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Union leader urges clarity on county funding formula and percentage model
Summary
ASAE president and first‑grade teacher Carson Bridges asked the board to press county leaders for clarity on why school funding is calculated on 'received' versus 'projected' revenue and warned a $2 million increase may not restore pre‑cuts.
Carson Bridges, a first‑grade teacher at Claxton and president of the Asheville City Association of Educators, used his public comment time to press the Asheville City Schools Board of Education to seek clarity from county leaders about a proposed change to the school funding formula.
Bridges said he heard positive points about a percentage‑based model in a recent presentation but relayed concerns from staff and community members that the district's share is calculated on revenue "received" rather than on projected revenue, which he said could leave schools underfunded if county tax rates change after revaluation. "Why education funding is based on received versus projected revenue?" he asked the board, requesting clarification.
Bridges also questioned whether a recently proposed $2,000,000 increase would be sufficient to restore prior cuts or to meet identified needs, particularly with uncertainty around federal funding for special education services. He urged continued public conversations as the board and county revisit funding decisions.
The chair thanked Bridges for the comments; no formal action was taken during the meeting.
