Step Up For Our Schools

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Step Up for Our Schools

Asheville City Schools Board of Education and Buncombe County Commission

After more than a decade of attacks from lawmakers in Raleigh, ACS schools are in a crisis of staff burnout and turnover. Already, remaining staff are caught between a rapidly rising cost of living and declining real wages. These conditions mean many staff are stretched to the breaking point, and too many students are not receiving the quality services they deserve.

Our students can’t wait for help from politicians in Raleigh that may never come. Our students need more support than ever, and they deserve nothing less. Each and every one of them has a right to a world class public school led with world class educators and staff.

Fortunately, the ACS Board of Education and the Buncombe County Commission can act now to make sure our schools can recruit and retain the dedicated staff our students deserve and provide every student with the services they need.

That’s why we—ACAE members, ACS staff, students, parents, and supporters—are calling on the ACS Board of Education and the Buncombe County Commission to create and fund a budget that:

Values Our Staff, Values Our Time, and Values Our Students.

Sincerely,

ACAE Members, ACS public school staff, and parents & community supporters of ACS

*Read full petition below*

Sponsored by

North Carolina Association of Educators

Raleigh, NC

To: Asheville City Schools Board of Education and Buncombe County Commission
From: [Your Name]

We—ACAE members, ACS staff, students, parents, and supporters—are calling on the ACS Board of Education and the Buncombe County Commission to create and fund a budget that:

1. VALUES OUR STAFF: fund meaningful raises for all

For classified staff:
- Raise classified staff pay to a minimum of $22.10/hr*—the 2024 living wage for Buncombe County—or a 20% raise, whichever is greater for each staffer.
- Acquire and maintain Just Economics Living Wage Employer certification and commit to providing an annual cost of living adjustment for classified staff.

For certified staff:
- Give all certified staff a 10% increase in salary from local funds

2. VALUES OUR TIME: prioritize staff time to do our jobs well

- Pass a policy requiring that a minimum of 3 planning periods per week remain clear from mandatory school-directed meetings.
- Hire a full-time substitute in every building that does not already have one
- Clear 5 existing teacher workdays spread throughout the school year that are currently slated for mandatory PD or meetings of these meetings, starting with the 2024-2025 academic year. Offer all classified staff the option of a full day of paid work on these days.
- Offer trade time to certified staff/compensatory time to classified staff for all otherwise uncompensated events and meetings worked after contract hours.

3. VALUES OUR STUDENTS:
- EC: Increase pay for all classified and certified EC staff by $2,000/yr in order to help retain staff and fill vacancies
- Maintain all ESSER funded student support/behavior support specialist positions
- Hire 1 additional student support/behavior support specialist in each school building
- Ensure that all students have access to a school-based therapist who accepts Medicaid
- Hire a full-time social worker for every school building that does not already have their own

Sincerely,
ACAE Members, ACS public school staff, and parents & community supporters of ACS

*Source: https://www.justeconomicswnc.org/issues/living-wage/living-wage-rate/