As part of Asheville City Schools’ continued effort to create open lines of communication, our goal is to make it easier and more efficient for students, staff, families and community members to request public information.

The district responds to requests for public records in accordance with North Carolina’s Open Government Guide. Our Executive Director of Communications, Ashley-Michelle Thublin, handles all requests, making sure the right person is contacted and that a response is made as promptly as possible.

If you are a member of our Cougar Family or media outlet wishing to request an interview or gather additional information, please email ashley.thublin@acsgmail.net. Please allow us adequate time to review and facilitate this request, and please be aware that the public records law does not require Asheville City Schools to do research, analyze data, or create a record that does not currently exist.

Below you will find recent media requests as well as Asheville City Schools’ responses.

July 27, 2021 - The Citizen-Times 

Good Morning, 

July 26, 2021 - The Citizen-Times 

REQUEST: 

I’m looking into plans for next school year in terms of COVID precautions.

RESPONSE: 

School and district-based administrators are currently reviewing the Toolkit’s key changes and have a meeting set up with Buncombe County Health and Human Services later this week.  We will provide additional insight into how this will impact our district's back-to-school protocols and procedures as they become available.  And, we anticipate that Return to Learn Safety Protocols will be an agenda item during the Asheville City Board of Eduction’s August 2nd Work Session. 

However, at this time, we know that in alignment with our end of the year Return to Learn Updates, students and staff will NOT be required to wear face coverings when they are outside for recess, PE or when learning in an outdoor classroom.  

In alignment with the Toolkit, all students, Pre-K thru 12th Grade, will be required to wear face coverings on school buses.  

Regarding vaccines…Asheville City Schools supports our health department in sharing vaccine appointment information.  And, as a resource for our students, staff and families, the district has hosted two vaccine clinics, in which all North Carolinians ages 12+ were invited to attend.  However, at this time, Asheville City Schools is NOT requiring our students or staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start of the 2021-2022 school year.  Additional information about the vaccines that are required can be found in Board Policy 4110.  

Asheville City’s first day of the 2021-2022 school year will be Monday, August 23rd.  As we look ahead to a safe and healthy school year, we appreciate hearing the thoughts and feelings of our parents, staff and community members.  We invite our Cougar Family to share their feedback with April Dockery, our Executive Director of Crisis Management and Operations, at april.dockery@acsgmail.net. 

July 21, 2021 - WLOS 

REQUEST: 

I saw that NCDHHS released new guidance that recommends school districts still require masks for grades K-8, and for high schoolers who are unvaccinated.  Just wanted to see if Asheville City Schools is planning on following this guidance?

RESPONSE:

Like all districts across North Carolina, Asheville City Schools received access to the updated Toolkit this afternoon around 2:00 PM. At this time, we are currently reviewing its key changes and will provide additional insight into how this will impact our district's back to school protocols and procedures as they become available. All updates will first be provided to Asheville City Schools staff, students and families, then shared with our local media partners and greater school community.  I would be more than happy to keep you updated as the district moves forward.

July 19, 2021 - AVL Watchdog 

REQUEST:  

Requesting official comment on several vax questions as the new school year approaches:

— What is the ACS policy on COVID-19 vaccinations?

— Now that the vaccines are available to anyone age 12 and older, will ACS high-school students, faculty, staff, and administrators be required to be vaccinated before school starts for the fall?

— Has the ACS attorney issued an opinion on whether the system can require COVID-19 vaccinations? What about other vaccinations, like measles, polio, meningococcal, etc?

RESPONSE: