May 26, 2026
Members of the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners listen to presentations at the County Administration Building Tuesday, May 26. Jonathan Rich / BrevardBeagle.com
Jonathan Rich
BrevardBeagle.com
Tuesday night, the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $1.47 million upgrade of the public address intercom and bell systems at all county public schools as part of ongoing plans to improve school safety.
“We currently have three schools whose intercoms are not working really well,” Superintendent Lisa Fletcher explained to the Commissioners Tuesday night, later adding that the Optimal Tek system would integrate well with the Centegix crisis alert and visitor management software installed at all nine public school campuses in 2025.
The Transylvania County Board of Education had previously approved a contract with Optimal Tek at its May 18th meeting, but as school bond funds will be used to pay for the expensive upgrade the issue of authorizing the payment came before the commissioners Tuesday night.
“Optimal Tek does outstanding work,” Commissioner Jake Dalton said of the Henderson County-based company that offers complete structured wiring systems and technology integration to commercial and residential structures. “It’s a good choice.”
A cost breakdown of repair and installation work on the intercom and bell systems for Transylvania County Schools. TCS
Installation of the new equipment and software will begin June 8th at Brevard Elementary and Rosman Middle and High schools when students are not on campus and will continue at Brevard High School this summer.
Replacement and installation at TC Henderson, Brevard Middle, Pisgah Forest Elementary, Rosman Elementary and the Davidson River School, as well as the county bus garage, is scheduled for the summer of 2027.
“One point five million dollars for school safety is a commitment this county is making for the security of our students,” added Commissioner Larry Chapman. “School safety is a priority in this county and it always will be.”