Avery County commissioners demand school plan after $2.1M drawdown; interim proposes $1.13M in cuts

NEWLAND, N.C. — Avery County commissioners on Thursday pressed the school system for a clear, quantifiable plan to address a multi‑million‑dollar shortfall and heard a package of proposed personnel cuts from the district’s interim superintendent.

Chair Tim Phillips convened the May 15 budget workshop and turned discussion over to Dr. Terri Worrell, interim superintendent for Avery County Schools. Dr. Worrell said the district had hired Beth Edwards (from Mitchell County School System) as an interim to help "get the budget under control," and that Ms. Edwards "ha[d] a good plan going forward." Ms. Edwards warned, "This year is probably bust because we are at the end of the year but I do think that next year will be better."

The most immediate proposal Dr. Worrell presented was a set of personnel and other reductions she said would save roughly $1,127,500. The listed reductions tied to positions include eliminating funding tied to two resigned teachers ($150,000); eliminating four custodians ($160,000); removing one IT position ($55,000); one maintenance position ($62,500); one finance position ($60,000); and one clerical position ($40,000). She also noted upcoming turf payments due in July 2025 and July 2026 as additional cash‑flow items to consider.

Vice‑Chair Dennis Aldridge told the commissioners the county has "a very short time to deal with this" and asked the Board of Education for a "definite plan that was measurable," including operations and facilities details. Aldridge said the commissioners need the information "sooner than later" because they must present a county budget next month.

Commissioner Wood Hall Young Jr. alleged the district began the school year with about $1.2 million in fund balance and "spent the fund balance plus $900,000 which is around 2.1 million," and he urged a forensic audit by the State Bureau of Investigation covering the last four years so "the taxpayers need to know what happened." School board member Linda Webb agreed with Young’s concerns.

Young criticized proposed cuts that would affect lower‑paid staff, saying "Two custodians salary is equal to one teacher. That is not where you make the cuts. These people making the least amount of money need their jobs the most." Michelle Burnop, vice‑chair of the Avery County Board of Education, said the board must also consider actions that can be taken immediately.

Several commissioners said past communications and minutes raised accuracy concerns. Aldridge read excerpts from May 2, 2024 minutes and said staffing numbers reported to the county conflicted with documented changes; he noted the district is "30 positions over on the DPI standard." Chair Phillips and Aldridge asked that any capital funding requests be supported by invoices and documentation to ensure funds were used for intended projects.

Dr. Worrell clarified that the Ron Clark house/system would be funded through donations, not district operating funds. Ms. Edwards told the commissioners she could produce a financial projection "by next week." The commissioners scheduled a follow‑up meeting with the Board of Education for May 22 at 1:00 p.m. at Central Office.

On personnel pay, the Board of Commissioners reached consensus to include a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county employees in the FY2025/26 budget; the consensus was recorded but no formal roll‑call vote was announced in the workshop minutes.

The workshop recessed until the May 22 meeting to allow further review and receipt of the requested projections and documentation.