Hello, BCS Staff and Families.
Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for Oct. 1, 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:
· 2025-2026 Band of Distinction- Zander Carpenter, Annie Lengle, Julia Pfeiffer- Koontz Intermediate
· NC Honors Orchestra- Dalton Howes, Nesbitt Discovery Academy; Nicholas Chi, T.C. Roberson High School
· AIG Teacher of the Year- Donalyn Small, Owen Middle School
Strategic Plan Highlight: 2025-2026 Testing and Accountability Results
Action Agenda
· Policy for Approval
o 3510 Religious-Based Exemptions from School Programs
· Regulation for Ratification
o 3510R Religious-Based Exemptions from School Programs
· Policies for Approval with a Request to Waive First Reading
o 5030 Community Use of Facilities
o 7325 Video and Audio Recordings by Employees
Consent Agenda
· Minutes: September 3, 2026 – Open Session Regular Meeting
· Minutes: August 26, 2026- Policy Committee Meeting
· Personnel Report – October 1, 2026
· Advisory Council Members for Approval
· Advisory Council Members to Add/Remove
· NSCBA Board Voting Delegates
· Athletic Capital Outlay Request- Owen HS
· Request for Approval of Administrators at Schools Designated as Low Performing
Information Agenda
· Governance Team Norms and Protocols Document
Announcements/Future Meetings
· The next Board of Education Policy Committee Meeting is October 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC.
· The next regular Board of Education Meeting is November 5, 2026 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, Madam Vice Chair Plemmons, members of the Board, and members of the Buncombe County Schools community.
It is truly an honor to be here tonight as the new Superintendent of Buncombe County Schools. I am incredibly grateful for the confidence this Board has placed in me, and I am excited about the opportunity to serve our students, our staff, our families, and this community in this new capacity.
There is a tremendous sense of energy across our school system right now, and I believe that energy is well deserved for a variety of reasons.
One of those reasons can be found in our testing and accountability results that will be shared this evening by the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, Dr. Jan King, and Testing and Accountability Director, Dr. Theresa Melenas. I could not be more excited to celebrate the progress represented in that data.
Behind every number is a student who worked hard, a teacher who invested time and expertise, a principal who led with purpose, and a family who supported a child along the way. We should be proud of the progress our students and staff have made. At the same time, we know that data is not simply something to celebrate. It is information that helps us determine where we go next. We will celebrate our successes, learn from our challenges, and continue to raise the bar for every student.
This evening our Board of Education will also be voting on our 26-27 School System Budget, and I want to take this moment to express my sincere appreciation to our County Commissioners for their generosity. Their investment demonstrates a belief in our students, our educators, and speaks to the importance that public education plays in the future of Buncombe County.
We also applaud the teacher salary increases that are reflected in tonight’s budget. Our teachers and school-based staff deserve to be recognized for the incredibly important work they do every day. While there is always more work to be done to ensure educators are valued and supported, these increases are an important step, and I am grateful for the investment in the people who make a difference in the lives of our children every day.
Most importantly, I am incredibly encouraged by the start to this school year. As I have visited schools and spent time with students and staff, I have seen a great deal of enthusiasm, pride, and possibility. There is a sense that something special is happening across Buncombe County Schools.
And I believe we are just getting started.
I believe this can be a year when we reach new heights, not only academically, but also in athletics, the arts, and in the many ways our students discover their talents, develop confidence, and find a place of belonging in our schools.
As we look ahead, one of my most important priorities will be listening and learning from the people who know our schools best.
Over the next several months, I will be engaging with teachers, principals, students, families, staff, community partners, and other stakeholders as part of my entry plan. These conversations will help us understand what is working well, where we have opportunities to improve, and what our community believes our students need most from us.
That work will become an important foundation for the next iteration of our strategic plan.
I don't want that plan to simply be a document that sits on a shelf. I want it to be a clear and compelling roadmap for where we are going, just like it has been for the last three years. And, just as importantly, a reflection of what our community believes is possible for every student in Buncombe County Schools.
We have a great deal to be proud of. We also have a great deal of work ahead of us. I am excited about both.
I believe deeply in the people of Buncombe County Schools. I believe in our students. I believe in our educators. And I believe that when we are united around a clear vision and relentlessly focused on doing what is best for children, there is no limit to what we can accomplish together.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I am honored to begin this journey with you, and I am excited about where we are going.
Madam Vice Chair, this concludes my comments.