Hello, BCS Staff and Families.
Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for March 7, 2024. The full broadcast is on YouTube, and photos are posted in this Google Drive folder.
In our Good News segment, we recognized:
· North Carolina Spelling Bee – Elise Moore, Estes Elementary School
· NCDOT Aviation Arts Contest Award – Ellis Gibson, North Buncombe Elementary School
· NCATA West Region Ag Teacher of the Year – Kevin Franklin, Enka High School
Curriculum Feature
· National Board Certified Teacher Recognition
Action Agenda
· WD Williams Elementary School: Accept Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) and Authorize Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to Proceed with Phase 1
· North Buncombe High School: Approval of Design-Build Contractor
· 2024-2025 Instructional Assistant Calendar Guidelines Revision
· 2024-2025 Buncombe County Schools (BCS), Buncombe County Early College (BCEC), and Buncombe Center for Career Innovation (BCCI) Academic Calendar Revisions
Consent Agenda
· Minutes: March 7, 2024 – Regular Meeting Open Session
· 2023-2024 Budget Amendment #4
· Records Retention and Disposal Request
· Intent for Purchase of E-Rate Related Network Switchgear
· Intent for Purchase of Non-E-Rate Related Network Switchgear
· Sole Source Procurement Request: Constructive Learning Design
Policies for Second Reading
· Policy 3210 Parental Inspection of and Objection to Instructional Materials
· Policy 3610 Counseling Program
Information Agenda
Policies for First Reading
· Policy 5001 Advisory Councils to the Board
· Policy 7520 Family and Medical Leave
Announcements/Future Meetings
· There will be Special Called Board Budget Work Session on April 26, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC.
· The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is May 2, 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.
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. I am so very proud of the work ethic I see in our classrooms across the school system. I remain convinced that we are in the midst of our finest year ever.
I am excited that High School musical season is upon us. This Spring, we all have the opportunity to enjoy Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, Pirates of the Penzance, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, and Alice by Heart as our traditional high schools present their annual musicals. Valley Springs Middle is also presenting Frozen, Jr. The dates and times for all these shows are available on the Arts Calendar on our system website. Next Tuesday night, April 16th from 5-7pm is 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 students who are amazing 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 95.73%, our highest response rate in the history of the survey. This is the 20th highest response rate among the 115 NC public school systems and the 2nd highest response rate among the 15 largest school systems. 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.
This week we are celebrating Assistant Principals Week in Buncombe County Schools. Assistant Principals are dedicated educators who work tirelessly to bolster teachers, motivate students, support their principal, create a positive learning community, and face the many unpredictable challenges that land on their desk. They play a crucial role, and this week is a dedicated time to recognize them for their hard work and commitment to our students, staff, and schools. Thank you to each of our Assistant Principals!
In the bustling halls of our schools, there exists a quiet haven, a sanctuary of knowledge, imagination, and discovery: the school media center. At its heart beats the dedicated spirit of the school media specialists. With a passion for literature and learning, they guide students through the vast realms of books, fostering curiosity, igniting the imagination, and nurturing minds. They are the guardians of stories, the champions of literacy, and the unsung heroes of education. We celebrate the invaluable contributions of our school media specialists, whose tireless efforts enrich the lives of students and shape the future of our world, one book at a time. Last week was National School Librarian Day and this is National School Library Week. We are certainly blessed by all that they do for so many.
We know that we still have much work to do and that we can and must continue to improve. We will give our all because our students are worthy of our very best efforts. 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.
Madam Chair, this concludes my comments.