The regular monthly meeting of the Yancey County Board of Education was held in the Boardroom of the YCS District Office on Monday, February 17, 2025.
RFQ for Architect for CTE Expansion
Superintendent Kathy Amos informed the Board that the team will be preparing an RFQ to move forward with the CTE Expansion. Attorney Donny Laws stated that the Board had previously adopted a resolution to allow the superintendent to enter into agreements costing less than $50,000 without requiring a formal procurement process. YCS will reach out to obtain quotes regarding the approximate cost of this service to determine whether a formal RFQ is needed.
RFQ for Roofs & Landslides
Mrs. Amos stated that YCS is working on obtaining the proper repair work for roof damage and landslides due to Hurricane Helene. The method for obtaining quotes and whether an architect or engineer is required has not been determined yet.
Stadium Plans
Maintenance Director Steve Robinson reported that Steve Parks, architect with WNC Engineering, expects to submit the plans for the parking area to DPI within the next 3 weeks for approval. The remainder of the plans are expected to be submitted for approval within 6 weeks. Once plans are approved, Tri-County Construction will move forward with the work.
Mrs. Amos stated that this is phase 1 of the project. Phase 2 of the project will include stadium seating, lights and fieldhouse updates.
Land Acquisition
Mrs. Amos requested that the Board approve ECS to move forward with environmental and geological testing to ensure the property is suitable for the intended purposes. The estimated cost of these tests are $18,000 to $20,000. The Board approved this request with a vote of 3-1.
HS & MS Baseball/Softball Fields
Mr. Robinson reported that the press box & dugout at CRMS has been removed and French Broad Electric is going to check on the status of the lights and the related service panel. Mrs. Rebecca Fox is obtaining estimates for the cost of a new dugout. The field has been smoothed out as well.
At EYMS, the field has been filled in and smoothed over and grass seed has been sown where needed. At MHHS, the field has also been filled in and smoothed over.
Clearmont Property Brock Mountain Update
Mr. Robinson reported that Brock Mountain Land Company had been using the Clearmont School property as a laydown yard and staging area for recovery work from Helene. YCS requested that Brock Mountain vacate the property on the school side of the creek. Brock Mountain was very agreeable and removed their equipment and supplies and cleaned the mud from the paved areas.
There are still some Conex containers on the site which belong to Samaritan’s Purse that contain relief supplies. Clearmont Fire Department is working to hand out these supplies to those in need and empty the containers so they can be moved.
Wells for MHHS, CRMS, EYMS and BES
Mr. Robinson reported that he has consulted with three contractors regarding emergency wells for Burnsville Elementary, Cane River Middle, East Yancey Middle and Mountain Heritage High School. All contractors stated these would be classified as state wells and quotes were very similar. Mr. Robinson provided a brief overview of the requirements and unit cost estimates for the wells.
Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance
Chairman Edwin Fortner welcomed everyone to the meeting. Mr. Wade Dahlberg led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Good News
AN53 Natural Resources II Forestry Course
Mrs. Amos congratulated the following students on completing the AN53 Natural Resources II Forestry Course. The course was implemented this year at Mountain Heritage High School by Nicole Robinson in the Fall introducing the new Forestry Pathway in Natural Resources. These students all received a 5 year Forestry Credential that is recognized by the North Carolina Forestry Association. They worked very hard and studied on their own as we missed so much school during the fall during Helene. Only two schools in the state have completed this course and credentialing.
- AJ Silvers
- Abriona McGee
- Macy Carroll
- Chayan Capellupo
- Cheyenne Blevins
- Levi McCurry
James G. K. McClure Educational & Development Fund of CFWNC Award
Mrs. Amos recognized Mrs. Leigh Davis for being chosen as the Yancey County Schools Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Davis now has the opportunity to travel with the Global Teachers to the Netherlands. This trip is provided by the James G. K. McClure Educational and Development Fund of CFWNC.
CRMS Designated as School to Watch
Mrs. Amos congratulated Principal Rebecca Fox and her team at Cane River Middle School for being designated as a School to Watch. This designation identifies and celebrates middle-grade schools that meet rigorous criteria for excellence. Mrs. Fox and her staff worked very hard for this achievement which included site visits, interviews and review of student achievement data.
Superintendent Updates
Highly Effective Teachers in NC 2024 Data
Mrs. Amos announced that new data from the state indicates that YCS is in the top 2 in NC for highly effective teachers. This data shows that 25-32% of YCS teachers are in the “Exceeds” EVAAS rating. Mrs. Amos congratulated YCS teachers for an excellent job performance.
US Department of Education Update
Mrs. Amos stated that with the reform of the US Department of Education, funding would continue to the states for distribution to local school districts. She will continue to report any changes as they become available.
YCS Spring Field Trips and Donations
Mrs. Amos reported that YCS has been very blessed with donations from all over the country. With these donations, YCS has been able to assist with Christmas needs and families who have been displaced from the flood. These funds will also be used to cover spring field trips for students.
YCS Future Planning
Attorney Donny Laws provided a history of YCS’s capital projects beginning with the construction of Mountain Heritage High School in 1976. He stated that through the years, YCS has performed renovations, additions and the construction of new school buildings as funding has allowed. The Board has now entered into a preliminary agreement to purchase 133 acres of land on the west side of the county to plan for future growth. Mr. Laws stated that this investment would provide options for the Board.
Mr. Randolph then made a presentation in regards to his reasons for not supporting the purchase of this land. Mr. Fortner opened the floor for discussion and Mr. Dahlberg and Mr. Whitson stated their reasons for support of the purchase.
New Business
FEMA Update
Mrs. Amos stated that inspections have been completed at Micaville and Clearmont for insurance purposes. Now, further inspections are required for the FEMA reporting process. The team continues to meet weekly on this process.
Pillars MOU Agreement
Mrs. Amos provided a draft of the updated agreement between Pillars and the carpentry program at MHHS. This program has been in place for many years and is currently constructing tiny homes for residents who lost their homes during Hurricane Helene.
Public Input
None
Chairman’s Update
Chairman Fortner shared his experience with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the loss of Micaville Elementary. He spoke of what he learned from being a Board member during the time that Bee Log, Bald Creek and Clearmont Elementary schools were closed and consolidated to Blue Ridge Elementary. Mr. Fortner thanked the employees who helped make that transition successful.
Now, with Micaville Elementary being lost, the current situation is not ideal but additions will be complete by August 2025 due to the foresight of the Board to advocate for better facilities to educate YCS students. The Board is charged to look ahead and set up the school system for success in the future. The exploration to purchase land would give YCS options to maximize potential compensation from Micaville and to build another school when necessary.
Informational Items
The next regular meeting of the school board will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025 in the Gymnasium of East Yancey Middle School. Work Session will begin at 5:30 pm, followed by the Regular Meeting at 6:00 pm.
The Battle of the Books will be held at MHHS Auditorium on Thursday, March 2, 2025 beginning at 9:00 am.
Senior Signing Day and Breakfast will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025 in the MHHS gymnasium.
The Board of Education will hold their Spring Board Retreat on Friday, May 2, 2025 at the YCS Tech Building.
PUBLIC INPUT – To sign up for public input, please call 828-682-6101 ext. 102 by 3:00 pm on the day of the meeting. A sign-up sheet will also be available at the meeting location from 4:00-5:50 pm prior to the meeting.
