Buncombe County Board of Education Packet Summary — June 30, 2026
Budget and Financial Update
The Board received an update on the 2026–2027 budget, including revised fund balance projections, finance recommendations, and known and potential budget impacts. The revised budget projection increased from the $115,085,868 budget approved May 7 to $122,103,440.
The state budget includes a 15% pay increase for teachers with 0–3 years of experience, an 8% teacher raise, and a potential one-time bonus. These changes were estimated to increase costs by approximately $2.5 million compared with the May 7 budget.
The estimated remaining fund balance as of June 30, 2026, was $17,679,239, with a projected $5.3 million shortfall to compliance with Policy 8100. Potential challenges identified in the update included a decrease in county appropriation and impacts associated with the Community Eligibility Provision.
Finance recommendations included:
- Right-sizing staffing through attrition.
- Using internal transfers where appropriate.
- Considering reductions in force if sufficient right-sizing does not occur.
- Making no changes to the May 7, 2026 budget at this time.
Board members asked questions about local and state funding allocations, employee categories, positions that cannot be funded with state dollars, the timing of right-sizing, the 8% teacher increase, and the potential effect of reduced local funding on fund balance.
Action Items
Interim Budget Resolution
The Board unanimously approved the Interim Budget Resolution for 2026–2027.
EC Assistant Workdays
The Board considered how to address the workday for EC assistants. A motion was made asking finance to develop a plan to restore EC assistants to an eight-hour workday by August or September.
An amendment proposed immediately restoring the eight-hour workday and having finance present a funding plan by August or September. The amendment received no second and failed.
Athletic Funding Plan
The Board also considered future funding for an athletic increase presented May 7. A motion directed administration to develop a plan to fund the increase by the August or September Board meeting.
The motion passed 6–1, with Board member Amy Churchill dissenting. During the discussion, Superintendent Dr. Rob Jackson explained that athletic funds are not allocated to schools that do not offer a particular sport.
Interim Superintendent
The agenda was amended unanimously to add the appointment of an interim superintendent.
The Board subsequently voted unanimously to extend a contract to Dr. Jennifer Reed to serve as Interim Superintendent beginning on the last day of Dr. Jackson's service. Chairman Rob Elliot spoke in support of the appointment and recognized Dr. Reed's care for Buncombe County Schools students and engagement with schools.
Consent Agenda
The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included administrative, financial, insurance, facilities, and athletic items:
- June 4, 2026 open-session regular meeting minutes.
- June 30, 2026 personnel report.
- Contract award for liability, property, auto, and workers' compensation insurance.
- Budget Amendment #8.
- School Nutrition Budget Amendment for 2025–2026.
- Mandatory catastrophic athletic insurance for 2026–2027.
- Student athletic insurance for 2026–2027.
- Renewal of the BCS Aquatic Center management contract with YMCA of Western North Carolina for the 2026–2027 school year.
- Athletic capital outlay requests for A.C. Reynolds High School, Enka High School, and Owen Middle School.
- Authorization to award contracts for the Enka High School gym roof replacement, Erwin Middle School roof replacement, and Nesbitt Discovery Academy roof reconditioning.
- Contract Amendment #2 and GMP approval for the W.D. Williams Elementary School additions and renovations project.
- Approval of a county-wide paving unit-price contract.
Board Governance and Work Session Updates
The Board's self-survey has been completed, and work was underway to schedule three sessions toward Master Board status. Establishing a Board norms and protocols document was recommended, with examples from other boards to be shared.
The first planned session will focus on Board and Superintendent roles and responsibilities. A Doodle poll was expected to be distributed to schedule the sessions.
Closed Session
The Board unanimously entered closed session under provisions covering confidential personnel information, confidential student information protected by FERPA, and matters protected by attorney-client privilege. The Board later unanimously approved a motion to adjourn the closed session.
The information agenda included a finance report provided as a walk-in document.
The next regular Board of Education meeting was announced for August 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Minitorium. Work session updates and closed session were scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room at 175 Bingham Road in Asheville.
