Davie County student‑services staff deployed to Buncombe County after Hurricane Helene; Buncombe McKinney‑Vento caseload rose from 274 to 1,171

Davie County Schools’ student‑services staff traveled to Buncombe County to provide crisis and recovery support after Hurricane Helene, presenting the board with on‑the‑ground observations and an updated tally of displaced students.

Jennifer Custer, the district’s student‑services administrator, said she and a small team of counselors and social workers responded after Buncombe County Superintendent Dr. Jackson requested mutual‑aid support. The Davie team — which included Jenny McPherson (lead middle‑school counselor) and social worker Paulina Hanner — were assigned to Buncombe’s PIP program, a multi‑campus progressive education program that serves roughly 150 students with moderate to severe physical and intellectual…