Asheville’s public school teachers and staff are in an existential battle for greater pay. That fight is also happening with pre-K childcare and education, where wages are often comparable to the fast-food industry. Throughout Buncombe County, a coalition of learning centers, nonprofit advocacy groups and business interests hopes to boost regional and state funding. Today's guests are Marcia Whitney, president and CEO of Verner Center for Early Learning; and Greg Borom, Director of Advocacy for Children First Communities and Schools of Buncombe County. We talk about the alarm they’re sounding, their call for extending the boost in funding that happened during the pandemic and the disparities they see around access to quality early childhood education and care. <a rel="payment" href="https://patreon.com/theoverlookpodcast">Support the show</a>Support The Overlook by <a href='https://patreon.com/TheOverlookPodcast'>joining our Patreon campaign</a>! <a href='https://podavl.com/advertise'>Advertise your event</a> on The Overlook. Instagram: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/avloverlook/'>AVLoverlook</a> | Facebook: <a href='https://www.facebook.com/AVLoverlook'>AVLoverlook</a> | Twitter: <a href='https://twitter.com/AVLoverlook'>AVLoverlook</a> Listen and Subscribe: <a href='https://overlook.buzzsprout.com'>All episodes of The Overlook</a> The Overlook theme song, "Maker's Song," comes courtesy of the Asheville band <a href='https://theresonantrogues.com'>The Resonant Rogues</a>. Podcast Asheville © 2023

The Overlook with Matt Peiken

A False Head Start? | Advocating a Funding Boost for Pre-K Education

Local newsmakers, civic leaders, journalists, artists and others in the know talk with host Matt Peiken about the growing, complicated city of Asheville, N.C. 