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Regular Meeting

Dates:

Monday, March 17, 2025 - 6:00pm

The Transylvania County Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Morris Education Center located at 225 Rosenwald Lane in Brevard. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and will also be livestreamed for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/user/tcsnc.

Groups audience:

I. OPENING OF MEETING:

1. Call to Order/Welcome

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Invocation

Groups audience:

II. BUSINESS ITEMS (including amendments and rescissions):

Groups audience:

1. Regular Business

Groups audience:

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 March 17, 2025.

Groups audience:

B. Facilities Update

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

Groups audience:

i. Joint School Bond Projects Update

i. County Manager Jaime Laughter will provide an update on the Joint

School Bond Projects.

Groups audience:

ii. Nicholson Creek Streambank Stabilization Project

ii. Maintenance Director Kerry Putnam will make a presentation regarding the

Nicholson Creek Streambank Stabilization project. This is a joint, grant-

facilitated venture between Jennings Environmental, PLLC and Conserving

Carolina to improve the creek streambank that abuts properties separately

owned by Transylvania County Schools and Transylvania County Habitat for

Humanity. Mr. Putnam will review the rough timeline and the materials

associated with the project and will then answer any questions the Board may

have. A conceptual design plan, a letter of intent, a draft conservation easement,

and two maps relating to this project are attached for review.

A Motion is in order to approve the submission of a restoration grant application

to North Carolina Land and Water Fund.

Public Attachments:

Nicholson Creek Jennings Concept 2025-02-05.pdf

TCBE_Draft_LOI (1).pdf

Draft Deed of CE_Nicholson_Creek.pdf

ExhibitA_Nicholson Creek TCSB LOI.pdf

TCSB Downstream Overview.pdf

Groups audience:

iii. Rosman Elementary School Playground Improvements

iii. Rosman Elementary School Principal Bob Dinsdale will provide a presentation on

the playground improvements slated for the school. Mr. Dinsdale will speak

about the processes the school has underwent over the last few months relating

to this project, including the survey of both students and staff, and the review of

several sales proposals, all of which are attached to this Agenda.

A Motion is in order to approve a proposal for the playground improvements, subject to

review by counsel for the Board.

Public Attachments:

RES Playground - Barrs Recreation Sales Proposal.pdf

RES Playground - Barrs.Burke Proposal.pdf

Burke-Barrs Recreation Concept Illustration.jpg

RES Playground - Blue Ridge Proposal.pdf

RES Playground - Kompan Sales Proposal Lookout Trail.pdf

RES Playground - Kompan Sales Proposal Explorer Dome.pdf

RES Lookout Trail Photos.1.pdf

RES Lookout Trail Photos.2.pdf

RES Explorer Dome Photos.1.pdf

RES Explorer Dome Photos.2.pdf

Groups audience:

iv. Brevard Elementary School Playground Improvements

iv. Principal Mike Kirst of Brevard Elementary School will give a presentation

about the planned playground upgrades. Mr. Kirst will discuss his dealings with

three, potential vendors, and he will review the proposals he has received from

each. Following his presentation, Mr. Kirst will take questions from the Board.

A Motion is in order to approve a proposal for the playground improvements, subject

to review by counsel for the Board.

Public Attachments:

BES Playground Improvements 3_17_25.pdf

Groups audience:

C. Consent Agenda

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

The following items are submitted for consent approval:

i. Minutes of the February 17, 2025, meeting

ii. Personnel Report for March 17, 2025

iii. BudgetAmendment No. 5 for fiscal year 2024-2025. Chief Financial Officer

Michelle Mullinax will be available to answer any questions. The Amendment

and Memorandum are attached.

iv. Spring 2025 Non-Faculty, Sports Coaches. Director of County Athletics Audrey

Reneau will be available to answer any questions. The full list of Spring 2025

Paid Non-Faculty Coaches is attached.

A Motion is in order to approve the consent items.

Public Attachments:

Budget Amendment Memo #5 3.17.25.pdf

Budget Amendment #5.3-17-25.pdf

2025 Non-Faculty Spring Coaches.pdf

Personnel Report.pdf

Groups audience:

2. New Business

Groups audience:

A. 2025 Network Equipment Purchases

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

The IT Department received Mini-Bids off of the statewide E-Rate Form 470 application and state contract for purchase of network switches and fiber optic cabling. These purchases are in excess of $90,000 and require Board approval. Director of Technology Chris Whitlock will present and be available to answer questions. The corresponding ANC Group E-Rate 2025 quote and the Encore Technology Group NCDPI Cabling response are attached.

A Motion is in order to approve the network equipment purchases.

Public Attachments:

E-Rate 2025 Aruba.pdf

Encore Response - TCS NCDPI Cabling.pdf

Groups audience:

B. 2025 Security Cameras Purchase

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

Transylvania County Schools made a request for proposals as to the purchase of security cameras for the District. Director Chris Whitlock will review the bids received in response to the request, and he will answer questions relating to this purchase process. Board approval is required for this expenditure as it is in excess of $90,000. The received bids are attached.

A Motion is in order to approve a proposal for the security cameras purchase.

Public Attachments:

MSS Solutions.pdf

SCW Security.pdf

Groups audience:

C. Central Services Summer Schedule 2025

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 2025 summer schedule for central services and other administrative offices is presented as information. Nine 40-hour weeks consisting of four 10-hour days will begin on Monday, June 16^th and end on Thursday, August 14^th. Offices will be open 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Offices will be closed on Fridays and on Thursday, July 3^rd, pursuant to the Friday, July 4^th Independence Day holiday. The regular five-day schedule will resume on Monday, August 18^th. The summer calendar is attached.

Public Attachments:

COS 2025 Summer Schedule.pdf

Groups audience:

3. 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.

Groups audience:

4. Superintendent's Report

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

Groups audience:

A. Good News Report

1^st Annual Legacy Banquet – Honoring 2025-2026 “Of the Year” Recipients & 2024-2025 Retirees

Our 1^st Annual Legacy Banquet will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Transylvania County Library Rogow Family Community Meeting Room. At the banquet, we will celebrate our 2025-2026 “Of the Year” honorees and announce the district-level winners of the Teacher and the Teacher Assistant of the Year. Additionally, we will formally recognize and thank our 2024-2025 retirees for their dedication and their invaluable contributions to our district. We thank our event sponsor First Citizens Bank and our interview committee, who volunteered their time to meet with each of the honorees to determine our district winners. We are excited about this inaugural event and look forward to celebrating with our outstanding educators.

Our 2025-2026 school-level “Of the Year” award recipients are:

Teacher of the Year Honorees Chris Alley (Davidson River High) Bethany Bagwell (Brevard High) Lindsay Barton (Rosman High) Jessica Gorman (Rosman Elementary) Crystal Holland (Brevard Middle) Emilie Johnson (Brevard Elementary) Keli'i Krueger (T.C. Henderson School of Science & Technology) Kimberly Moore (Pisgah Forest Elementary) Heidi Spradlin (Rosman Middle)	Teacher Assistant of the Year Honorees Abby Buchanan (Brevard Elementary) Ashley Drown (T.C. Henderson School of Science & Technology) Amanda LaRowe (Brevard Middle) Erika McCall (Rosman High) Lorry Newman (Rosman Elementary) Mary Palmer (Pisgah Forest Elementary) Faith Stamey (Brevard High)
Principal of the Year Bob Dinsdale (Rosman Elementary)	CTE Teacher of the Year Sarah Clayton (Brevard High)
Ed Tech Coach of the Year Kat Bailey (Brevard High)	Student Services Person of the Year Bethany Green (Rosman High & Middle)
Rookie Teacher of the Year Tiffany Hurley (Rosman High & Middle)

School Nutrition Department – Presentation at State Conference

Director of School Nutrition Janette Broda and School Nutrition employee and Brevard College student Sophia Ogawa were recently honored with an invitation to present at the annual North Carolina Child Hunger Conference in Chapel Hill. Last summer, staff mobilized to offer meals through both family pick-up sites and a home delivery route. They are the only Department in the entire state offering the home delivery route, which has served as an inspiration and a “blueprint” for other districts and community organizations, who seek to implement similar operations through which more children will receive much-needed nutrition during summer months. The home delivery route also proved invaluable post Hurricane Helene when staff served over 3000 meals to children at their homes in our community. We are proud of our School Nutrition Department and are happy to share the attached photos from their February 25^th “Meals on the Go” presentation.

Rosman & Brevard High Schools – State Level Athletic Competitions (Indoor Track & Field and Wrestling)

Director of County Athletics Audrey Reneau reported that both Rosman High School and Brevard High School recently had several student-athletes compete at the state level. For Rosman, Savannah Green competed in the NCHSAA Indoor Track and Field State Championships in shot put and finished 8^th in the state. At the NCHSAA State Wrestling Championships, Savada Kitchen competed for the women, and Koen Kiser, Kreed Smith, and Matthew Barton competed for the men. Koen Kiser finished 2^nd in the state in the 144 weight class. For Brevard, Malie Turner, Wilson Degarmo, Vaiden Girolamo, and Sylvan Guidry all qualified for the NCHSAA Indoor Track and Field State Championships. The 4x800 relay team comprised of Ezra Stubbs, Keaton Campbell, Leo Murray, and Avan Hinkle also competed and attained a 2^nd place finish. We are honored to have been represented by these talented student-athletes at such elevated levels of competition.

Brevard High School - Boys Basketball

The Brevard High Boys Basketball team made it to the NCHSAA 2A State Playoffs this season before ultimately losing to the undefeated, number one-seeded team of Reidsville. Senior Eli Griffin has been named the 2024-2025 Mountain Foothills 7 Boys Basketball All-Conference Player of the Year, and junior Benji Kessinger was awarded All-Conference honors. We congratulate the team on their successful season.

Rosman High and Middle Schools – Band Honors

Tiffany Hurley, Band Director and recently named, “Rookie Teacher of the Year,” advised that Camden Stamey, Kadin Chaga, and Ayden Gibson all recently made and attended the UNCW Honor Band. Additionally, Rosman Middle School student Andrea Hernandez made the WNC All District Band and was invited to attend the All District Band Clinic on February 7^th and 8^th, 2025. Please join us in celebrating these student-musicians for their impressive achievements.

Kindergarten Rally – April 3, 2025

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year is right around the corner! Starting school is an exciting experience for young children, and we want to ensure it is a positive one. A Kindergarten Rally will be held on Thursday, April 3^rd, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Transylvania Parks & Recreation. All children who will be five (5) years old on or before August 31, 2025, are eligible to start kindergarten this Fall. The following week, April 7^th – 11^th (Monday through Friday), Brevard Elementary School, Pisgah Forest Elementary School, Rosman Elementary School, and T.C. Henderson School of Science and Technology will all be offering in-person registration from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Additionally, each school will be offering one late evening for parents to come by and register if they are not available to do so during the school day. Please refer to the attached flyer for additional information.

STEAM Expo

The Thirty-Sixth Annual A. Mickey Church Transylvania County Schools STEAM Expo 2025 will be held on Monday, April 28^th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Transylvania County Parks & Recreation Activity Center located at 1078 Ecusta Road in Brevard. Please join us for an evening of discovery as students, PreK through 12th grade, are given the opportunity to share their Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics learning experiences. Please see the attached event flyer for further information and direct any questions you may have to Director Audrey Reneau.

National Board Certifications

National Board Certification is a teacher evaluation process that utilizes performance-based assessments and other rigorous standards. It is widely considered to be the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education. In January, we recognized teachers who had recently earned or renewed their National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification. At this time, we are proud to provide a comprehensive list of all Transylvania County Schools’ certified teachers, as follows:

Alicia Daniael Anderson

Emily Christine Atkinson

Jennifer Serre Axtell

Kathryn Morrow Bailey

Sarah Elizabeth Baldwin

Heidi Laurel Bullock

Deanna Marie Campbell

Carrie Ann Chapman

Kristi Nicole Clark

Angela Renee Compton

Holly Marie Egan

Roman Wesly Evans

Emily Ann Fields

Amy Wood Galloway

Jennifer Ann Galloway

Elizabeth Lester Gibbs

Cheryl Leigh Goins

Tammy Hall

Adria Grace Hardy

Andrew Charles Lindsey

Megan Joann McLauchlin

Sarah Smith Monteith

Kimberly Susan Moore

Caroline Caldwell Morrison

Catherine Motuz

Kelly Jean Muse

Samantha Johnson Osteen

Denise Annette Reese

Kimberly Ellen Rosselle

Amy Lynn Schoenacher

Jennifer Nichol Sensabaugh

Alyse Sheppard

Laura Leigh Smith

Leslie Rene Taylor

Nancy Erica Thompson

Cameron Elaine Weaver

National Nutrition Month

Celebrate National Nutrition Month with us! All this month, we are shining a spotlight on our incredible School Nutrition Department and their unwavering commitment to serving nutritious, delicious meals every day. Locally sourced, quality ingredients: 100% of our beef comes straight from Brasstown Farms in North Carolina. Our breaded chicken is made with premium whole muscle chicken for the best taste and quality. 25% of our produce is sourced right here in North Carolina, supporting local farmers and delivering fresh flavors to our students. Wholesome & simple: We strive to provide meals made with limited ingredients, preservatives, and additives because we believe in serving food that is as wholesome as it is delicious. We would like to give a huge THANK YOU to our amazing families and staff who choose to dine with us every day. Your support helps us continue to provide high-quality, nutritious meals to fuel our students’ success!

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:

Child Nutrition Photos.pdf

Kindergarten Rally Flyer.pdf

12 STEAM Expo Flyer.pdf

Groups audience:

B. Important Dates

Mar. 17	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 p.m.	MEC
Mar. 20	Early dismissal – students (End of Quarter 3)	12:00 p.m.
Mar. 21	Annual Leave Day
Apr. 3	Kindergarten Rally	4:00 – 6:00 p.m.	Trans. Co. Parks & Rec.
Apr. 7-11	In-Person Kindergarten Registration	9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.	BES, PFES, RES, TCHSST
Apr. 14-18	Spring Break
Apr. 21	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 p.m.	MEC
Apr. 28	STEAM Expo 2025	4:30 – 6:30 p.m.	Trans. Co. Parks & Rec.
Apr. 29	“Of the Year” Awards Program	5:30 p.m.	Rogow Family Community Meeting Room – Trans. Co. Library
May 19	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 p.m.	MEC

Groups audience:

III. ADJOURNMENT

Groups audience:

Source URL: https://transylvania.schoolboard.net/node/6844