January is School Board Appreciation Month, and we're incredibly grateful for the Transylvania County Schools Board of Education.
These board members put in countless hours behind the scenes to support our students and schools. They're constantly working to make sure our classrooms are places where every child has what they need to grow and reach their goals. At the heart of everything they do is the mission of helping every student in Transylvania County Schools succeed.
We asked each board member what they are most excited about/proud of this school year:
Board Chair Tanya Dalton
"I think I am most excited that there is finally a working relationship between the boards and is resulting in progress that can be seen and used by students. I’m proud that “fix our schools” is no longer just a t-shirt or a bumper sticker but something tangible with more exciting things on the way. Great things are happening and I am so proud to be a small part!"
Ricky Lambert
"I am excited to see all of our schools get the upgrades that have been sorely needed for a long long time. I am excited that we are working to find affordable housing initiatives for teachers. Extremely excited about the CTE grant that was awarded to our schools which will allow us to offer even more CTE programs than we do now. Thankful that our County commissioners agreed with us that our teachers need an increase in their supplement. This allows us to retain the excellent educators we already have as well as attract more highly qualified educators going forward!!"
Chris Wiener
“I’m especially grateful that we have finally begun our bond projects and are seeing long-anticipated facilities improvements move from planning into action. It’s also encouraging to see the former “old gym” now truly become the new gym—an example of how long-standing needs are finally being addressed.
I’m particularly excited that the district has implemented a strategic plan that is not simply a document on a shelf, but a living framework guiding our decisions. As part of that work, our commitment to developing a comprehensive facilities management plan is critical. This should allow us to take a clear, long-term look at building use, utilization, and structural needs across the district—and may finally open the door to meaningful action on consolidation conversations that date back as far as 1969.
Looking ahead, we still have a great deal of work to do. Developing and executing the facilities management plan will be essential, as will continuing to strengthen our work through focused subcommittees on policy and curriculum. I’m encouraged by the direction we’re heading and grateful for the collaborative effort it takes—from board members, staff, and community partners—to move these priorities forward."
Ruth Harris
"This year I am most excited and proud about the bell-to-bell cell phone ban our board put in place at the beginning of this school year. I love seeing students interacting more during lunch and all the teachers I’ve spoken to are seeing improvements in classroom engagement and fewer distractions. I can’t wait to see if TCS will experience the same end of year improvements in academic achievement and mental health that other school systems have reported after implementing a similar ban."
Vice-Chair Greg Cochran
"I will echo Ruth's comments in that I too am excited to see the results from the cell phone ban. The reports from other schools across the state and nation that have bans in place have shown increased test scores, better attendance, increased classroom interactions and happier teachers to name a few. I am also proud of this board and the work/success that has gone into the planning and implementation of the school bond monies and the recently received a $62 Million grant. The infrastructure for our schools will be greatly improved and our students, teachers and citizens deserve this. It shows how much the board cares about the school system and the cooperation between the Board of Education and the County Commissioners."