Last night, parents met at Enka High School to determine what to do about the state’s intention to force local schools to lay off between 80 and 100 teachers. One thing they decided to do was ask Asheville City Council to pass a resolution in support of preventing an increase in student-to-teacher ratios. Dr. Carl Mumpower wanted to add another whereas to the effect of, “Whereas the state continues to spend limited resources on nonessential services that impact the education budget.” He used planting flowers along the highway as an example of misplaced state priorities. Kelly Miller wanted to add a whereas addressing the state’s unfunded mandate that certain districts hire more math and science teachers. Nobody mentioned the state’s push to fund more and more positions for education administrators. Only Mumpower’s whereas was approved.