Tropical Storm Helene not only closed Buncombe County Schools for an entire month after hitting the region, the September 2024 storm killed four BCS students , according to the district, and forced more than 1,000 into homelessness. Several staff members also lost family members and friends.

Despite the tragedy, students, teachers and staff were quick to help on the recovery effort, showing, in the words of Superintendent Rob Jackson, “how important public schools are to the community, beyond just educating children.”

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