Our school system is governed by a nine-member board of education whose members are elected from separate districts in the county and serve staggered four-year terms. The board sets policy, and the superintendent and administrative staff manage the system's day-to-day operation. The board has budget review authority, but it is not a taxing body and must submit its annual budget requests to the McDowell County Board of Commissioners which controls allocation of funds to the schools. In North Carolina the basic public education program is funded by the state and is augmented with local funds.

The schedule for regular board meetings will be established annually by the board. Meetings are held in the boardroom at the system's Administration Building, 334 South Main Street, Marion. Regular meetings can and usually do include a consent agenda as well as action, information items, and an opportunity for public comments.

Opportunities for public comment are provided through a public hearing at the beginning of each regular board meeting for items on the agenda, and at the end for items not on the agenda. Each participant is given three minutes to address the board. Please use this form to Request to Address the Board.

Each Board of Education Member is committed to working toward setting and achieving goals that will improve and strengthen our instructional program.

Our goals are:

• High Student Performance
  
• State of the Art Buildings and Equipment
  
• Safe, Orderly and Caring Schools
  
• Quality Teachers and Administrators
  
• Strong Family, Community and Business Support