“Hopefully, Mountain Xpress readers will not just see the problem but ask the question, ‘What can I do?’”
Tag: Asheville City Schools
Showing 169-189 of 267 results
Letter: Do we really need good test-takers?
“Where is the evidence that this wholesale testing of children once a year enhances a child’s educational progress or improves our schooling system?”
Letter: City schools must take action to fix achievement gap
“If the district is truly committed to fixing this alarming achievement gap between black and white students, it must work to make specific changes in its own treatment of black students.”
Small bites: Asheville VeganFest
Asheville VeganFest returns under new leadership. Also: French Broad Chocolate’s Cookies & Creamery celebrates its grand opening; The Block Off Biltmore hosts a hemp food challenge; the 8th annual International Honey Tasting Competition returns; and more.
Goals, timeline lacking in program to narrow racial achievement gap
While awareness of Asheville’s worst-in-state racial academic achievement and discipline disparities seems to be on the rise, agreement on specific goals for reducing the gap, the strategies and resources needed, and how long it could take to make progress remain elusive.
News briefs: Strive Beyond promotes alternative transportation, Asheville hosts home ownership fair
Activists with the Health Equity Coalition are organizing a Friday, May 24, community forum to explore how the $1.5 billion Dogwood Health Trust, created from the sale of Mission Health, offers the prospect of “life-changing” investments in the wellbeing of residents in 18 Western North Carolina counties. Also, it’s time to strive to drive less in the runup to the Strive Beyond Summit at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Mills River on Friday, May 31, from 3-5 p.m.
Schools seek twice proposed county funding increase
While Buncombe County’s current proposed budget includes nearly $3.6 million in new education funding, total requests from local systems on May 7 came to roughly $8.16 million. That figure includes $1.06 million more for A-B Tech, $2.09 million for Asheville City Schools and $5.01 million in increased funding for Buncombe County Schools.
School budgets face scrutiny at special May 7 commission meeting
Speaking at the board’s April 30 budget work session, Chair Brownie Newman emphasized that education officials shouldn’t count on “automatic” growth of county support. “I think they should have to justify all of it,” he said.
Letter: Think outside the box for education funding
“It would be appreciated if our community leaders will publicly commit to donating to our public schools as well. The local elite can make the most significant push in raising educational supplements.”
Falling short
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Council reappoints incumbents, selects Carter, to oversee Asheville City Schools
Incumbent Asheville City Board of Education members Shaunda Sandford and Martha Geitner faced tough questions from Asheville City Council at an interview session on March 26. But at Council’s regular meeting that same evening, the two were unanimously reappointed to four-year terms on the board. James Carter was selected to fill a two-year vacancy created by the resignation of board member James Lee.
Asheville government, schools, nonprofits launch effort to address achievement gap
A group representing government, education, business and nonprofit organizations is coalescing to form a community response to a severe racial achievement gap in Asheville City Schools. But it’s not yet clear how the initiative will define its goals and approach — and what resources it can attract to fund the effort.
Generations of failure: A plea to reform Asheville City Schools
“Oversight in this kind of system — where the board is appointed by a body with no regulatory authority, in a process closed to school employees, families and the community as a whole — is more than a little messed up. It is completely unaccountable, open to all kinds of corruption and anti-democratic, not to mention a lousy use of resources.”
Amid soul searching over severe disparities, City Council weighs its latest school board appointments
With James Lee opting out mid-term to take a job in another state, Asheville City Council will soon select at least one new member to serve on a board that will be compelled to turn the ship around. Two other members, Martha Geitner and board Chair Shaunda Sandford, are completing their first terms on the board and seeking reappointment. Meanwhile, in a process that will play out in the coming weeks, 11 other community members have applied to be appointed.
Parents protest planned Vance Elementary playground changes
“I think you can see by the turnout here, the phone calls to City Council, our emails, our response, that Vance in general — I don’t speak for every parent here or every student — does not feel like this is a win-win,” said Vance parent Marissa Brooks at the Feb. 27 meeting.
Letter: Narrow the gap of racial disparities with reparations
“Certainly teacher bias in disciplinary actions should be mitigated, but I think we all know that the economic and social disparities between white and black families are closer to the root cause of these issues.”
Letter: Vance Elementary community needs a say about fencing project
“As parents, community members and taxpayers, we insist that our concerns about this project be heard and respected.”
Food fight: Where WNC schools stand in the battle against food waste
Statistics show that American schools throw away more than $1 billion worth of food every year. Asheville-area schools and organizations are taking some steps toward alleviating the problem.
Letter: Volunteer reading tutors help students thrive
“If you want to make a difference in a child’s life and are looking for a way to give back, please consider becoming a volunteer tutor with Read to Succeed.”
Campbell lays out Asheville to-dos at her first CIBO breakfast
Since leaving her previous role as Charlotte’s assistant city manager to take the Asheville job in December, Campbell said, she has focused on meeting as many community stakeholders as possible. Those discussions, she explained, have led to a slate of priorities with the common theme of making the city “the best partner that we can be.”
Asheville City Schools’ worst-in-NC achievement, discipline gaps widen
“Our data tells us that we are doing a disservice to our black students, and you can’t say it any plainer than that,” said Shaunda Sandford, chair of the Asheville City Board of Education.