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Regular Meeting

Dates:

Monday, February 16, 2026 - 5:00pm

The Transylvania County Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Monday, February 16, 2026. The meeting will commence with a closed session at 5:00 p.m., immediately followed by an open session. The meeting will be held at the Morris Education Center located at 225 Rosenwald Lane in Brevard. The meeting is open to the public. Doors will open at 5:00 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

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1. Welcome

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2. Closed Session

2. Closed Session

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

The Board will entertain a motion to go into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. §143-318.11 (a)(3) to discuss matters covered by the attorney-client privilege.

A motion is in order for the Board to enter into closed session.

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3. Welcome

A. In Memoriam - Friends of Education

B. Invocation

C. Pledge of Allegiance

Public Attachments:

In Memoriam Slide.pdf

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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 February 16, 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:

February Strategic Plan Presentation.pdf

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C. Special Recognitions

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i. Rosman High School Sophomore Zeke Gainey

On January 19, 2026, Rosman High School sophomore and football quarterback Zeke Gainey rescued a mother and her infant from a wrecked vehicle. TCS is extremely proud of the courage and selflessness displayed by Zeke, and Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher will formally recognize him for his heroic contribution to our community.

Public Attachments:

Zeke Gainey Transylvania Times Article.jpg

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ii. TCS School Counselors and Social Workers

February 2^nd – 6^th, 2026, was National School Counseling Week, and March 1^st – 7^th will be National School Social Work Week 2026. These annual, week-long celebrations are designed to recognize school counselors and social workers for their critical roles in supporting students by providing services such as counseling, health assessments, and crisis intervention. Counselors and social workers help students to address personal challenges, and they teach students to build resilience, resulting in academic, personal, and social success. They create nurturing environments in which students feel supported and empowered, enabling them to develop the skills and confidence necessary to overcome obstacles and to thrive in school and beyond.

Director of Student Services & Safe Schools Courtney Owen will formally recognize our TCS school counselors and social workers, identified below, and thank them for the contributions they make to our students, families, staff, and community.

School Counselors:

Hailey Brinke – Brevard High School
Kayla Byrd – Brevard High School
Janna Carlson – Brevard Elementary School
Jaime Dulberg – Brevard High School
Colleen Fernandez – Brevard Middle School
Kat Motuz – Brevard Middle School
Julia Owens – Brevard Elementary School
Denise Reese – Rosman Elementary School
Autumn Rumfelt – Pisgah Forest Elementary School
Jessica Sharp -Brevard Middle School
Sarah Shawver – Rosman High School
Ethan Talley – Brevard Elementary School
Nicole Moman – Rosman Middle School & T.C. Henderson School of Science and Technology

School Social Workers:

Michaelee Bryson – Davidson River School
Lovey Puryear – Brevard Elementary and Brevard High School
Olivia Shuler – Pisgah Forest Elementary and Brevard Middle School
Jessica Sharp – All Schools

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D. Facilities Update

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i. Capital Projects Financial Information

Transylvania County Finance Director Meagan O’Neal will provide a presentation on

Capital Projects financial information.

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ii. Joint School Bond Projects Update

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.

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E. Consent Agenda

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

The following items are submitted for consent approval:

Minutes - January 20, 2026
Personnel Report for February 16, 2026
FY 26 Budget Amendement No. 4
Anderson Smith & Wike FY26 Contract to Audit Accounts

A motion is in order to approve the consent items.

Public Attachments:

Memo for Budget Amendment #4.pdf

2025-26 Budget Amendment #4.pdf

2026 Contract to Audit Accounts.pdf

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2. New Business

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A. WAN Contract Renewal

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

Director Blake Tesnow will review the final Addendum to the current contract between Transylvania County Schools and Comporium, Inc., which will extend the District’s wide-area network (WAN) connectivity period. Board consideration is required as the related expenditure is in excess of $90,000.00. The original contract, with all subsequent Amendments and Addendums, and the proposed 2026 Addendum can be found on our website.

A motion is in order to approve the 2026 contract Addendum.

Public Attachments:

Comporium Contract.pdf

TCSD_WAN Addendum- 2026.pdf

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B. Capital Projects Amendments

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

For Board determination, Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher will offer potential projects to which previously allotted Capital Funds may be reallocated.

A motion is in order to approve Capital Projects Amendments, subject to BOC approval.

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C. Inclement Weather Calendar Adjustments

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

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher will discuss options for school calendar adjustments necessitated by inclement weather.

A motion is in order to approve school calendar adjustments.

Public Attachments:

2025-2026 TCS Calendar.pdf

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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

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A. Good News Report

Black History Month 2026 – A Century of Black History Commemorations

Each February, schools celebrate Black History Month by recognizing the contributions of African Americans and the cultural heritage, triumphs, and adversities that are an indelible part of our nation’s history. 2026 marks the 100^th anniversary of the first celebration launched in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. This year’s theme is intended to explore the historical impact and evolution of celebrating Black history, encouraging reflection in its role in shaping identity, fostering pride, and advancing equality, while also highlighting the ongoing struggle for inclusive historical recognition.

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month

The month of February is nationally recognized as Career and Technical Education Month. CTE, which boasts a 94% graduation rate, prepares students for high-wage, high-demand jobs in areas such as health science, technology, and manufacturing through hands-on, career-focused learning.

Career and Technical Education Director Kerry Putnam shared a February 4^th NCDPI Press Release that reported 2024-2025 was a recording breaking year for North Carolina CTE students as they earned 382,964 industry-recognized credentials. North Carolina ranks second nationwide for the percentage of K-12 students participating in CTE, with 36.1% of all students enrolled in a CTE course. The most exciting information included in the press release was that Transylvania County Schools, at 89%, is the top-performing district by attainment rate in the state! (The full Credential Attainment Report is available for review at: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/classroom-resources/career-and-technical-education/credentials-and-reporting)

We send a huge thank you out to our entire CTE staff, listed below, for their hard work and commitment to our students.

1^st Major Lance Oufnac

Alex Williams

Brad Toms

Chris Owen

Colby Guice

Dan Harris

Daniel Owen

Jessica Whitmire

Justin Ausburn

Laura Smith

Lindsay Barton

LtCol Charles Megown

Meg Buchanan

Nathan Tripp

Penny Creasman

Reid Chapman

Richard Ronneburger

Sarah Clayton

Shade Cooper

Tammy Hall

Tanya Melton

Tessa Brown

Vincent Warren

2026 All District Honor Band

Congratulations go out to several Brevard and Rosman student-musicians for being selected to the 2026 All District Honor Band, as follows:

Rosman Middle School

Roy Miller – Trumpet. 3^rd Chair

Brevard Middle School – Symphonic Band

Leah Pollack – Flute. 7^th Chair
Annie Cartee – Clarinet. 14^th Chair
Jeremiah Emerson – Tuba. 6^th Chair

Brevard Middle School – Concert Band

Yuuki Burns – Trombone. 1^st Chair
Lily Taylor – Timpani. 1^st Chair

Brevard High School

Henry Mortensen – Bassoon. 1^st Chair High School Honor Band (All State Eligible)
Jenna Berry – Oboe. 3^rd Chair Senior High School Honor Band
Camden Jenkins – Clarinet. 8^th Chair Senior High School Honor Band
Ella Crider – Clarinet. 15^th Chair Senior High School Honor Band
Naila Small – Bass Clarinet. 3^rd Chair Senior High School Honor Band
Tori Brown – Horn. 4^th Chair Senior High School Honor Band
Tyler Studt – Percussion. 2^nd Chair Senior High School Honor Band (All State Eligible)

All of these student-musicians participated in the February 6th and 7th Western Carolina University 2026 All-District Honor Band Clinic. Additionally, Mr. Mortensen and Mr. Studt are eligible to audition for the North Carolina All State Honor Band in March. Please join us in contratulating these talented students for their impressive accomplishments!

Love the Bus

Annually, the month of February is designated as Love the Bus Month, which is a time to focus on the importance and value of the school transportation industry. The campaign theme for 2026 is, “Love, Delivered,” which emphasizes the vital role of transportation in student well-being and education. The daily safe delivery of students to school is an essential aspect of educational access and, in most instances, the bus driver is the first and last school employee to support students each day.

TCS is very proud of our transportation department staff, who we formally recognize, as follows:

Director Keith Wilmot
Administrative Assistant Penny Creasman

Bus Garage Staff:

Kim Bumgarner
Doug Fisher
Adam Holcombe
Nate McCall
Jamie Smith

Bus Drivers:

BES	Mark Jones Paul Raines Dick Ream Katy Young
BMS	Karen Britt Ann Garren Jermois Morris Dominique Owen Debra Schardt Cynthia Waters Katrina Wilson
BHS	Anna Brown Wayne Kinsey Tony Lance Barbara McCoy Caleb Pearson Shane Praytor Faith Stamey
PFES	Melanie Baynard Mary Connelly Melissa Hansell Stanley Owens
RES	Lori Eder Chris Galloway Theresa Galloway Sandy Zeiglar
RMS & RHS	Lester Aiken Rosa Lance Tim Masterson Jonathan Orr Aaron Patton
TCHSST	Teresa Morton Renae McCall

Kindergarten Rally – March 26, 2026

The annual Kindergarten Rally will be held on Thursday, March 26^th, 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, 2026 are eligible to start kindergarten this Fall.

STEAM Expo

The Thirty-Seventh Annual A. Mickey Church Transylvania County Schools STEAM Expo 2026 will be held on Monday, April 27^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.

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

FEBRUARY 16	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 P.M.	MEC
MARCH 13	End of Quarter 3
MARCH 16 – 20	SPRING BREAK	All days	All TCS Schools
*MARCH 23	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 P.M.	MEC
MARCH 27	Report Card 3 issued
APRIL 3	Annual leave day (no school for students)	All day	All TCS Schools
APRIL 20	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 P.M.	MEC

*The March Board Meeting will be held on the fourth Monday of the month due to Spring Break occurring the week of March 16-20, 2026.

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III. ADJOURNMENT

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Source URL: https://transylvania.schoolboard.net/node/7139