Buncombe County Schools -

Consent Agenda
· Minutes: April 25, 2025 – Special Called Work Session
· Minutes: May 1, 2025 – Open Session Regular Meeting
· Personnel Report – June 5, 2025
· 2024-2025 Budget Amendment #7
· 2025-2026 CTE Local Plan Approval
· 2025-2028 AIG Local Plan Approval
· Student Parking Fees
· Mandatory Catastrophic Athletic Insurance for 2025-2026
· Mandatory Student Athletic Insurance for 2025-2026
· Renewal Driver Education Contract with Mountain Professionals, Inc. for 2025-2026 School Year
· Renewal Security Guard Contract with Guardian Security Services LLC, DBA Signal of Asheville, NC for  2025-2026 School Year
· Renewal BCS Aquatic Center Management Contract with YMCA of Western North Carolina for 2025-2026 School Year
· Noncompetitive Procurement Request – Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
· Noncompetitive Procurement Request – Great Minds PBC
· Noncompetitive Procurement Request – Emerald Education, Inc.
· Policies for Second Reading:
- Policy 3225/4312/7320 Technology Responsible Use
- Policy 7351/5071 Electronic Stored Information Retention

Information Agenda
· Finance Reports
· Policies for First Reading:
- Policy 3220 Technology in the Educational Program
 
Announcements/Future Meetings
· The Board of Education will hold a Special Called Meeting on June 30, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC.
· The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is August 5, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Minitorium. Work session updates and Closed Session begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC.

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

As we reach the close of the 2024–2025 school year, I find myself reflecting not only on the many achievements of our students and staff but also on the extraordinary strength and compassion that have defined this year. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our school system stood as a pillar of hope and stability for our community.

The storm tested us in ways we could not have anticipated. Lives were upended, homes were lost, and many of our neighbors—students, staff, and families alike—faced unimaginable hardship. And yet, what I witnessed across Buncombe County Schools in the days, weeks, and months that followed was nothing short of remarkable. Our schools became shelters, our teammates became first responders, and our buses delivered more than students—they delivered meals, supplies, and comfort.

Even in the midst of these challenges, our commitment to students never wavered. Teachers, counselors, and staff members wrapped around our young people with love and care, helping them process grief, regain routine, and continue learning. Maintenance and operations crews worked tirelessly to repair damage. Our central office team mobilized resources, coordinated relief efforts, and supported each school through every twist and turn. Parents, volunteers, and community partners stepped in shoulder-to-shoulder with us. This was truly our finest hour.

And incredibly, through it all, we grew. Our academic momentum continued. We were honored to be named an Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Promising Practices District by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction—a powerful testament to the dedication of our educators and the perseverance of our students. We were honored that our BCS Migrant Education Program was selected for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction 2024-2025 Award for Continuous Program Improvement. In presenting the award, state leaders described the dedication and care of our team as they have worked hard to build trusting relationships with our migrant families

We also made strides in advancing literacy, deepening trauma-informed practices, and broadening access to meaningful learning opportunities. Each of these efforts took root amid a season of recovery and rebuilding—and because of that, they carry even greater weight.

Our purposeful, intentional work, guided by our strategic plan, will continue to grow and bloom in the year to come as we anticipate the launch of our revised Instructional Framework, centered and focused on each and every student in each and every classroom each and every day.

Graduation ceremonies began last weekend and will continue in the coming days. They represent not just the culmination of academic journeys, but also the resilience and determination of an entire community. These graduates are walking testaments to the power of connection and care.

As I have been honored to do each year, I look into the eyes of each and every graduate, shake their hand, and say to every single one, “Congratulations! I am very proud of you!” They hear from me on behalf of each of you. We are very proud of our graduates and all of those who helped them achieve this milestone.!

To every member of our Buncombe County Schools team—bus drivers, child nutritionists, custodians, instructional assistants, office staff, teachers, counselors, administrators, and all who serve—you not only helped deliver a school year, you helped deliver hope. You met crisis with compassion and continued forward with courage. I am proud to serve alongside you.

To the Class of 2025: You carry more than a diploma. You carry the lessons of perseverance, service, and grace under pressure. Wherever life leads, know that you are ready. And remember—your school family is always behind you.

To our Board of Education: thank you for standing with us. Your leadership and advocacy have been essential throughout this unforgettable year. You have helped make it one of progress, purpose, and—most of all—heart.

Indeed, if ever there were a year when our theme rang true, it is this year: #TogetherWeRise. Through adversity, through celebration, through every moment in between—we rose together. And because of that and because of this incredible school system, our future is bright.

Mister Chair, this concludes my comments.