Asheville City Schools approves hire of Corey Simons as Claxton Elementary principal

Asheville City Schools approved the superintendent’s recommendation to hire Corey Simons as principal of Claxton Elementary after the board returned from a closed session. The motion to hire was made and seconded and was approved by members present in a roll-call/voice vote.

The meeting briefly moved into closed session earlier in the agenda under statutes cited in the record — General Statute 143-318.11 and related education statute references (recorded as 115C dash 319 dash 321) — with the stated purposes of preventing disclosure of privileged personnel information and discussing matters protected by attorney-client privilege. The board returned to open session and then took up the superintendent’s recommendation to hire Mr. Simons.

The hire motion passed with all members present recorded as voting in the affirmative: Pepe, Jesse, Amy, Rebecca, George and Liza. Speakers congratulated Mr. Simons after the vote and noted that he is preparing to relocate; one speaker said, "He will be here by January 3rd." The board also completed routine business, including approving the meeting agenda earlier and adjourning after the hire.

No additional details about the superintendent’s selection process, contract terms, salary, or annual start year were given on the record; the transcript notes that Sarah Thornburg was unable to attend the meeting. The formal motions and vote outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript are reflected here and in the actions list accompanying this report.