Rutherford County Schools Lead Recovery Efforts with $3.5 Million in Hurricane Helene Funding

When Hurricane Helene struck, it didn’t just damage roads, homes, and businesses. It disrupted the lives of thousands of students and families across western North Carolina. In the midst of the chaos, Rutherford County Schools (RCS) became more than classrooms—they became essential community lifelines.

From serving as meal sites and emergency shelters to acting as charging stations, supply distribution centers, and counseling hubs, schools provided stability when families needed it most. For many students displaced or made homeless by the storm, returning to school routines was a critical part of the recovery process.

“One year later, it’s clear that recovery isn’t just about repairing infrastructure,” RCS said in a statement. “It’s about people and the places that hold communities together—including our schools.”

Students at Sunshine Elementary

Now, RCS is taking another major step in that recovery. The district has been awarded $3,512,000 in competitive Hurricane Helene Capital Recovery Funds to upgrade heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems at six schools. The funding, secured through applications prepared by RCS Chief Operating Officer Kevin Bradley in May 2025, will enable the district to modernize its aging HVAC systems more quickly than would be possible using regular capital outlay funds.

The grant allocations are as follows:

• R-S Central High School — $1,207,500

• Chase Middle School — $402,500

• CHASE High School — $879,750

• Ellenboro Elementary School — $350,000

• Pinnacle Elementary School — $362,250

• Sunshine Elementary School — $310,000

  
  

School officials described the funding as a “game-changer” for the long-term viability of the district’s facilities, ensuring safe, comfortable learning environments for students and staff.

“Helene wasn’t just another storm,” the statement said. “It reshaped western North Carolina. Our schools stood as shelters, anchors, and sources of hope for families—then reopened classrooms to give students stability and belonging. Schools and communities rise together. They always have, and they always will.”

This investment underscores North Carolina's ongoing commitment to recovery, environmental restoration, and public facilities—reminding the community that rebuilding extends beyond roads and houses to strengthen the people and institutions that hold it all together.