Ashe County Board approves pre-K contract, calendar draft and a series of grants and contracts

The Ashe County Board of Education on March 3 approved a package of personnel, budget and program actions and heard updates on school construction and grant activity.

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Cox opened the meeting by highlighting district communications and student successes, then detailed the new pre‑K classroom the district will open in West Jefferson. "Children must be 4 years old on or before 08/31/2025," Cox said, and enrollment information will be available through the district early learning center. The new classroom will operate 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; the current monthly cost is $800 and subsidies may be available. A kindergarten readiness screening is scheduled for March 17.

The board voted to approve a two‑year contract allowing a local "partnership" to operate summer and after‑school services at the pre‑K site, with the partnership paying summer staff wages under the grant. Board members clarified that the partnership's grant funds will cover summer staff and that family fees will offset some costs during the summer months. The board approved the contract by motion and voice vote.

The board also approved a tentative 2025–26 calendar (draft 2) as recommended by the curriculum committee, with an explicit, conditional change: the district will shift start dates earlier if the General Assembly adopts language granting an additional week weather waiver that would permit an Aug. 12 start. Board member Miss Ward moved the calendar approval; Miss Jones seconded. During discussion, members debated whether the district should end the school year before graduation and reviewed how remote days and state waivers affect required instructional hours.

Outside grants and program updates featured GEAR UP, the college‑access partnership with Appalachian State University. Rachel Nade Lewis, assistant director of curriculum and instruction for the GEAR UP grant at Appalachian State, presented multiple awards: two Academic Innovation mini‑grants of $5,000 each for Ashe County teachers (one for a cross‑curricular forensic literature project and one to start a theater club at the early college) and a $10,000 award to support a mathematics approach called Building a Thinking Classroom (Ashe County received $5,000 of that). Lewis said the GEAR UP team also learned that a $36,000,000 extension application submitted in February will be funded. "We did find out today that they will be funding that application," Lewis told the board.

The board approved three overnight GEAR UP summer opportunities — a college tour for rising seniors (12 spots), a NASCAR camp and a design camp — and authorized staff to run the related applications and trips.

On finance and contracts, the board approved a 2024–25 state budget amendment related to Hurricane Helene funds that shifted roughly $70,000 for health services and about $118,000 for child‑ and physician‑related salaries tied to October closures. Board members asked for a future staff report on the district's referral process for mental health services. The board also approved awarding the current E‑Rate contracting work to Encore (the vendor used in a prior cycle), and accepted the 2,000 series policy updates.

Facilities and program updates included a new middle‑school construction timeline: Allison Kip Sullivan reported the grading contractor expects to "start grading, weather permitting, by April 1." Sullivan also described coordination with Blue Ridge Energy to reroute underground power and incoming teacher furniture samples for the new middle school. Separately, district staff said they received eight RFQ responses for the current middle school roof replacement and expect DPI review of final designs before bidding; because of timing the board may need a special meeting to approve a contract once bids are returned.

An item added to the agenda — a motion to hold principals harmless on pay through the 2025–26 school year — was approved by voice vote after brief remarks of appreciation for school principals.

Votes at a glance

- Amended agenda — approved (motion: Miss Ward; second: Miss Jones). - Personnel approvals — approved (motion and second recorded; voice vote). - Consent agenda (minutes, summer program plan, permission to apply for grants, rollovers and MOUs) — approved (motion: Ms. Ward; second: Ms. Calhoun). - State budget amendment (FY2024–25; Hurricane Helene funds; ~$70,000 and ~$118,000 line items) — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Pre‑K contract with the partnership (two‑year lease and summer staffing arrangement) — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Draft 2 2025–26 calendar (conditional on a state waiver to start Aug. 12) — approved as tentative (motion: Miss Ward; second: Miss Jones). - GEAR UP overnight/summer trips (college tour, NASCAR camp, design camp) — approved (motion: Ms. Calhoun; second recorded). - E‑Rate contract award to Encore — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - 2,000 series policy updates — approved (motion and second; voice vote). - Hold‑harmless principal pay through 2025–26 — approved (motion and second; voice vote).

What it means

Board members said the pre‑K expansion and partnership aim to increase early‑learning seats in Ashe County, while GEAR UP grants and trips are intended to expand college and career exposure for students. The calendar decision leaves open a small administrative change if state legislation grants an extra weather waiver; the district will adjust if the waiver is adopted.

Next steps and followups

District staff said they will publish the new pre‑K enrollment flyer, run summer program staffing through the partnership's grant, and post GEAR UP application details. Administrators will return with a proposal or report if the middle‑school roof bid exceeds budget, and staff will prepare a summary of mental‑health referral procedures for a future meeting.

Sources: meeting transcript and statements by Dr. Lisa Cox; Rachel Nade Lewis, Appalachian State University GEAR UP assistant director; Allison Kip Sullivan, project lead for the new middle school; motions and voice votes recorded on March 3, 2025.