In a normal year, the Buncombe County Board of Education would spend its meetings considering school budget requests and policies for student behavior. But members have instead found themselves thrust into the contentious debate surrounding how schools should approach their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That issue has sharply divided the board in recent months. On July 28, plans for some students to start the year with in-person instruction passed 4-3; after a 5-2 vote on Sept. 10 to bring all pupils back to the classroom, the board changed course on Sept. 17, voting 4-3 to stick with virtual high school through at least the end of the fall semester. Another 4-3 vote on Oct. 1 directed high schoolers to return two days per week starting Monday, Oct. 19.
Voters will have a chance to shift the nonpartisan board’s approach to school reopening and other issues in November, with two seats up for election. In the Owen District, incumbent Peggy Buchanan, who cast the deciding vote in the Oct. 1 decision, faces challengers Everett D. Pittillo, a business manager, and Linda Tatsapaugh, a summer camp administrator. (Although board positions are assigned to represent different districts, all county citizens vote for all seats.)
At-large member Donna Pate, who also voted for in-person instruction, is not seeking another term on the board. Running to fill her spot are two former teachers: Amanda Simpkins and Mark Watman.
The names of the candidates are linked to their responses in the post:
At-Large
Owen District
At-Large
Amanda Simpkins
Website: Facebook.com/ElectAmandaSimpkins
Party affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Currently a real estate agent, formerly a high school mathematics educator
Previous candidacy or offices held: None
Key endorsements: Buncombe County Association of Educators, Asheville City Association of Educators, Buncombe County Board of Education at-large member Donna Pate
Amount of money raised: None
Top three donors: N/A
What aspect of Buncombe County Schools most needs improvement, and how will you address that need? We need to continue to work toward equity in our district. The truth is that schools shouldn’t be being funded solely based on enrollment. Many of our schools and districts have higher needs than others. This needs to be taken more seriously to bridge the gap across Buncombe County.
How can Buncombe County best prepare for further disruption to schooling due to COVID-19 or other challenges? We need to continue to follow the data and make data-based decisions with regard to returning to the classroom. Our local health department needs to be weighing in. Plans for many different scenarios need to be made.
What priorities will you set in future education budget requests to a county with reduced revenues due to the COVID-19 recession? My priorities are funding for equity across the county and better funding our BCS teachers and staff so that we can retain our top-tier employees and stop losing them to other districts and states.
Mark Watman
Website: ElectWatman.com
Party affiliation: Unaffiliated
Occupation: Buncombe County substitute teacher
Previous candidacy or offices held: None
Key endorsements: This is a nonpartisan race. All the students, teachers and staff at the schools where I have worked
Amount of money raised: None
Top three donors: Self, $700
What aspect of Buncombe County Schools most needs improvement, and how will you address that need? The school’s current crisis plan only covers external threats. There is no organized plan or policy to deal with an internal crisis due to social, psychological or behavioral events that cause a major disruption of the school day. The source of this disruption could be from an event originating inside or outside of the school. This would involve counseling and support for students and staff at the beginning, during and potentially after school. I would assist in amending the crisis plan.
How can Buncombe County best prepare for further disruption to schooling due to COVID-19 or other challenges? Fortunately, the county’s numbers are dropping. We may be able to go to an every-other-day A/B schedule, combined with remote learning, to get students closer to daily attendance. If it turns out that many of our students have fallen significantly behind with their academic progress, we may have to consider an alternative to the current school calendar to get them caught up.
What priorities will you set in future education budget requests to a county with reduced revenues due to the COVID-19 recession? As we emerge from the effects of COVID-19, there will be some short-term shortfalls. There are several possibilities to fund these deficits, and none of them are popular. They will evoke a strong reaction from taxpayers. Things like deficit borrowing, selling short-term bonds, briefly cutting back on some academic and extracurricular programs and possibly a time-limited raise in taxes. We also need to seek alternative sources of revenue, including available grants.
Owen District
Margaret (Peggy) Buchanan (incumbent)
Website: None
Party affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Retired registered nurse and clergy
Previous candidacy or offices held: Currently on Buncombe County Board of Education
Key endorsements: None
Amount of money raised: None
Top three donors: N/A
What aspect of Buncombe County Schools most needs improvement, and how will you address that need? Currently, the biggest issue is getting all students back to school. While this is of prime importance, the safety of the students is first and foremost. I will address that need by listening to all concerned parties, administration, teachers, students and their families and voting on return to school considering all.
How can Buncombe County best prepare for further disruption to schooling due to COVID-19 or other challenges? I am proud of the way the schools responded to the current crisis. I will support all efforts to achieve the best outcomes for our students. I feel we were prepared for our initial response and have learned to use resources to their best advantage.
What priorities will you set in future education budget requests to a county with reduced revenues due to the COVID-19 recession? 1. Recruitment and retention of teachers. 2. Improve the safety of our schools. 3. Investigate why students are lost to charter schools and amend our programs where possible.
Everett D. Pittillo
Website: ElectEverettDPittillo.com
Party affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Business manager
Previous candidacy or offices held: None
Key endorsements: None
Amount of money raised: $20
Top three donors: None
What aspect of Buncombe County Schools most needs improvement, and how will you address that need? Most schools within the county are becoming outdated due to age. Because of their age, this has also caused overcrowding with the increase of people having moved to our area. Our county is in need of a full-time grant writer to supply funding from sources other than our local government. This will generate necessary revenue to update and build more innovative locations.
How can Buncombe County best prepare for further disruption to schooling due to COVID-19 or other challenges? First and foremost, our board needs to be more transparent. It seems these decisions are being made without first acknowledging staff and parent concerns. Next, the virtual program needs to be implemented with better training and devices for staff and families. Other school districts have long used virtual learning for snow days, giving them a slight edge over our county.
What priorities will you set in future education budget requests to a county with reduced revenues due to the COVID-19 recession? Right now, the main concern is safety within our system. So many are unsure about this virus, and everyone should feel safe. Long-term, we need to consider our children and the economic burdens on families due to the recession. All requests need to keep the children and their families as a priority. Eventually, this shall pass, and requests will be made to better our educational processes, having all children treated and taught equally.
Linda Tatsapaugh
Website: LindaForSchoolBoard.com
Party affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Summer camp administrator
Previous candidacy or offices held: None
Key endorsements: Buncombe County Association of Educators, Julie Mayfield, Jan Blunt
Amount of money raised: $1,756
Top three donors: Victoria Rankins, $200; Julie Mayfield, $100; Greg Brisendine, $100
What aspect of Buncombe County Schools most needs improvement, and how will you address that need? Schools need more resources to meet the complex needs of students so that they are ready to learn. This includes increased social, emotional and behavioral supports, social workers, counselors and nurses. I will promote inclusion of funds for these in the budget and support strengthened and expanded community partnerships as well.
How can Buncombe County best prepare for further disruption to schooling due to COVID-19 or other challenges? To successfully bring students back into schools, we need adequate health and safety supplies and consistent adherence to sound safety policies. For now, families need the continued option to learn remotely, and we must ensure they have internet access. The school system should continue to develop quality remote learning tools so that, when it is needed, students continue to learn at a high level. At the same time, we need comprehensive plans for safely reopening fully as soon as possible.
What priorities will you set in future education budget requests to a county with reduced revenues due to the COVID-19 recession? We must continue to raise teacher and support staff pay, even if in small increments. We need to meet the mental health needs of students, perhaps with the help of creative partnerships. The arts should not receive disproportionate cuts to other subjects. And we need to scrutinize facility improvements to prioritize the most urgent and necessary.
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