Last Updated on October 24, 2023 2:42 pm
Message from Dr. Dan Brigman, Superintendent of Avery County Schools
October 24, 2023
Greetings from the Avery County School System!
Our first grading period has quickly passed. All staff and students are working very hard to address academic priorities throughout each school and grade level. Last year’s student performance data has been released and is now available through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction at the following link, Accountability Data Sets and Reports. As a result of the intense focus on reading and math, we continue to see significant academic gains at the elementary level and have a lot to celebrate. We also have several opportunities for growth throughout Avery County Schools. In addition to academic growth, attendance has been improving across all grade levels and will continue to be among our top priorities this year. Thank you to all parents, guardians, and students for recognizing the importance of being in school and arriving on time each day.
In addition to academics, safety is a top priority for Avery County Schools. Our fleet of buses are traveling throughout Avery County each school day transporting our students. Vehicles must stop in both directions on all Avery County roadways for stopped school buses when red flashing lights are on and stop arms extended. Compared to this time last year, we are experiencing an increase in the number of vehicles running through stopped school buses, endangering the lives of our children. Buses are on our highways each morning between the hours of 6:00am to 8:00am and 2:30pm to 5:00pm. Motorist are reminded to be on the highest level of alert to avoid running stopped school buses and the possibility of seriously or fatally injuring a child as they are boarding or exiting a school bus.
As fall has quickly arrived so has cold temperatures. We have transitioned all schools and other buildings from air conditioning to heat. Fall is also a reminder that snow will soon return to our area. Along with our winter season, comes the frequent decision to close or modify our school schedules, including delayed starts or early releases. Decisions to cancel school or expedite a delayed start will continue to be made at the earliest time possible to allow parents and guardians adequate time to plan for childcare or to make other arrangements on snow days. Our current academic calendar has additional time built in for inclement weather without the need to make up days of instruction. However, if we exhaust all “banked” hours with extended snow days and cancellations, we will have to revisit our calendar and all available options, including make-up days.
This is a very exciting time of year with the holidays quickly approaching and the first semester halfway complete. Thanksgiving will be here in a few weeks providing each of us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our numerous blessings. We all have a lot to be thankful for, especially our health, family and this great county we call home. The Avery County School System is very thankful for our strong partnerships between our schools and families as we strive to make this the best school year ever in Avery County!
