Published on Transylvania County Schools | powered by schoolboard.net (https://aws.nc.transylvania.schoolboard.net)

Regular Meeting

Dates:

Monday, August 18, 2025 - 6:00pm

The Transylvania County Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Morris Education Center, 225 Rosenwald Lane, Brevard. The meeting is open to the public. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be livestreamed and may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/tcsnc.

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I. OPENING OF MEETING

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Invocation

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II. BUSINESS ITEMS (including amendments and rescissions)

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1. Regular Business

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A. Approval of Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

A motion is in order to approve or revise the Agenda for August 18, 2025.

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B. Special Recognitions

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators	X	Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

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i. Erika Williams - TCS Public Information Officer and Grant Writer

Transylvania County Schools is very excited to introduce Erika Williams as our new Public Information Officer and Grant Writer. Erika is from Transylvania County and is a proud graduate of Brevard High School. She also attended Brevard Elementary School, Pisgah Forest Elementary School, and Brevard Middle School. Erika earned her teaching licensure in middle grades English and a B.A. in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. After student teaching at Rosman Middle School and graduating from UNCA, Erika worked as the North Carolina reporter for a national publication focusing on legal and political matters. She went on to work for the Charlotte television station WCNC as a digital content producer and assignment desk editor. We are extremely proud to announce that Erika is both an Emmy-nominated journalist and an Edward R. Murrow Award recipient for excellence in digital storytelling. Outside of work, Erika enjoys hiking with her dogs, mountain biking with her husband, nature photography, and strumming the banjo (another accomplishment in the making). Please join us in welcoming Erika!

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ii. The Historic Toxaway Foundation and the Grand Olde Station Restaurant

Annually, the Transylvania County Schools’ administrators and leaders participate in a summer retreat, which allows them to plan and prepare for the upcoming school year by receiving updates and sharing information. For the last two years, the retreat has been held at the Grand Olde Station Restaurant and has been fully sponsored by the Historic Toxaway Foundation, through the coordination of Mr. Nory LeBrun. The Historic Toxaway Foundation was established in 2017, and its members participate in a variety of local causes relating to Conservation, Tourism, Historic Preservation, Workforce Housing, and Education. The Grand Olde Station, located at 502 Blue Ridge Road, is a premier restaurant that uses locally-sourced ingredients from small business farms, while paying homage to the history and splendor of Lake Toxaway. We thank the Historic Toxaway Foundation and the Grand Olde Station Restaurant whose continued generosity provides TCS’ administration with a wonderful opportunity to collaborate and improve.

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iii. TCS Summer 2025 Campus Beautification Projects and Supply Donations

TCS would like to take a moment to formally recognize and thank the organizations and individuals who volunteered their time, services, equipment, and other goods this past summer. Several of our schools underwent beautification projects, while others received supply donations, all of which help prepare us to welcome our students back for a successful school year. We sincerely thank Biltmore Church, Blue Ridge RV Resort, Carolina Energy Systems and Aaron Blythe, First Baptist Church of Brevard, Ken Jones Custodial, Newbie & Neighbors Club of Connestee Falls, Transylvania County Education Coalition, and all of the individual volunteers. We are fortunate to be part of such a philanthropic community. Please take a moment to check out our school Facebook pages where you will find additional information and photos memorializing some of the volunteer-driven projects.

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iv. 2025 Summer Food Service Program

We are very proud to discuss the services provided by our outstanding School Nutrition Department during the summer months. Director of School Nutrition Janette Broda and the School Nutrition Department have been actively serving our community through the Summer Food Service Program, ensuring that children have continued access to nutritious meals while school is out. Meals have been provided in a variety of ways, including:

Mobile home deliveries
Daily pick-up sites
Partnerships with several summer day camps across the county

Summer meals were made available starting June 9 (the first day of summer) and continue through Friday, August 22 (the last day of summer). To date, the department has served:

Over 18,000 breakfasts
26,000 lunches
6,000 snacks

In addition, on July 7 and August 10, approximately 900 bags of food – including fresh produce – were distributed to 150 children in our community through the Backpack Buddy Program. This initiative was made possible thanks to the support of volunteers from First United Methodist Church, East Fork Baptist Church, and Grace Brevard Church, in collaboration with the School Nutrition Department and our school social workers.

Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce that Transylvania County Schools will continue to offer meals at no cost to all students throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

Please join us in recognizing our dedicated School Nutrition Department, our TCS school social workers, and all of the hardworking volunteers from First United Methodist, East Fork Baptist, and Grace Brevard Churches for providing these services that are so vital to our community.

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C. Facilities Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

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i. Joint School Bond Projects Update

Joint School Bond Project Manager Beecher Allison will update the Board regarding the ongoing and future Joint School Bond Projects.

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ii. RES Playground Improvement Project & RHS Football Field Updates

Facilities and Maintenance Director Kerry Putnam will provide updates on the Rosman Elementary School Playground Improvement Project and the Rosman High School football field.

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D. Consent Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The following items are submitted for consent approval:

i.Minutes of the July 21, 2025, meeting (regular and closed sessions)

ii.Personnel Report for August 18, 2025

A motion is in order to approve the consent items.

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2. Old Business

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A. Strategic Plan Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher will discuss how Transylvania County Schools is working to implement its new Strategic Plan even before the school year begins.

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B. Teacher/Staff Affordable Housing Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher will provide updates about the teacher/staff affordable housing projects discussed at the July 21, 2025, Board Meeting.

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3. New Business

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A. TCS 2025 School Mental Health Plan

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action
Excellent Educators	X	Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students	X	Discussion	X
Operations and Support

Director of Student Support Services Courtney Owen will present the Transylvania County Schools’ 2025 School Mental Health Plan. A copy of the full Plan is posted on our website for review.

Public Attachments:

TCS 2025 School Mental Health Plan.pdf

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B. NBPSCF Grant Application

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher will present the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBPSCF) 2025-2026 Grant Application. The NBPSCF was established to assist counties with their critical public school building capital needs. Grants, funded with NC Education Lottery revenue, are available to eligible counties to address facility repairs and renovations or to construct new school buildings or additions. In accordance with G.S. 115C-546.11.(a), grant funds must be matched by the local county at a predetermined percentage of the total funds received. Dr. Fletcher will review the draft Application and will answer questions from the Board.

A motion is in order to approve the submission of the NBPSCF Grant Application, pending Board of Commissioners’ approval.

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4. Public Comment

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The Board of Education, as an elected representative body of the school system, wishes to provide a forum for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the school system. In order that the Board may conduct an orderly meeting while providing an opportunity for input, individuals or groups may be heard by the Board in accordance with policy 2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings, or policy 2300, Board Meetings (subsection D.3).

Each month, a part of at least one regularly scheduled Board meeting will be set aside for citizens to address the Board through public comment. Board meetings, which include public comment, are a limited public forum. The Board limits public comment to issues relevant to, and within the jurisdiction of, the Board of Education. The Board will not discriminate based on the viewpoint expressed by speakers on permissible topics.

A sign-up sheet will be available 30 minutes before the meeting begins for any individual or group to indicate their desire to address the Board.

Each speaker will receive three (3) minutes to present comments. Time will begin when the speaker reaches the podium. The public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total, except by majority vote of the Board.

The Board Chair will recognize speakers in the order in which they signed in. Substitute speakers will not be permitted, and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker. If a speaker is unable to present all of his or her information within the specified time limit, the speaker may provide the Board with additional information in written form. If an unusually large number of people request to speak, a majority of the Board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions. At any time, the Board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and orderly manner.

Public comment is not a time for dialogue between individuals and Board Members or amongst individuals. Board Members will not respond to individuals who address the Board, except to request clarification of points made by the presenter. The Board does not transact any official business during public comment.

Individualized personnel and student matters are confidential as provided in applicable federal and state law. Such matters are within the jurisdiction of the Superintendent or designee to investigate and resolve or to make recommendations to the Board in accordance with law and Board policy. In such matters, the Board of Education serves as an avenue for appeal and/or final decision in accordance with law and Board policy. Therefore, public comment is not the appropriate forum for complaints related to identified school employees or students.

The Superintendent or designee shall make available policy and other relevant grievance procedures to any individual or group wishing to submit a complaint regarding an identified school employee or student. In addition, nothing in policy prohibits the ability of a citizen to send the Board of Education comment in writing, which may be maintained as confidential in accordance with applicable law. State and/or federal law may require disclosure of a written comment or complaint to any employee, student, or parent(s) of a student identified in the comment or complaint.

Except in cases of emergency, information received during presentations will not be acted upon at the time it is received. It will take unanimous vote of the Board Members present to act on a presentation considered to be of an unusual or emergency nature at the time it is presented.

Personal attacks on school employees or Board Members are prohibited, and disruptions by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.17.

If the Board does not hold a regular meeting during a month, the Board will not provide a time for public comment at any other meeting held during that month, unless a majority of the Board votes to allow public comment at the meeting or unless the purpose of the meeting is a public hearing.

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5. Superintendent's Report

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A. Good News Report

504 Policies Handbook

Transylvania County Schools is very happy to announce that, after an extended period of time without any change, the 504 Policies Handbook has been updated. A digital version of the Handbook will be available on our website, and every parent/guardian will receive a physical copy of the updated Handbook at the 504 meeting for their student(s).

Stuff the Bus Campaign Wrap-Up

From July 16^th through August 11^th, Transylvania County Schools partnered with the Transylvania Educational Foundation to participate in the 2025 Stuff the Bus! campaign. During the campaign, a TCS school bus was parked at different locations in the county. Our big-hearted community members “stuffed” the bus with school supplies necessary for our students to experience a productive school year. We would like to thank everyone for those donations. Additionally, we want to thank SavMor, Carolina Smiles, WalMart, Bronze 828, and Connestee Falls Realty for their generosity in hosting the bus at their locations.

For more good news from Transylvania County Schools, please visit us at:

Home Page: www.tcsnc.org ǀ Facebook: facebook.com/transylvania.schools

Twitter: twitter.com/transylvaniasch ǀ Flickr: flickr.com/tcsnc

Instagram: Instagram.com/transylvaniaschools ǀ YouTube: youtube.com/user/tcsnc

Smartphone App: Transylvania County Schools on Play Store and iTunes

SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/transylvaniacountyschools ǀ WSQL Radio: bit.ly/TCSYesRadio!

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B. Important Dates

Aug 18	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 p.m.	MEC
Aug 18-22	Teacher work days
Aug 18	Central Services/Admin resume normal work schedule
Aug 19	TCS Convocation	7:30 – 10:00 a.m.	Brevard High School Auditorium
Aug 21	BHS Freshman Orientation	10:30-3:00 p.m.	Brevard High School
Aug 21	BHS Back to School Bash	3:00–6:00 p.m. (drop-in)	Brevard High School
Aug 21	BES Playground Enhancement Celebration	4:00 – 4:30 p.m.	Brevard Elementary School – EC/K-1 Playground (Bus Loop/Elm Bend)
Aug 21	BES Meet the Teacher Night	4:30 – 6:00 p.m.	Brevard Elementary School - Cafeteria
Aug 21	RES Meet the Teacher	4:00 – 6:00 p.m.	Rosman Elementary School
Aug 21	PFES Meet the Teacher	4:00 – 6:00 p.m.	Pisgah Forest Elementary School
Aug 21	RHS Open House	4:00 – 6:00 p.m.	Rosman High School
Aug 25	First day of school for students!		All TCS Schools
Aug 27	Joint School Bond Projects Committee Meeting	4:00 p.m.	Transylvania County Administration – 101 S. Broad Street, Brevard
Sept 15	Tee Off for Tigers – Golf Tournament Benefiting Rosman Schools (RES, TC, RMS, RHS)	*please see flyer for more information	Burlingame Country Club

Public Attachments:

Tee Off For Tigers Flyer.jpg

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6. Closed Session

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

The Board will entertain a Motion to go into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(a)(1) to discuss a confidential personnel matter pursuant to N.C.G.S. 115C-319-321.

A motion is in order to go into the closed session.

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III. ADJOURNMENT

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Source URL: https://aws.nc.transylvania.schoolboard.net/node/6971