Hello, BCS Staff and Families:
Welcome to a new year! Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for January 11, 2024. Here is a link to the full broadcast on YouTube. Photos are posted HERE.
In our Good News segment, we recognized the following individuals:
NC Educational Interpreter of the Year – Kim Martin, Bell Elementary School
Secondary Math Teacher of the Year – James Michael Sapp
2024 BCS Beginning Teacher of the Year – Mikayla Wright
Supporter of STEM Education/Pratt & Whitney – Christy Cheek, BCS Foundation
Asheville Chamber of Commerce WomanUP Award & the Gary W. Gay Award of Excellence– Lisa Payne, School Nutrition Director
Board of Education Appreciation Month
Finance Department Awards:
Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Association of School Business Officials Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
CURRICULUM FEATURE
Navigating the Future:
A Spotlight on the Latest in CTE
ACTION AGENDA
2023-2024 Budget Amendment #1
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes: December 7, 2023 – Special Called Work Session
Minutes: December 7, 2023 – Regular Meeting Open Session
Personnel Report
Advisory Council Members: Request to Add
POLICIES FOR SECOND READING
Policy 4110 Immunization and Health Requirements for School Admission
Policy 7650 Employee Travel and Other Expense Reimbursement
Policy 7631 Salary Supplements
POLICIES FOR RATIFICATION
Policy 4130 Discretionary Admission
Policy 4150 School Assignment
Policy 4334/5035/7345 Use of Unmanned Aircraft (Drones)
Policy 6230 School Meal and Competitive Foods Standards
Policy 7820 Personnel Files
Good evening Parents, Members of the Community, Board Members, and Teammates,
Welcome to 2024! With the arrival of a new calendar year and the anticipation of the start of a new semester, I continue to believe that we are in the midst of our finest year ever. Certainly, there remain numerous challenges and tasks to be accomplished, but the absolute focus on supporting our students and staff that I witness daily in our schools, in this building, and on this Board make me confident that we will continue to witness tremendous student success.
I have received the official Principal’s Monthly Reports for Month 3 of the 2023-2024 school year. I am pleased to report that our enrollment (measured as Average Daily Membership) is greater than the same month last school year (2022-2023) by 54 students. I believe that this growth in enrollment is due to the dedication and commitment of our teachers and staff and the strong partnership we enjoy with our students’ parents and families.
I was excited to join members of our team at Community High School this morning as Good Morning America honored our teammate Ray Bethea who serves as a Custodian at Community High School. Students shared the tremendous impact “Captain Ray,” as he is known, has had in their lives, encouraging them to keep going, being a mentor, and demonstrating kindness in all he does. I love when our teammates are recognized as it clearly illustrates the impact each member of our team can have in the life of a student. I salute Captain Ray and all of the Captain Rays in each of our 45 schools who are clearly making a difference and who are there for our students in times of challenge and in times of celebration.
I am also excited about this evening’s presentation from our Career and Technical Education Department. As you will hear, our team is responding to the needs our business community has identified by helping prepare our students through internships, job shadowing opportunities, and earning industry-recognized credentials.
This month we will kick-off our annual "town hall" meetings in each district. Our first Town Hall meeting will take place in the Erwin district on January 29th at West Buncombe Elementary School. During the Town Hall meeting, we will be seeking input as we continue to draft our new Strategic Plan.
Finally, this is School Board Appreciation Month. I want to personally thank each of our Board Members for their service and dedication. Thank you for your leadership and for modeling what it is to put students first in all we do. We remain committed to loving and supporting each and every single student in our school system. 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.
Madam Chair, this concludes my comments.
