Buncombe County Board approves 2025–26 student fees after debate over PE uniform charges

The Buncombe County Board of Education approved student fees for the 2025–26 school year during its Aug. 14 regular meeting after a short debate over required PE attire at two high schools.

Board member Reverend Martin questioned why A.C. Reynolds High School and T.C. Robertson High School still charge students for PE uniforms when other schools do not, saying parents should be represented and treated equitably. "If the other four don't do it, why are these two still doing it?" he asked.

The matter drew follow-up questions about affordability. Board member Dr. Linda Hamlin asked, "What happens if someone can't afford the $20?" District staff replied that principals are required to provide mechanisms to waive or reduce fees for students who cannot pay, and Miss Churchill, a board member, said she had confirmed with principals that students who cannot afford the attire would not be required to cover the cost.

District staff explained the two schools had already purchased the garments and had collected fees, and recommended allowing the charges to remain in place for the current year with the option for the board or policy committee to revisit the practice. A board member suggested sending the topic to the policy committee so principals who support the practice could explain their reasons and principals from schools that do not require the attire could explain their alternatives.

A motion to approve the student fees carried with no recorded opposition. The board also approved a consent agenda later in the meeting that included other routine items; trustees did not remove the student-fees motion for separate final action.

Board discussions distinguished between school-level decisions (the two schools' choice to require course attire and collect fees) and the board-level action (annual approval of the fee schedule and direction to consider policy committee review). The board did not set a uniform districtwide change during the meeting; members said they expect further discussion in policy committee if the board chooses to standardize or eliminate such fees.

Next steps identified by trustees include referring the PE attire question to the policy committee for review and clarification of how schools notify families about fee-waiver processes.