Cumberland County Schools: Board Meetings, Calendar Tracks & Family Help
The Cumberland County Board of Education NC governs Cumberland County Schools in Fayetteville. This guide brings together the 2026–27 school calendars, Board meetings, current members, school assignment, enrollment, transfers, Infinite Campus, transportation and family resources most visitors actually need.
Cumberland County does not operate on one school calendar or one assignment pathway. Traditional, year-round, Early College and Cumberland Polytechnic schedules differ, while Choice Programs, Fort Bragg families, transfers, special education and other needs follow separate rules. Start with the task below to reach the right process.
What families should know right now
Traditional students
First student day: August 24, 2026.
Early College / Polytechnic
Students began on August 10, 2026.
Next regular Board meeting
Currently listed for September 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Board vacancy
The current Meet the Board page shows the Chair / At-Large seat as vacant.
Freshness rule: Board membership, transportation assignments, Choice openings and meeting notices can change faster than this article. Time-sensitive sections below include an official verification action.
Cumberland County Board of Education structure
Nine seats
Six district seats and three at-large seats.
Local elections
Members are locally elected on a non-partisan basis.
Four-year terms
Members serve staggered four-year terms.
Governing body
The Board governs Cumberland County Schools and acts on district policy and other public-school matters.
The live Board page connects to member information, BoardDocs, policies, operating procedures, minutes, committee pages and district maps.
Verify Cumberland County Board of Education information →Cumberland County Board members and districts
| Seat / member | Position | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| VACANT | Chair seat | At-Large | Use Board office |
| Jacquelyn Brown | Vice Chairwoman | At-Large | jacquelynbrownboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
| Dr. Mary Hales | Board Member | 1 | maryhalesboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
| Deanna Jones | Board Member | 2 | deannajonesboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
| Delores Bell | Board Member | 3 | deloresbellboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
| Jackie Warner | Board Member | 4 | jackiewarnerboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
| Susan Williams | Board Member | 5 | susanwilliamsboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
| Dr. Terra Jordan | Board Member | 6 | terrajordanboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
| Greg West | Board Member | At-Large | gregwestboe@ccs.k12.nc.us |
Freshness warning: some school-site mirrors and older search snippets can retain former Board-member information. Use the current district-level Meet the Board page before addressing formal correspondence.
The current Meet the Board page is the best final source before sending correspondence.
Check the current Cumberland County Board member directory →2026–27 Cumberland County Board meeting schedule
Regular meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Services Board Room unless the district announces another date or location.
| Date | Current schedule note |
|---|---|
| August 11, 2026 | Completed as of this update |
| September 8, 2026 | Next regular meeting currently listed |
| October 13, 2026 | Regular schedule |
| November 17, 2026 | Variance from normal date — NCSBA |
| December 8, 2026 | Regular schedule |
| January 12, 2027 | Regular schedule |
| February 9, 2027 | Regular schedule |
| March 9, 2027 | Regular schedule |
| April 13, 2027 | Regular schedule |
| May 11, 2027 | Regular schedule |
| June 15, 2027 | Variance due to graduations |
Before traveling: special meetings, changed venues and work sessions can override the normal pattern. Confirm the current notice rather than relying only on this schedule.
The official meeting page publishes current dates, location guidance, livestream information and public-comment rules.
Verify the next Cumberland County Board meeting →How to speak during Board public comment
Confirm it is a regular meeting
Committee meetings normally do not provide the same public-comment period.
Use the meeting-day form
The public-comment form is currently available from 12:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on the scheduled regular-meeting day.
Submit electronically before the deadline
The published procedure states that walk-up registrations are not allowed.
Attend in person
Citizens must be present to deliver their public comments.
Plan for three minutes
Each speaker currently receives up to three minutes, with 30 minutes total reserved for public comments.
Do not use public comment for private student or personnel information. The district directs individual student/personnel concerns to the appropriate administrative staff.
When Board committees meet and why they matter
Committees review information and agenda items before recommendations reach the full Board. If you are tracking a policy, budget, facility or curriculum issue, committee agendas can provide useful earlier context.
| Committee | Normal pattern | Current chair |
|---|---|---|
| Auxiliary Services | First Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. | Jacquelyn Brown |
| Student Support Services | First Tuesday after Auxiliary Services | Delores Bell |
| Policy | First Tuesday after Student Support Services | Dr. Mary Hales |
| Budget / Finance | Last Thursday, 8:30 a.m. | Greg West |
| Curriculum | Last Thursday after Budget / Finance | Deanna Jones |
| Personnel | Last Thursday after Curriculum | Susan Williams |
| Legislative | As needed | Jackie Warner |
Public-comment difference: district committee announcements commonly specify that there is no public-comment period during committee sessions; comments are accepted through the applicable regular Board process.
The committee page publishes the current meeting dates, committee memberships and cabinet representatives.
Check Cumberland County Board committee meetings →Agenda, minutes, policies and public records are different things
| Resource | Use it for | Best timing |
|---|---|---|
| BoardDocs / agenda | Scheduled items, attachments and presentations. | Before or during a meeting. |
| Livestream | Watching Board discussion remotely. | During the meeting. |
| Approved minutes | Formal written meeting record. | After approval/posting. |
| NextStep Board Actions | Reviewing action information organized by school year. | After Board action. |
| Policy Manual | Reading currently adopted district policy. | When exact rule language matters. |
| Public Records Request | Requesting public CCS records under North Carolina public-records law. | When the needed record is not already posted. |
Use the school-year archive rather than a meeting recap or livestream description.
Open Board Approved Minutes and NextStep actions →CCS Communications & Community Engagement coordinates public-record requests.
Review Cumberland County Schools public-record request instructions →Pick the correct Cumberland County calendar before using a date
CCS publishes separate Board-approved calendar files and separate progress-report/report-card schedules for four calendar groups.
| Calendar type | 2026–27 first student day | Who should use it? |
|---|---|---|
| Year-Round | July 16, 2026 | Students assigned to a CCS year-round school. |
| Early College | August 10, 2026 | Cross Creek Early College and Cumberland International Early College students. |
| Cumberland Polytechnic | August 10, 2026 | Cumberland Polytechnic High School students. |
| Traditional | August 24, 2026 | Students at schools operating on the standard traditional calendar. |
Calendar decision checklist
Approval-date caution: CCS calendar content is mirrored across district school sites, and indexed copies currently show different approval-date labels for the 2026–27 calendars. Instead of relying on an approval date from a search snippet, use the active calendar file currently presented by the district.
The calendar hub provides the four school calendars plus separate report-card/progress-report schedules.
Open Cumberland County Schools’ 2026–27 calendar hub →How to find the correct Cumberland County school
The normal starting point is the student’s residential base school. Choice assignments, year-round opt-outs, transfers, Fort Bragg elections and other approved assignment routes can change the school a student actually attends.
Use the home address
Start with the district-linked Find My School lookup.
Check elementary, middle and high assignments
The same residence can map to separate schools at different grade levels.
Check for a special assignment
Choice, Early College, year-round, Voluntary Transfer and Fort Bragg rules may supersede the base-school result.
Confirm the school contact
Use the CCS School Directory for the current address, phone number and school leadership.
The CCS website links to Cumberland County’s address-based school lookup.
Find the assigned Cumberland County school by address →Use the current district directory for phone, address and other school details.
Open the Cumberland County Schools directory →2026–27 Cumberland County Schools enrollment workflow
Find the base school
Use the residence address before beginning the online registration.
Complete Infinite Campus Online Registration
Choose the 2026–27 enrollment year and provide the required student/household information.
Upload the required records
Uploading documents during registration can reduce school follow-up.
Wait for the attendance-area school
CCS says finalization may take approximately 24–72 business hours.
Use the school data manager if you cannot complete enrollment
The district directs families who cannot finish online enrollment to the base-school data manager.
Common documents for grades 1–12
Residency detail: CCS may require additional proof of residency, especially when address, custody or household arrangements need clarification.
The CCS enrollment page contains the current Infinite Campus registration and Find My School routes.
Open official Cumberland County Schools enrollment instructions →2026–27 kindergarten age and document requirements
Age rule
A child must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2026.
Enrollment school
Register with the applicable attendance-area school unless another approved assignment applies.
The Countdown to Kindergarten page provides the current guide, enrollment packet, registration and school-orientation information.
Open Countdown to Kindergarten 2026 →Cumberland County Choice Programs: what families need to know now
Choice Programs use themed educational models at selected schools. They are different from a normal residential assignment or a Voluntary Transfer.
2026–27 published windows
The main 2026–27 Choice application period and later reopened windows shown on CCS pages have already passed as of August 14, 2026.
Current Choice students
Students already assigned to a Choice Program remain assigned unless the appropriate exit process is completed.
Midyear transfer restriction
CCS states that once a parent commits to a Choice Program, the student generally cannot transfer to another school during the school year except through an approved exception.
Do not assume applications are permanently closed. CCS sometimes reopens selected programs. Check the current Choice page for any new availability rather than relying on last winter’s deadlines.
The Choice site organizes options by elementary, middle and high school and publishes current application status.
Check current Cumberland County Choice Programs →Which Student Assignment form should you use?
| Request | Use it for | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Choice / Year-Round Exit | Returning from a Choice Program or year-round opt-out to the residential assignment. | The 2026–27 exit deadline was May 29, 2026; CCS says late submissions are not accepted. |
| Employee / Student Assignment | Eligible CCS employees requesting assignment under the employee provision. | Employees hired after June 5 may submit within two weeks of hire. |
| Opt Out of Year-Round | A family whose residential school is year-round and who wants the applicable traditional-school option. | CCS describes approval as automatic when the applicable form is submitted. |
| Student Release | Permission for a Cumberland County resident to attend another North Carolina public-school system. | The request goes to the CCS Board for review and must be renewed annually. |
| Voluntary Transfer | Requesting another CCS school outside the residential assignment. | Annual request; CCS states processing may take 15 business days. |
Voluntary Transfer conditions
Review the current form descriptions before submitting so your request reaches the correct workflow.
Open current Cumberland County Student Assignment forms →Fort Bragg high-school election rules for 2026–27
Children of active-duty service members residing on Fort Bragg may use the district’s 2026–27 high-school election process to request a comprehensive CCS high school.
Default assignment
If no election form is used, the district identifies E.E. Smith High School as the zoned high school.
Annual renewal
The election is renewed annually to confirm residency and school selection.
Transportation limits
District transportation is not provided to every elected comprehensive high school.
Transportation decision: CCS identifies bus-stop service for E.E. Smith and Tolson Youth Center routes for select specialized programs. Families choosing other comprehensive high schools are responsible for transportation.
Review current eligibility, available schools, transportation and athletics before submitting the election.
Read the current Fort Bragg High School Election guidance →Infinite Campus Parent Portal setup and troubleshooting
Infinite Campus gives CCS parents access to information such as grades, attendance, assignments and schedules.
Get an activation code
Use the school-provided letter or the district’s self-service activation-code lookup.
Open Campus Parent
Select the New User setup when creating the account for the first time.
Connect to the correct student record
New enrollment or family-account changes may require school data-manager assistance.
Review contact information
Keep phone and email information current so district notices reach the correct parent or guardian.
Security: never send a portal password, full student ID or screenshots of private grades through public comments or unofficial support pages.
The district resource page provides Campus Parent access, activation help and parent FAQs.
Open Cumberland County Infinite Campus Parent Resources →CCS attendance rules parents should know
| Rule | Elementary / Middle | High School |
|---|---|---|
| Parent/guardian notes | Up to 10 per school year | Up to 10 per semester |
| Documentation deadline | Valid note within 5 days after return | Valid note within 5 days after return |
| More than 20 unexcused absences | May result in retention for K–5 | May result in course failure for grades 6–12 |
Documented chronic health conditions: the district policy summary identifies an exemption from the excessive-absence consequence for students with documented chronic health conditions.
Need an attendance waiver? CCS says families may request a waiver for qualifying extenuating circumstances or verified illnesses. Start with the school’s social worker.
Review the district’s current attendance-policy summary and Board Policy 4400 before relying on a third-party explanation.
Read the current CCS attendance guidance →IEP, Section 504 or AIG: which CCS program should you contact?
Exceptional Children / IEP
Use Exceptional Children’s Services for special-education questions, IEP support, evaluation processes, parent rights and related services.
Phone: 910-484-3391
Section 504
Section 504 is a civil-rights accommodation process and is not the same as special education. Each CCS school has a designated 504 contact.
District student 504 contact: 910-678-2496
AIG / gifted education
Use Advanced Learning and Gifted Education for screening, family guides and gifted-program questions.
Phone: 910-678-2422
If a Section 504 concern is not resolved
Start with the school’s designated 504 contact
School staff are responsible for facilitating the local Section 504 process.
Use the district grievance procedure when applicable
The district publishes a written escalation route involving the Section 504 Coordinator and Superintendent.
Read the actual policy before escalating
Formal timelines and appeal rights should be taken from the current CCS grievance policy, not from this summary.
The EC Parents Page provides parent rights, FAQs, evaluation information, transportation resources and dispute-resolution links.
Open CCS Exceptional Children’s parent resources →The district explains the school-level process and district contacts.
Open Cumberland County Schools Section 504 information →The AIG site provides K–12 program routes, screening information and family guides.
Open CCS Advanced Learning and Gifted Education →What the CCS Parents’ Bill of Rights page can help you find
Student records
Rights related to accessing education information and records.
AIG / disability evaluation
Information about requesting evaluation for gifted services or disability identification.
Instructional materials
Routes for reviewing instructional materials and related Board policy.
Promotion & graduation
Policies affecting promotion, retention and graduation requirements.
Report cards & assessments
Rights to academic progress and assessment information.
Library records
Access to available records of materials borrowed by a child from a school library.
The CCS Parents’ Bill of Rights page links individual rights to relevant Board policies and North Carolina law.
Read Cumberland County Schools’ Parents’ Bill of Rights →Cumberland Family Academy can help with more than school forms
Cumberland Family Academy is the district’s family-engagement outreach program. It includes on-demand learning resources, community outreach and family-support sessions.
Family Engagement On Demand
Online family resources covering academics, social-emotional support and other school topics.
Family Engagement Cruiser
Community-based outreach that can bring enrollment and other family support closer to neighborhoods.
Family Ambassadors
A district program designed to connect families with information and resources.
Check the Family Academy page for current sessions and family-engagement resources.
Open Cumberland Family Academy →2026–27 bus requests and Here Comes the Bus
| Student group | Published 2026 deadline | Status Aug. 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Year-Round | July 7 at 5 p.m. | Passed |
| Early College | July 30 at 5 p.m. | Passed |
| Traditional + Cumberland Polytechnic | August 13 at 5 p.m. | Passed |
Missed the deadline? Do not assume transportation is permanently unavailable. Contact the student’s school now, confirm the residence address and ask what transportation action is currently available.
Here Comes the Bus
Families with existing app access and an eligible transportation assignment are scheduled to see 2026–27 information beginning August 18, 2026.
Address changed?
Contact the school and make sure the address is updated before expecting a route to change.
Newly enrolled?
The district says bus requests for newly enrolled students, including kindergarten students, are handled during enrollment.
Use the Back-to-School transportation page for current instructions and the Here Comes the Bus timeline.
Check 2026–27 CCS bus information →2026–27 Cumberland County school meal prices and accounts
| Grade | Breakfast | Lunch |
|---|---|---|
| K–5 | Free | Free |
| 6–8 | Free | Free |
| 9–12 | Free | $2.75 standard price |
| Adults | A la carte | A la carte |
CEP nuance: CCS says 70 schools participate in Community Eligibility Provision for 2026–27. All elementary and middle schools are listed under the free-meal structure, while high-school participation varies by campus.
Meal account
CCS uses MySchoolBucks for online account prepayments.
Unused balance refund
Refunds are handled by Child Nutrition Services, not by the individual school.
Special diet
Medical/special diet substitutions require the district Diet Order process, and CCS says forms should be submitted each year.
Use the live Meal Information page before assuming another grade level’s pricing applies.
Open current CCS meal information →Who has the record you need?
| Record type | Start here | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Current student record | Current school | Central Records does not maintain currently enrolled student records. |
| Recent graduate | Graduating school | Central Records says records generally do not arrive until one year after graduation. |
| Former student who withdrew | Last school / later Central Records | Central Records says inactive records generally arrive three years after withdrawal. |
| Older transcript / inactive record | CCS Central Records | Current listed transcript copying/mailing fee is $10 per copy. |
| Diploma replacement | Graduating high school | Central Records states that it does not hold diploma copies. |
| District public record | Communications & Community Engagement | Different process from student transcripts. |
Central Records request preparation
Review Central Records before paying an outside records service.
Open Cumberland County Schools Central Records →Where to start with a student discipline concern
CCS’ 2026–27 Student Code of Conduct outlines student expectations and district support resources. For an individual discipline recommendation or suspension issue, the school principal is the primary starting contact.
First contact
School principal for the student-specific discipline issue.
District discipline help
Discipline Clerk: 910-678-2602.
Hearing questions
Use the current district process for applicable hearing or appeal matters rather than the public-comment period.
Use the current Student Code of Conduct rather than an older handbook saved from a previous school year.
Review the 2026–27 CCS Student Code of Conduct →Cumberland County Schools jobs
Vacancies change frequently, so this article does not freeze a temporary job count. The current employment page lists school-based and district opportunities and routes applications through the district’s hiring system.
Teaching positions
Licensed teacher recruitment and school-based vacancies.
Support positions
Transportation, child nutrition, custodial and other classified roles may be listed.
Specialized roles
EC teachers, psychologists, speech-language roles and other specialist openings may be recruited.
Check the current CCS vacancies before sending employment information to a third-party job listing.
View current Cumberland County Schools employment opportunities →Fast contact router for common CCS problems
| Problem | Best first contact | Prepare before calling |
|---|---|---|
| Board meeting / policy | Board resources | Meeting date, policy/topic and specific question. |
| Teacher / classroom / attendance | Student’s school | Student name, grade, teacher and relevant dates. |
| Enrollment status | Base-school data manager | Registration confirmation and missing-document information. |
| School assignment / transfer | Student Assignment | Residence, current school and desired assignment. |
| Bus issue | Student’s school first | Current address, school, grade and route concern. |
| IEP | School / Exceptional Children | Current IEP concern and requested action. |
| Section 504 | School 504 contact | Condition, educational impact and existing accommodations. |
| Transcript | Current/last school or Central Records | Name, DOB, school and graduation/withdrawal year. |
Common mistakes and the fastest fix
📅 Wrong calendar date
Fix: identify the exact school and calendar track before using a first day, break or report-card date.
🗓️ Missed public-comment signup
Fix: use the meeting-day electronic form between noon and 5:30 p.m.; do not plan on walk-up registration.
🏫 Wrong enrollment school
Fix: use Find My School before starting registration.
⏳ Enrollment still pending
Fix: allow the stated 24–72 business hours, then contact the base-school data manager.
🎯 Missed Choice application
Fix: check the current Choice page for any reopened programs; do not reuse an expired application link.
🔄 Wrong transfer form
Fix: distinguish Voluntary Transfer, Student Release, Choice Exit and year-round opt-out before submitting.
🎖️ Fort Bragg bus assumed
Fix: review transportation coverage before selecting a non-zoned high school.
🔐 Parent Portal activation issue
Fix: restart from the official Infinite Campus Parent Resources page and contact the school data manager if necessary.
📋 Absence still unexcused
Fix: confirm the note was submitted within the district’s five-day documentation window.
🎓 Transcript request rejected
Fix: determine whether the school or Central Records actually holds the record based on graduation/withdrawal timing.
👤 Old Board member shown online
Fix: use the current main Meet the Board directory rather than a cached school-site mirror.
🍽️ Wrong meal-price assumption
Fix: distinguish K–8 from high school and check whether the high school participates in CEP.
Cumberland County Board of Education NC FAQs
What is the Cumberland County Board of Education phone number?
The main Cumberland County Schools number is 910-678-2300. Current Board member listings use 910-678-2312 as the Board-member contact line.
Where is the Cumberland County Board of Education office?
The Central Services office is at 2465 Gillespie Street, Fayetteville, NC 28306. The mailing address is P.O. Box 2357, Fayetteville, NC 28302.
When does the Cumberland County Board of Education meet?
Regular meetings are normally scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., although some dates vary. Confirm the current meeting notice before attending.
When is the next Cumberland County Board meeting?
As checked August 14, 2026, the next regular meeting currently listed is September 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
How do I sign up for public comment?
The current procedure opens the electronic public-comment form from 12:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on the regular-meeting day. No walk-up signup is allowed, and speakers must attend in person.
When does Cumberland County Schools start in 2026?
It depends on the school calendar. Year-Round students started July 16, Early College and Cumberland Polytechnic students started August 10, and Traditional students begin August 24, 2026.
How do I find my child’s Cumberland County school?
Use the district-linked Find My School address lookup to identify the residential base school. Choice Programs, transfers, year-round opt-outs and other approved assignment routes can change the student’s actual school.
How long does CCS enrollment take?
After completing the online registration, Cumberland County Schools says finalization may take approximately 24–72 business hours. Missing documents can create additional follow-up.
How long does a Cumberland County Voluntary Transfer take?
The current Student Assignment page says Voluntary Transfer requests are processed within approximately 15 business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
How much does a CCS transcript cost?
CCS Central Records currently lists a $10 per-copy transcript/records copying and mailing fee. Current students and many recent former students may need to request records from the school instead of Central Records.
Before you submit a form, attend a meeting or rely on a school date
Source scope: this guide was re-audited against current CCS Board/member/meeting/committee pages, 2026–27 calendars, Back-to-School resources, enrollment and Student Assignment pages, Choice Programs, Infinite Campus, transportation, attendance, Child Nutrition, Exceptional Children, Section 504, AIG, Parents’ Bill of Rights, Family Academy, Central Records, public-record, discipline and employment resources on August 14, 2026.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an independent informational guide and is not Cumberland County Schools, the Cumberland County Board of Education, NCDPI or the North Carolina State Board of Education. Official district notices, policies, records and decisions take priority.