County-led consolidation feasibility study: report due Dec. 31, joint presentation set for Jan. 16

Buncombe County staff updated the Asheville City Board of Education on the state-mandated feasibility study examining a potential merger between Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools. County strategic partnerships staff said the consultant team has completed on-site work and community engagement and will deliver a draft report by Dec. 31.

Rachel Sawyer, from Buncombe County Strategic Partnerships, told the board the study was commissioned in response to a bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed into law. Buncombe County serves as the lead entity and contracted Charlotte-based Prismatic Services to complete the work. Sawyer said the vendor spent extensive time locally — including focus groups, interviews, community forums, surveys and school observations — and that the study prioritizes equity, community engagement and data.

The county estimated more than 7,200 survey responses were collected as part of the community input effort. Sawyer said the vendor's final deliverables will include a comprehensive report, executive summary, and slide deck; the report will initially be marked as draft to allow parties to identify any factual corrections before it becomes final. The three governing bodies — Buncombe County, Buncombe County Schools, and Asheville City Schools — will hold a joint meeting on Jan. 16 for the public presentation. The consolidated report must be submitted to the state by Feb. 15, a date Sawyer said is set in statute.

Board members asked procedural questions about review timelines and how to submit clarifications or comments; Sawyer said boards will receive the draft on Dec. 31 and that staff will vet the draft for accuracy before public presentation. If elected boards wish to add endorsements or comments for the report submitted to the legislature, Sawyer said they may do so during the January-to-February window.

No recommendation to merge was announced at the meeting; Sawyer emphasized that the vendor's report will include findings, risks and benefits, recommendations (if any), and implementation considerations should any recommendation require action.