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District staff outlines state bills that could affect Asheville City Schools: pay, testing, calendars and more
Summary
District staff reviewed several North Carolina bills and policy proposals under consideration — from teacher pay and calendar flexibility to vouchers, cell‑phone rules and Article 39 capital funding — and urged community advocacy during the long session.
District staff presented a wide‑ranging legislative update to the Asheville City Schools Board covering proposed bills in the North Carolina General Assembly that could affect the district.
The presenter summarized non‑budget and budget issues under discussion at the state level and highlighted items district leadership is tracking. Topics on the list included proposals on teacher pay and licensure, calendar flexibility, school accreditation, Opportunity Scholarships (vouchers), and changes to testing and principal pay structures. The presenter also noted specific bills by number and subject matter, including bills described in the meeting as House Bill 82 (study commission for very large LEAs), House Bill 150 (expedite surplus property to educational organizations), House Bill 186 ("Stars and Stripes Commitment Act" regarding flag display and pledge recitation), House Bill 192 (teacher pay raise proposals), and Senate Bill 227 (requirements on DEI and public institutions), among others.
The update also covered measures about cell‑phone policies in schools (House Bill 87 and separate Senate proposals), possible changes to school district accreditation, and provisions to hold districts harmless for average daily membership (ADM) counts in hurricane‑impacted areas. The presenter said the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) legislative priorities include higher teacher pay, additional aid for schools affected by the hurricane, and a temporary moratorium on Opportunity Scholarship expansion.
Staff urged the board and community to engage in advocacy, noting that State Superintendent Mike (Moe) Greene will hold listening sessions in the western region; staff encouraged attendance to raise district priorities.
No formal board action was recorded on the legislative update; it served as an informational briefing to help board members and the community identify priorities for advocacy and to prepare for the state budget process, which the presenter said typically targets a June goal for adoption.
