When this year’s high school seniors were freshmen, their worlds change suddenly as schools shut down in response to the global pandemic. As graduation day approaches, Xpress sat down with eight local members of the class of ’23 to look back on their experiences of attending four years of school in the era of COVID.
A little respect: Teachers and school staff hold breath for increased pay
“If I don’t have the resources I need, I can’t do [the kids] justice. It’s impossible. I’ve tried to twist myself and do educational yoga for the last 20 years. And I can only do it so much longer,” says Matthew Leggat, a sixth-grade teacher at Montford North Star Academy.
Buncombe unveils proposed budget with modest bump for schools
The $423.6 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2023-24, as presented by County Manager Avril Pinder during the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting May 16, represents a roughly 6.4% increase over the budget adopted last year.
Grant offers job training for low-income young adults after incarceration
When Phillip Cooper completed a prison sentence in 2010, he spent months applying for jobs that he was told would be available to those with a criminal record. But no one would give him a chance.
Asheville Schools board chooses new superintendent
Rick Cruz will start as the ACS chief July 1 after leaving his role as deputy superintendent for Houston Independent School District in Texas, where he worked in numerous roles for 15 years, according to a press release from ACS spokesperson Dillon Huffman.
Why I volunteer: Helping others is rewarding
Ray Porter has been a tutor with Literacy Together since 2022. The organization works to meet the literacy and English language needs of people of all ages in Buncombe County.
Teens discuss participation in ‘The Hour of HOPE’ podcast
Last June, Umoja debuted HOPE 4 the Future, a summer camp for children and teens. In its initial season, it served 78 youths.
Buncombe Schools’ board recommends pay raises for school employees
More than 20 teachers, staff members and parents spoke during the three-plus hour meeting in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Rd., advocating for higher pay for all school employees in front of a crowd that at one point overflowed into an adjacent room with a live stream of the meeting.
Kids’ takes: Area youths share creative works about spring
This month, we feature three works from third and fourth grade students at Odyssey School.
Buncombe Schools seeks raises for some staff
Classified staff — school employees without teaching certifications — would get an average increase of 17.4% over 2019 pay, starting July 1, if the plan is fully implemented, said Tina Thorpe, chief financial officer for Buncombe County Schools.
Business, nonprofit roundup: New coworking space coming to Asheville
The new coworking space at 45 S. French Broad Ave includes 18 offices, 12 phone booths, 50 flex desks, a communal kitchen area and conference rooms.
Thinking green: Make environmental issues go viral!
Dareck B. Luebbert is a senior at Mars Hill University. He is the co-leader of the university’s Environmental Actions Club and is passionate about bringing awareness about environmental issues through social media.
Senior works to keep robots team funded and visible
Joe Kledis is the captain of operations and marketing for Glitch 2.0, SILSA’s robotics team that competed in its first competition at UNC Asheville on March 4-5.
As costs soar, an end to federal support leaves students and families searching for food
Federal funding that allowed schools to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students ended last year. Now, area families face rising meal costs and tight subsidy restrictions.
Schools address student anxiety over mass shootings
Technologically-connected students and their peers can be exposed to any tragic occurrence at any time, so a mass shooting at a faraway school can create terror and panic all the same.
In Photos: ‘Our kids can’t wait’
Dozens of teachers, parents, school staff and supporters gathered in Pack Square Park on Monday, March 20, to demand higher pay for Asheville City and Buncombe County schools employees and deliver a petition to elected officials.
No ‘cookie cutter approach’ for students with autism
“It takes resources to serve kids [with autism],” notes David Laxton, spokesperson for an advocacy organization called Autism Society of North Carolina. “It also takes training for the teachers and collaboration with families and other folks that are involved in those students’ lives.”
Kids stuff: A safe space to create, grow and learn
Lauren Rogers Hopkins, education programs manager at Flat Rock Playhouse, discusses helping kids find their creatives voices.
Kids stuff: Taking risks and persevering
Robin Skeen, Odyssey School’s elementary program director, discusses the anxiety young students face and the misconceptions people have about teachers.
Kids stuff: Make reading fun!
Kate Spratt, Buncombe County Public Libraries youth services specialist for the Preschool Outreach Program, discusses trends in children’s literature and ways parents can make reading fun.
Kids stuff: Safe, engaging and fun experiences in nature.
Rich Preyer, on-site program coordinator at The N.C. Arboretum, discusses outdoor education, community collaborations and the return of the Wee Naturalist program.