Buncombe County Schools -

Hello, BCS Staff and Families.

Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for September 5, 2024. The full broadcast is on YouTube, and photos are posted in this Google Drive folder.

In a Special Recognition segment, we recognized:
· NCDPI Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Promising District – Buncombe County Schools AIG Program – Dr. Michael Maher, Deputy State Superintendent, Division of Standards, Accountability and Research, & Stephanie Cyrus, State Consultant, Advanced Learning and Gifted Education
 
In our Good News segment, we recognized:
· Enka High School JROTC Special Recognition – Cadets McKayla Cox and Dylan Pyatt
· North Buncombe Middle School – FCCLA National Convention Competitor - Hawkins Marshall
· Owen High School – FCCLA National Competitors – Kohwyn Clark and Emily Kleive

Policy for Approval
· Policy 1725/4035/7236 – Interim Title IX Sex Discrimination – Prohibited Conduct and Reporting Process
· Policy 1726/4036/7237 – Interim Title IX Sex Discrimination Grievance Process

Consent Agenda
· Minutes: August 1, 2024 – Open Session Regular Meeting
· Minutes: August 22, 2024 – Joint Meeting with County Commissioners and Asheville City Schools
· Personnel Report
· 2023-2024 Budget Amendment #9
· Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Black Mountain Regarding the Use of the Black Mountain Primary School Parking Lot
· Sole Source Request Transportation Department: Edulog
· Sole Source Request Curriculum and Instruction Department: UnboundEd
· Sole Source Request Student Services Department: Character Strong
· Sole Source Request Student Services Department: Collaborative Classroom
· Request to Dispose of Public Records
· Advisory Council Members for Approval
· Advisory Council Members Request to Add

Policy to be Rescinded
· Policy 2240 – Board Appointments of Trustees to Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College 

Policies for First Reading
· Policy 4240/7312 – Child Abuse and Related Threats to Child Safety· Policy 3410 Testing and Assessment Program
· Policy 4316 – Student Dress Code
· Policy 5023/6128/7268 Emergency Administration of Naloxone
· Policy 6125 – Administering Medicines to Students 

Announcements/Future Meetings
· The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is October 3, 2024. Work session updates and Closed Session beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room, and the Open Session beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC  28806. 

The public is invited to submit their input to the County Consolidation Study through the following community meetings:
· Monday 9/9, 3:45PM-6:30PM: Owen Middle School
· Tuesday 9/10, 3:45PM-6:30PM: E. Asheville Library
· Thursday 9/12, 3:45PM-6:30PM: Cane Creek Middle School
· Friday 9/13, 11:30AM-2:15PM: Weaverville Community Center
· Monday 9/16, 3:45PM-6:45PM: Isaac Dickson Elementary School
· Tuesday 9/17, 3:30PM-6:30PM: Erwin High School
· Wednesday 9/18, 5:30PM-8:30PM: Enka Intermediate School
· Thursday 9/19, 3:45PM-6:30PM: Hall Fletcher Elementary School
· Friday 9/20, 11:30AM-2:30PM: Skyland/South Buncombe Library
· Monday 9/23, 5:30PM-7:30PM: Online Forum

Superintendent's Comments
Good evening Parents, Members of the Community, Board Members, and Teammates,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We have had an incredible beginning to the school year. It is no exaggeration when I share with you that this has been the strongest start to a school year that I have experienced in my career. Throughout the school system and in every school, I have experienced incredible smiles and joy throughout. Our senior leadership team members have each visited each of our 45 schools daily for the first six days of school. I have heard from principals and teachers how much they appreciate seeing our leaders in the schools. Being present in the schools is key to understanding at a deeper level how we may best serve and support the students, teachers, staff, administrators, and school community.

I appreciate Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Michael Maher for driving across the state to honor our school system tonight as an Academically - Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Promising District! This award is an indicator of the incredibly positive momentum in all areas of our work! I am very proud of our efforts across our 45 schools to support and challenge our AIG students.

The award letter we received stated, “Your district exemplifies an unwavering commitment to students and staff as well as innovation." The letter goes on to state, “Buncombe County Schools is leading the way in our state and showcasing the profound impact that dedication to academic excellence can have on student success.”

Earlier this morning, I was in Raleigh as the State Board of Education recognized Nesbitt Discovery Academy as a North Carolina Model STEM School of Distinction. I am very proud of NDA and was honored to cheer on the Chargers.

The State Board of Education also received the 2023-2024 State Assessment Results. Mr. Earwood will provide detailed assessment results information in his annual report at the October meeting.

Following this release, the Buncombe County Schools system has much to celebrate. The key takeaway for me is the Cohort Graduation Rate for the Class of 2024 of 91.5%! This is the highest Cohort Graduation Rate in the history of the school system, breaking the record set just a year ago by the Class of 2023.

Some other quick take-aways, this year include:

1) 34 schools met or exceeded growth!
2) 1 school previously designated as low-performing is no longer low-performing
3) 2 schools improved by an entire letter grade on their School Performance Grade!
4) 15 schools improved in grade level proficiency

As you would expect, the Data Release also highlights areas of growth that we are committed to addressing.

Earlier this week, the News & Observer featured an article on Top 100 Employers in the State of North Carolina. The article is based on Forbes listing of the Best 100 Employers by State. Among the Top 100 Employers in the State of North Carolina are large employers representing many industries, like Duke Energy, Apple, Siemens, Nike, and Google.

Also among the Top 100 Employers in the State of North Carolina are two school systems, Cumberland County Schools (Fayetteville, NC) and Buncombe County Schools! I am beyond proud of this recognition of our school system as a Top Employer in the state as we have worked very hard over the last two years to ensure that all of our teachers and staff members feel valued and valuable, building upon the great work of generations in BCS.

As the school system is the second largest employer in Buncombe County, we know that this recognition is one that every citizen of our county can take great pride in.

Finally, I want to mention Governor Cooper's visit earlier this week to Leicester Elementary School. During the Governor's remarks at the Press Conference at the end of the visit, he specifically referenced reading the Buncombe County Schools Strategic Plan and went on to say that "the strategic plan is impressive. It could be used as a template across the state." As you know, this plan was almost two years in the making with 13 town halls, parent advisory council input, thousands of survey results, and various employee groups, all coalescing into the plan that will help us reach our goal of "each and every student" achieving success and will help us address the areas of growth identified in the state data release.

This new school year I am excited that we will once again offer free breakfast and lunch for all students. We are entering into our second year of working with and being led by our Teacher Advisory Council and our Exceptional Children's Advisory Council, continuing our work with our Student Advisory Council, and will be launching an Advisory Council made up of representatives of our hourly employees. Our teammates having an authentic voice in leading our school system is how we achieve such remarkable results and how we have become a Top 100 Employer in the State.

I know that the success our students are experiencing academically, artistically, and athletically is due to the strong support we enjoy from parents and families and to the amazing and dedicated educators throughout 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 and again, welcome to an incredible new school year.

Madam Chair, this concludes my comments.