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Board approves hurricane staff bonus and other organizational votes; several items pass unanimously
Summary
At its December meeting the Asheville City Board of Education elected new officers, approved a modified agenda and consent items, accepted the district audit unanimously, and approved a one-time hurricane-related staff bonus by a 4–2 vote.
The Asheville City Board of Education voted on several procedural and action items at its December meeting, including electing its leadership, approving the consent agenda, accepting the independent audit for 2024, and approving a one-time bonus for staff who worked during Tropical Storm Helene.
Board members voted unanimously to confirm Sarah Thornburg as board chair and Rebecca Strymer as vice chair. The motion to nominate Thornburg was made by Board Chair George Seberg and seconded by Board Member Pepe Sabo; the board recorded the vote as unanimous with Board Member Amy Ray absent. The vice chair nomination was moved by Board Chair Seberg and seconded by Jesse (last name not specified in the transcript); that vote was recorded as unanimous.
The agenda was modified after Board Member Pepe Sabo requested removal of two items from the consent agenda (policy code 5030, “community use of facilities,” and a policy item related to the oath of office). The board approved the agenda as modified and then approved the remainder of the consent agenda by voice vote.
On a separate motion the board accepted the 2024 audit from Anderson, Smith and Wike, which the auditor presented as an unmodified (clean) opinion. The acceptance vote was unanimous.
The meeting also considered a superintendent recommendation for one-time bonus pay to recognize staff work during the hurricane response. The board approved the bonus recommendation on a 4–2 vote. The board recorded “yes” votes from Rebecca Strymer, Chair Sarah Thornburg, Jesse (last name not specified), and Pepe Sabo. Two board members voted no; their names were recorded as Liza and one other board member (not fully specified in the transcript). The board chair noted the vote carried 4–2 and asked staff to continue work on policy guidance for future similar events.
Several of these items were procedural and did not change district policy or long-term budget commitments; the board chair and superintendent indicated staff will return with policy language or implementation steps where needed.
Votes at a glance - Chair election: Sarah Thornburg — nominated by George Seberg; seconded by Pepe Sabo; outcome: approved (unanimous; Amy Ray absent). - Vice chair: Rebecca Strymer — nominated by George Seberg; seconded by Jesse; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Agenda modification: removal of policy 5030 and a policy related to oath of office from consent — motion approved; outcome: modified agenda approved. - Consent agenda (remaining items): approved by voice vote. - One-time hurricane-related staff bonus: motion to approve — outcome: approved, 4 yes / 2 no. In favor: Rebecca Strymer, Sarah Thornburg, Jesse (last name not specified), Pepe Sabo. Opposed: Liza and one other board member (name not fully specified in the transcript). - Acceptance of 2024 audit: motion to accept audit results — outcome: approved (unanimous).
The board noted several follow-up tasks: producing a policy for future emergency pay/bonuses, providing implementation details for the approved bonus, and publishing the auditor’s full report as part of the public record.
