Hello, BCS Staff and Families.
Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for March 6, 2025. The full broadcast is on YouTube, and photos are posted in this Google Drive folder.
In our Good News segment, we recognized and celebrated:
· Carolina Panthers Spelling Bee Competitor – Rose Macdonnell, Estes Elementary
· Outstanding Science Teacher Award, NC Science Teachers Association – Liza Webster, Cane Creek Middle
· NC School Board Association Certificate of Merit – Rob Elliot, Chairman District 3 and Kim Plemmons, District 6
· Special Olympics Ski/Snowboarding Medalist – Drake Leatherwood, TC Roberson High School PEP
· NC Cheerleading Coaching Association State Championship – Owen High School Cheerleaders
Strategic Plan Highlights
· Arts Education in BCS
Action Agenda
· Revised 2024-2025 School Calendar
· Policies for Second Reading
- Policy 3420 Student Promotion and Accountability
- Policy 3460 Graduation Requirements
· Policy for Ratification
-Policy 5050R Emergency Closings
· Buncombe County Schools Board of EducationLegislative Agenda
Consent Agenda
· Minutes: February 13, 2025 – Open Session Regular Meeting
· Personnel Report – March 6, 2025
· 2024-2025 Budget Amendment #4
· Barnardsville Elementary School: Request to Change Banking Institution
· Technology Services Intent to Purchase E-Rate Related Network Switchgear
· Technology Services Intent to Purchase Non-E-Rate Related Network Switchgear
· North Buncombe High School: Request to Use Capital Athletic Outlay Funds for Gymnasium Custom Wall Padding
· North Buncombe Middle School: Request to Use Capital Athletic Outlay Funds
· Erwin High School: Request to Use Capital Athletic Outlay Funds for Track High Jump Standards
· Erwin High School: Request to Use Capital Athletic Outlay Funds for an Athletic Dryer
Information Agenda
· Finance Reports
Policies for First Reading
· Policy 3470/4305 Alternative Learning Programs
· Policy 4270/6145 Concussion and Head Injury
· Policy 4320 Tobacco Products – Students
· Policy 4370 Student Discipline Hearing Procedures
· Policy 5026/7250 Smoking and Tobacco Products
· Policy 8305 Grant Administration
· Policy 9125 Participation of Minority Owned Business
Announcements/Future Meetings
· The Board of Education will hold a Special Called Budget Work Session on March 13, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in the Yeager Room at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
· The BCS County-Wide Advisory Council meeting will be held on March 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
· The Board of Education will hold a Special Called Budget Work Session on April 3, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in the Yeager Room at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806. A Closed Session will follow immediately with the Board of Education Regular Open Session Meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
Superintendent's Comments
Good evening Parents, Members of the Community, Board Members, and Teammates,
This week we are celebrating National School Social Workers Week. We are so grateful for and dependent on the fact that, as others have said, “school social workers are exceptionally skilled in providing services to students who face serious challenges to school success.” The difference they make is hard to measure, but easy to feel. Thank you to each of our School Social Workers!
I would like to share with the Board and with the community that Buncombe County Schools is hosting an Educator Career Fair on this Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 9am - 12pm, right here. This is an amazing school system and we are looking for incredible and dedicated educators to join our team. If you are interested in attending the Job Fair or in applying for a position, please call the school system or refer to our website.
We are also excited to be hosting our annual BCS STEAM Day on Saturday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nesbitt Discovery Academy. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. The free event is for all BCS students and their families from grades K-8. The GeoDome will be up and running, and the Nature Center will be bringing an animal ambassador program at 10:30 and 11:30. There will be plenty of other STEAM related activities for families to explore! The theme this year is "Dream It, Be It: STEAM for a Better Tomorrow," which inspires students to recognize that their dreams, creativity, and passion for STEAM can shape a brighter future. We hope to see you there!
Earlier this afternoon, our Board of Education participated in their third work session focused on next year’s budget with four more to come. Tomorrow, our Capital Outlay Committee of stakeholders will begin a series of six meetings. Teachers, staff, and administrators have all been involved in gathering information about needs and requests to inform this important work. All of this involvement from so many serves as a tremendous example of what it means to be a school system recognizing that our charge is to serve each and every student from Alexander to Azalea to Asheville, from Jupiter to Skyland to Enka, from Leiscester to Montford to Montreat, and from Candler to Swannanoa to Forks of Ivy. Our students and those who serve them vividly demonstrate how our Buncombe County Schools system is the tapestry that weaves together all of the communities across our great county.
Building the budget is hard work. This year, we are starting from a difficult place as we have seen the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The recent third-party study commissioned by the County Commissioners found that after comparing our school system to other similarly-sized school districts that we are a lean organization. Our financial audits by independent auditors found no findings, considered a “perfect audit.” We have demonstrated and do demonstrate that we are excellent stewards of the taxpayer dollars entrusted into our school system.
I am very grateful for the many people who are involved in building our budget and to those who are advocating for our students and schools. We know that our public schools are absolutely crucial to our community’s future.
Public schools provide equitable access to education, ensuring that every child—regardless of background—has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. A strong public school system attracts businesses, boosts property values, and cultivates a skilled workforce. Beyond academics, public schools provide essential services like meals, student support, and extracurricular programs. As we saw during the hurricane, our schools serve as a stabilizing force for families and the community, especially in times of crisis. A strong public school system doesn’t just benefit students—it strengthens entire communities, ensuring long-term prosperity, stability, and growth.
We know that we still have much work to do and that we can and must continue to improve. I just want you to know that I could not be prouder of all I continue to experience in our classrooms and schools.
To our team and to our Board Members, Thank you for all that you do for the students, families, teachers, and staff of Buncombe County Schools.
Mister Chair, this concludes my comments.