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Regular Meeting

Dates:

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 - 6:00pm

The Transylvania County Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 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/Welcome

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
Student Achievement	X	Action	X
Human Resources/Quality Staff	X	Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement	X	Discussion	X
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment	X

A motion is in order to approve or revise the January 20, 2026, Agenda.

Public Attachments:

Agenda Index.pdf

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B. Strategic Plan Progress

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement	X	Action
Human Resources/Quality Staff	X	Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement	X	Discussion	X
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment	X

A Transylvania County Schools’ Director will provide an updated report regarding specific

means by which the 2025-30 Strategic Plan has been implemented, including statuses of

defined Goal Action Items and Metrics. Please see our website for the posted slideshow

of this month’s presentation.

Public Attachments:

Strategic Plan January Slides.pdf

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C. Special Recognitions

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement	X	Action
Human Resources/Quality Staff	X	Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement	X	Discussion
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment

i. On February 15^th we will celebrate School Resource Officer Appreciation Day. Thank you to our

School Resource Officers for all you do to keep Transylvania County Schools safe each and every day. We truly appreciate your presence, your care for our students, and the difference you make in our schools. Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher and Director of Safe Schools Courtney Owen will formally recognize our SRO staff, as follows:

Lieutenant Greg Stroup
Sergeant Michael Hall, Rosman High School
Jayson Rogers, Davidson River School
Brent Owen, Brevard Elementary School
Kelly Cook, Brevard High School
David Wright, Pisgah Forest Elementary School (Recently named SRO of the Year by the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office - Please see photo on our website.)
Mark Russell, Brevard Middle School
Rick Harbin, Rosman Elementary School
Ray Owen, Rosman Middle School
Rachel Carnathan, T.C. Henderson School of Science & Technology

ii. Director Courtney Owen shall discuss TCS’ appreciation for our community’s contributions to the success of the Sunshine Fund.

Public Attachments:

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D. Facilities Update

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement		Action
Human Resources/Quality Staff		Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement		Discussion
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment	X

i. Joint School Bond Project Manager Beecher Allison will update the Board regarding the

ongoing and planned Joint School Bond Projects. Mr. Allison’s monthly report and

corresponding photographs will be made available for review on our website.

Public Attachments:

Bond Project Update Presentation 1-26.pdf

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E. Consent Agenda

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement		Action	X
Human Resources/Quality Staff	X	Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement		Discussion
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment

The following items are submitted for consent approval:

i. Minutes - October 20, 2025 (closed session); November 17, 2025 (closed session); and

December 15, 2025 (open session)

ii. Personnel Report for January 20, 2026

iii. FY26 Budget Amendment No. 3

A motion is in order to approve the consent items.

Public Attachments:

Budget Amendment #3 Memo.pdf

2025-26 Budget Amendment #3.pdf

Personnel Report.pdf

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2. New Business

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A. School Calendar 2026-2027

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement	X	Action	X
Human Resources/Quality Staff		Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement	X	Discussion	X
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment	X

Two calendar committee meetings were held in December and January during which the committee developed two draft calendars for the 2026-2027 school year. The committee included parent and staff representatives from each school.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brian Weaver will discuss options, answer any questions you may have, and request Board approval of a 2026-2027 calendar. The two draft calendars that will be reviewed for consideration are posted on our website.

North Carolina’s current calendar law is summarized as:

Requirements and Guidance on School Calendar - S.L. 2020-3 (SB704) Updated June 30, 2020. School calendars must meet the following requirements:

1. Start date no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and end date no

later than the Friday closest to June 11 (unless a weather related calendar

waiver has been approved, year-round school, charter school or cooperative

innovative high school.) If waiver is approved the start date can be no earlier

than the Monday closest to August 19.

2. There are no educational purpose waivers for exemption of the opening

and/or closing dates.

3. All schools within the district must be closed all day for purposes of

determining eligibility for a weather related waiver (delayed starts or early

dismissals of two or more hours no longer apply).

4. Covers at least nine calendar months.

5. Must have a minimum of 185 days OR 1,025 hours of instruction.

6. Must have at least nine (9) teacher workdays.

7. Local Boards shall designate two (2) workdays on which teachers may take

accumulated vacation leave. Local Boards may designate the remaining

workdays as days teachers may take accumulated vacation leave.

8. Have a minimum of ten (10) annual vacation leave days.

9. Have the same or an equivalent number of legal holidays occurring within

the school calendar as those designated by the State Personnel

Commission for State employees.

10. School shall not be held on Sunday.

11. Veterans Day shall be a holiday for all public school personnel and for all

students enrolled in the public schools.

A Motion is in order to adopt a school calendar for 2026-2027.

Public Attachments:

2026-2027 TCS DRAFT Traditional Calendar.pdf

EARLY START 2026-2027 TCS DRAFT Calendar.pdf

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B. Policy: NCSBA Fall 2025 PLS Update

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement	X	Action	X
Human Resources/Quality Staff	X	Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement	X	Discussion	X
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment	X

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brian Weaver will present the NCSBA Fall 2025 PLS Update (Policies to Lead the Schools) Custom Updates as first-read information. The 23 policies are identified and summarized below.

1740/4010 Student and Parent Grievance Procedure – Adds clarifying language about Open Meetings Law in subsection D.2. and updates cross references.
1750/7220 Grievance Procedure for Employees – Adds clarifying language about Open Meetings Law in subsection D.4 and updates the cross references.
2125/7315 Confidential Information – Creates a new Section C (Data Identifying a Person as a Supporter of a Nonprofit Organization) to add new statutory language, makes clarifying changes in Section D regarding confidential information, and updates the legal references.
3101 Dual Enrollment – Adds language regarding the new Career and College Ready Pathway in Section A and updates legal references.
3220 Technology in the Educational Program – Creates a Section A (Integration of Technology into the Curriculum) and moves information from that Section to the opening paragraph (superintendent’s methods of acquiring additional technological resources for the educational program), adds a new statutory requirement to Section B (Technology resource pre-acquisition requirements per State BOE rules), and updates legal references.
3225/4312/7320 Technology Responsible Use – Adds language in subsections B.1 (expressed teacher permission for student social media access) and B.12 (additional prohibited materials) and Section C (age-appropriateness and protection of personal information) in response to new requirements in S.L. 2025-38, creating new G.S. 115-102.10 and updates legal references.
3226/4205 Internet Safety – Adds language in Section C (protection of personal information) in response to a new requirement in S.L. 2025-38, creating new G.S. 115C-102.10, makes other minor editorial changes, and updates legal references.
3227/7322 Web Page Development – In B.2e, clarifies that the school system is not responsible for personal websites or web pages created or maintained by members of the board of education, in addition to those of students, employees, parents, groups, or organizations.
3400 Evaluation of Student Progress – Adds new language (letter grade exceptions for unaccredited or international school transfers) from a State Board of Education policy.
3460 Graduation Requirements – Updates the science course requirements for the Future-Ready Occupational Course of Study.
4050 Children of Military Families – Updates the policy to include Space Force.
4120 Domicile or Residence Requirements – Modifies the language in subsection D.4 (proof of residency, including extensions for specified circumstances) based on a recent statutory correction and updates the legal references.
4240/7312 Child Abuse and Related Threats to Child Safety – Adds language (specifying instances of misconduct and consequences) in Section D (Duty to Report Licensed Employees to the State Board of Education) for clarity.
4270/6145 Concussion and Head Injury – Adds the new requirement that an athletic trainer or first respondent attends wrestling matches and tournaments.
5150/7313 Reporting to External Agencies – Double codes this policy in the 7000s, includes formatting changes, updates the language in subsection A.2.a (Reporting by Principals and Central Office Personnel of Certain Misconduct by Licensed Employees) (specifies personnel positions/titles and applied misconduct results) for clarity, and moves the Center for Safer Schools reporting requirements to its own section (B) now that the Center is no longer part of DPI.
6310 Organization of Student Transportation Services – Adds language (requirement to post copies of safe, orderly, and efficient operation of student transportation services program-related job descriptions, rules, regulations and policies) to comply with State Board of Education requirements and updates legal reference and cross references.
7910 Retirement – Adds language stating that if an employee’s retirement allowance is subject to an adjustment pursuant to the contribution-based benefit cap for retirements, the board will not be responsible for restoring the employee’s retirement allowance to the pre-cap amount unless the board has specified in writing in the employee’s contract that the board will restore the employee’s retirement allowance and updates legal references.
1600 Governing Principle – Professional Development – Updates a policy title (Emergency Epinephrine Delivery Systems).
2302 Remote Participation in Board Meetings – Updates legal references.
4130 Discretionary Admission – Updates legal references.
4150 School Assignment – Updates legal references.
4152 Unsafe School Choice Transfer – Updates legal references.
7425 School Administrator Contracts – Updates legal references.

A Motion may be in order to adopt a/any policy(ies) upon first read.

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3. Public Comment

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement		Action
Human Resources/Quality Staff		Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement	X	Discussion
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment

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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4. Superintendent's Report

STRATEGIC PRIORITY		REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
Student Achievement	X	Action
Human Resources/Quality Staff	X	Information	X
Communication & Community Engagement	X	Discussion
Safe & Innovative Learning Environment	X

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A. Good News Report

January is School Board Appreciation Month

January is School Board Appreciation Month in North Carolina. School Board Members play a vital role in our communities and schools, contributing hundreds of hours each year toward the advancement of public education. As elected officials, they are tasked with the enormous job of governing school districts, and their actions and decisions affect the present and future lives of children in the schools. The time spent in Board Meetings represents just a small fraction of the hours School Board Members spend in leading their districts. They attend seminars and training sessions to keep abreast of the latest trends in educational leadership; they are deeply involved in community activities; they visit schools and attend extracurricular events; and they spend a great deal of time listening to the concerns of staff, students, parents, and the public at large. We take this opportunity to thank our School Board Members for their hard work and commitment to improving outcomes for students at home and across the state. Thank you!

MLK Day, National Day of Service – January 19, 2026

The Martin Luther King federal holiday is a National Day of Service. It was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities—it is a “Day On, Not a Day Off.” Our appreciation goes to the students, staff, and citizens who devoted January 19^th to helping improve their communities and commemorating Dr. King’s legacy as a leader and advocate for the betterment of all people.

Another Honor for TCS School Nutrition Department

Janette Broda, Director of School Nutrition, was invited to serve as a guest speaker at the annual No Kid Hungry Summit held in Washington, DC on January 12–13. (Please see photos on our website.) She presented during a session titled “Reaching the Last Mile: Strategies for Serving Ultra-Rural Populations,” where she shared the innovative ways our District provides meals to children during the summer months.

Our District was the only one from North Carolina represented at the summit. This invitation reflects the strong reputation of our School Nutrition Department and the impactful work being done each day to ensure students have access to nutritious, high-quality meals. It was an honor to showcase our efforts and commitment to serving students and families.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day – January 9, 2026

January 9^th is the annual National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) and a time to honor the dedicated public servants who put their lives on the line daily for their communities. We are grateful for our strong partnerships with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department, the Brevard Police Department, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, and our School Resource Officers for all they do to keep our students, staff, and communities safe every day.

Kindergarten Rally – March 26, 2026

The annual Kindergarten Rally will be held on Thursday, March 26, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Transylvania Parks & Recreation (1078 Ecusta Road, Brevard). Starting school is an exciting experience for young children, and we want to ensure it is a positive one. All children who will be five (5) years old on or before August 31, 2025 are eligible to start kindergarten this Fall.

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!

Public Attachments:

School Nutrition Presentation WDC.pdf

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B. Important Dates

*JAN. 20 (Tuesday)	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 P.M.	MEC
JAN. 20	Semester 2 begins
JAN. 23	Report Card 2 issued
FEB. 13	Early dismissal (students)	Noon	All TCS Schools
FEB. 16	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 P.M.	MEC
MAR. 13	End of Quarter 3
MAR. 16 – 20	SPRING BREAK	All days	All TCS Schools
**MAR. 23	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 P.M.	MEC
MAR. 27	Report Card 3 issued
APR. 3	Annual leave day (no school for students)	All day	All TCS Schools
MAY 1	Early dismissal (students)	Noon	All TCS Schools

*The January Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 1/20/26 due to the Martin Luther

King, Jr. holiday on Monday, 1/19/26.

**The March Board Meeting will be held on the fourth Monday of the month due to Spring

Break during the week of March 16-20, 2026.

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III. Adjournment

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Source URL: https://aws.nc.transylvania.schoolboard.net/node/7114