Hello, BCS Staff and Families.
Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for March 5, 2026. The full broadcast is on YouTube, and photos are posted in this Google Drive folder.
In our Good News segment, we recognized and celebrated:
· BCS Social Worker of the Year- Anne-Marie McBride, North Buncombe Elementary/Weaverville Elementary/Weaverville Primary
· Battle of the Books Champions- Enka Middle School
· All-County Chorus Art Contest Winner- Aubree Roberts, Leicester Elementary
· State Champion Wrestlers- Enka High School and Owen High School
· North Carolina Athletic Directors Association Awards
-Athletic Director of the Year- Brian Carver, Enka High School
-Citation Award- Matt Carpenter, Clyde A. Erwin High School
-Citation Award- David Hines, North Buncombe High School
-Distinguished Alumni Award- Dr. Rob Jackson, Buncombe County Schools Superintendent
· Elevating Language Immersion in Buncombe County Schools
Action Agenda
· North Carolina State Budget Resolution
Consent Agenda
· Minutes: March 5, 2026 – Regular Meeting
· Minutes: February 17, 2026- Policy Committee Meeting
· Personnel Report – April 2, 2026
· 2025-2026 Budget Amendment #5
· Advisory Council Request to Add/Change Member
· Black Mountain Primary School: Request to Name Facility
· Valley Springs Middle School: Request to Change Banks
· Koontz Intermediate School: Request to Change Banks
· Policy for second reading: 4203/5021/7273 Therapy Dogs in School
· Policy regulations for ratification:
-4130R Discretionary Admission Release
-4203/5021/7273R Therapy Dogs in School
-5030R Facility Use
Information Agenda
Announcements/Future Meetings
· The Board of Education will hold a Policy Committee meeting on April 13, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
· The Board of Education will hold a Special Called Budget Work Session on April 30, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the MInitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806
· The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is May 7, 2026. 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.
Superintendent's Comments
Good evening Parents, Members of the Community, Board Members, and Teammates,
Welcome to the month of April and the beginning of the whirlwind that hallmarks the last 42 days of schools. Over the course of the next two months, we look forward to the many opportunities to celebrate our students’ academic, artistic, and athletic accomplishments that will fill our days and nights. During this same time our students and faculty are hard at work maximizing every available instructional moment to ensure our students get the very most out of this year possible.
Earlier today we joined with the Cardinals of Fairview Elementary as they celebrated the school’s centennial. As we reflect on 100 years of dedicated service to the families and community, we are incredibly grateful for every teacher, every staff member, and every administrator who has given so deeply of themselves. We are looking forward to the next 100 years of service and as we heard today,
I am excited that High School musical season is upon us. This Spring, we all have the opportunity to enjoy Footloose, In a Room Somewhere, Shrek, Hadestown, the story of the Princess and the Pea, and the Wizard of Oz as our high schools present their annual musicals. Valley Springs Middle is also presenting the Spongebob Musical. The dates and times for all these shows are available on the Arts Calendar on our system website. On April 21st, from 5-7pm, we will host our Annual Family Night at the Asheville Mall for the opening of our All-County K-8 Visual Art Show. I can’t wait to celebrate our youngest student-artists. I’m so very appreciative of the priority Buncombe County Schools places on the arts, and the opportunities given to students to share and grow their talents.
During the month of March, the state anonymously surveyed teachers and certified staff in all 115 school systems using the North Carolina Teachers Working Conditions Survey. I could not be more proud of our Response Rate of 98.08%, our highest response rate in the history of the survey! 35 of our schools had a 100% response rate! I believe that our teachers responded at such a high rate because they know that their voice is important, is listened to, and is utilized in leading our school system. We look forward to receiving and using the results from our teachers to guide our efforts and commitment to continuous improvement. I appreciate the survey coordinators and administrators in each school who worked very hard to ensure teachers were able to participate in the survey.
We are in the midst of budget season. Building the budget is hard work. Last year’s third-party study commissioned by our 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.
Public schools provide equitable access to education, ensuring that every single 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.
I am very grateful for 200+ people who joined us for the recent District Parent Advisory Council Meeting to help craft the Board’s Legislative Agenda for 2026. As we heard from the speaker, North Carolina remains the only state in our country without a state budget. We are now ranked 48th for teacher pay, 50th in per-pupil spending, and 50th in funding effort. Thank you to all of those who are passionately advocating for our students and schools. We know that our public schools are absolutely crucial to our community’s future.
As we prepare for Spring Break, I want to wish our students, families, teachers, and staff a wonderful and well-deserved time of rest. I hope the days ahead are filled with relaxation, rejuvenation, and meaningful moments with those you care about most. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready to continue our work together.
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.