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State disaster-relief bill gives Asheville flexibility on forgiven days but leaves pay and calendar constraints
Summary
Kim Deka summarized House Bill 149’s disaster-relief provisions — extended state of emergency, $273 million initial funding, up to 30 remote days (180 hours) and payroll provisions — while staff warned that state rules and the 215-day staffing standard limit local calendar flexibility.
State House Bill 149, signed Oct. 10, gives districts impacted by Hurricane Helene expanded options for counting missed instruction and for certain payroll provisions, but the Asheville City Schools board heard that legal and budgetary constraints limit how much the district can unilaterally change its calendar.
“Governor Cooper signed House Bill 149 into law on October 10,” Kim Deka (speaker 8) told the board, summarizing the bill’s key provisions: the state extended the disaster-recovery period through March 1, 2025; the enacted fund received an initial transfer of about $273 million; and impacted districts may use up to 30 remote instructional days (180 hours) or otherwise designate missed instruction as completed.
Deka said the bill also allows finance offices to continue payroll for forgiven days under a code the district will use to pay staff, gives additional time to pay principal bonuses, waives some retirement waiting periods for employees returning to hurricane-relief work, and provides relief for student-teacher requirements.
Limits and local effects: district staff cautioned the board that the state counts forgiven days toward the statutory 215-day employment standard for many employees. That counting means the district may not be able to extend the school year without incurring extra pay obligations. “The way the bill’s written … they count those days into the 215,” a district staff member said, noting the district needs legal and HR clarity on temporary and contract staff pay rules.
Board members expressed frustration that a 30-day remote allowance may not offset learning loss from an month-long disruption and asked staff to pursue legislative or legal clarification where possible. Deka said she will continue working with regional state officials and the district’s legal counsel and will advocate for locally tailored relief if needed when the General Assembly reconvenes.
Next steps: staff will compile the necessary reporting to the Department of Public Instruction and continue coordination with Buncombe County and regional officials. The board asked staff to return with calendar options that respect state constraints and address instructional-loss concerns.
