the commissioners directly. So um just want to say that and then otherwise um I leave it up to Dr. Ferman really to decide you whether or not you think it would be effective for you to present. I think you're probably in a better position than at least I am. And I really want to say before I leave that I appreciate the collaboration point and I think if if anybody does I don't agree with presenting a specific solution to how we will use the money. But I do think that if we do speak, if any board member would like to offer that we remain engaged and interested in collaborating on ways to save costs but increase services with the county schools
099or with Bunkham County government. We are eager to do that. Um I just don't think that right now the appetite is there for early childhood education sadly. But that I that I don't even want to say too much about that except I don't think we should say that. Um, and I'm gonna say thank you very much and I'll be departing in a minute. I'm of the mind that if Dr. I would appreciate you connecting with Dr. Jackson um and that public comment at a hearing like this. We went I attended it last year and it is typically very well attended and it is a chance for members of the public to share and I think that's incredibly powerful and I don't think that as board members us coming and speaking as individuals is as compelling
100to them because we are often talking to them and reaching out to them. So I'm of the mind that the public comment will go long. they will I'm sure they will as they've done in the past give more time to it. Um and so I think that should be given over to members of the public primarily and there I offer to Dr. Ferman then I would like them to have the most accurate information. The things you've shared with us tonight I worry that I I wonder what is the vehicle. I actually don't think it's public comment, but is there a um what are the ways for them to understand the things you've just shared with us? I I agree with a lot of that, Rebecca. Um I will note that I think it's valuable for
101the county commissioners to see us in the room. And because of space issues, we can only be in the room if we sign up for public comment. We can certainly yield to the next person and choose not to speak, but if you sign up, you're allowed to be in the room. So, that may be a consideration. I was going to um because Rebecca, you brought up other ways. Um and I think that was question number four on that previous slide. Um, and it could be a little late in this process, but I um I get concerned when members of our public who no longer have children in our district, as far as I'm aware, are writing opeds um and things and getting promoted about some frustrations with our district. And if there's a way for
102leadership um and I I'm putting it in your lap, Maggie, to be writing some opeds to and that might be a way to garner some a different type of support as opposed to speaking in public. Copeland and I are working on that. Great. I think Maggie was that the end of the superintendent report on the for just a reminder that we have June work sessions. We don't meet in July. Um so some big things coming up on the June agendas. Um finalizing the grading and promotion policies potentially updates or changes to the FY26 budget presentation. Um, we have three firms that we have selected out of the RFP to come and present their proposal to the board in June. Each one will get 20 minutes. So, that's going to add 60 minutes. I was wondering
103if the board wanted to start that meeting at 4 instead of five if that's a possibility. Um, because we've got to get that proposal if we need because we have a very tight timeline trying to move that forward. I know it's not a lot, but it's potentially seeing if the board had appetite to start earlier and we can start with the feasibility study presentations and then move in. So, that was a a question. We don't have to answer that tonight. We can work with calendars. Um and then at the regular meeting on June 9th, um we will have Dr. Lavender and Julie Keni um here to present the portrait of the graduate kind of what's the next steps with strategic planning. At that point, if there's any changes to the budget, we will need approval.
104Um, and then we hold that time on the 28th just for two purposes. The final approval of the FY25 budget amendments and um approval of a budget resolution if needed for FY26. Maggie, I think that's the 26th. 28th is a Saturday. Oh, thank you. Sorry. And backing up just a moment, I do want Maggie, Dr. Ferman. Um, if you are communicating about what reductions in funding may mean, that you are clear with the county commissioners that the school board will have to make a decision about where the cuts are going to be and that no specific staff cuts have been approved by the board. Thank you. Do I'm Was there a question to us about four o'clock on June 2nd? Yes. Question was June 2nd. If um and I said we can handle this, you
105know, through email, but just wanted to propose that here so we can start thinking about it. If you're ready to say yes or no, you can make it. That's fine, too. But I can make it just for whatever it's worth. The sooner I know for sure, the better for me. All right. Yep. So, we want to communicate that to the firms to make sure they're able to get here. So, Nate, maybe you or someone could just send us an email and we'll call the question. We will. That'd be great. And that concludes. All right. Thanks everyone. There are announcements in the agenda. Holidays, work session, graduation. Again, our next work meeting will be the second. Stay tuned about whether it starts at 4 or 5. And then I have no further business. Is there a
106motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. Second. All in favor? I I we nay. We are adjourned. All right. Thank