[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6095571,"mediaKeyId","2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f","parentId",2837994,"title","Burke County Public Schools highlights teacher awards, CTE wins and explains school transfer closures","audioSeconds",1149,"startMs",723000,"endMs",1872000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f&start=723&end=1872","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f/thumbnail_723000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095571/North-Carolina/Burke-County-Public-Schools-highlights-teacher-awards-CTE-wins-and-explains-school-transfer-closures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095571-350082e5c4547216baf72a6f983704e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165841&Signature=MnLEF8BkIDUKxu1aDAEN~EQAGtVoWK~z-84Tw5cQlw0iPLU41j7yJUphSstkar~cLYFuULx8zJclliAQlMNVx5lI9Iyf0t7ruNAGjJ~CGtgyABpQpMdwNvYfNJXebr427pX-JZT1LSsUm7JxrWKSXmEHw4KE41kthJltg97KJ3SS0Auo38jWdiRl-8cq8ua8QccbNTEcW2yLm3kuikDqRYXj9duJ0CxCODBWt2s8SsBkMci0eHei2OYOq8g62Fto09w75ikrnqCBymstUgsu7B9ClzeZHrOOrZP-fAKdJw2Q3r-52yAmHZbmxEV4Mdh2MaI1QsX3hH02Rw1nBw0d2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS","date","2025-04-01T21:30:06.527Z","article","Superintendent Dr. Swan summarized recent district highlights Tuesday, announcing Melissa McClure of Drexel Elementary as Burke County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, and listing student achievements across science fairs, MathCounts, robotics and a construction rodeo partnership with Western Piedmont Community College.

The superintendent said Drexel Elementary teacher Melissa McClure received a vehicle from Paramount Ford as part of the Teacher of the Year recognition. He described a surprise presentation at the school and said board members attended the celebration.

The update noted elementary science-fair first-place winners from Oak Hill Elementary, second from Eichard and third from Glen Alpine. A middle-school student, Bailey Heat of Table Rock Middle School, took first place at the state science fair, the superintendent said. He also named individual MathCounts performers and two individual winners, Ezekiel M. (Mountain View Elementary) and Elijah P. (Hillcrest Elementary).

Career and technical education (CTE) highlights included the county’s construction rodeo — expanded from a small local event to one including teams from McDowell, Catawba and Caldwell counties — and an Ag Day for fifth-graders run by high-school ag students. The superintendent announced Burke County’s Freedom and East Burke high-school agriculture programs received a $100,000 grant to purchase two vehicles to transport animals and supplies; he said the trucks will receive custom wraps to promote the programs.

The superintendent also described a visit by celebrity chef Jet Tila to East Burke High School’s Foods II classes and noted a Freedom High School senior, Malik Harris, won first place in the North Carolina American Legion Oratorical contest and will compete for a $25,000 national scholarship.

On operations and family-facing items, the district said new playground equipment installations will begin in May and that mulch will be replaced. The district announced upcoming bus-driver training at central office and invited community interest; the superintendent said the district had used incentive pay changes and increased driver pay to recruit drivers. He listed several upcoming events: an Inclusive Talent Show (April 11), an online safety presentation in partnership with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office (Patton High School on March 31 and Heritage Middle School on April 3), North Liberty prom (May 2) and Special Olympics (May 9 at Patton High School). He also reminded the board that next week’s board meeting will be on Tuesday, April 8, and that graduation details will follow from district staff.

The superintendent explained the district’s transfer process and why several schools are currently closed to transfers. He said principals decide transfer requests and consider discipline, attendance and grades. The closed schools listed were Heritage Middle School, Mountain View Elementary, North Liberty, Liberty Middle School (eighth grade), Freedom High School and the district’s self-contained BCPS classrooms. He explained that admitting nonresident students can increase class sizes and require hiring additional teachers funded locally rather than by the state, and that the district is using transfer closures to manage local funding and capacity.

Board members and the superintendent also publicly thanked local law enforcement and emergency responders for a coordinated response to a recent Drexel incident; board members said the coordinated response and notifications helped ensure students and staff were not endangered.

The superintendent closed by thanking board members and staff for their leadership as the district approaches the final instructional weeks of the school year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Work Session 03/31/25","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Dr. Swan summarized recent district highlights Tuesday, announcing Melissa McClure of Drexel Elementary as Teacher of the Year and listing student wins, a $100,000 agriculture grant, playground and staffing updates, and the district’s explanation for several school transfer closures.","taxTitle","Burke County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14186,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095557,"Advanced Learning director outlines AIG services, funding cap and testing responsibilities",757,2989000,3746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f&start=2989&end=3746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f/thumbnail_2989000.jpg","/articles/6095557/North-Carolina/Advanced-Learning-director-outlines-AIG-services-funding-cap-and-testing-responsibilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095557-a2f733b651254879cb3c162baae33388/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165841&Signature=icuMmTn2WTFH1xUL3ow8j3bQ-s7yqq3zAgoqXST0HnnLyai9wgEgRHghCXTKcImpZbyZDTzWxd3rp6AQjMdDUg~hngaWOeGScApH3BFiaOcOe01AlCbNJpHJODNhGX6ZgndcJMDuSt2st0vXgz3UONyG3PMTUWlg5Pz2lBzQtnZoRLmUo1wRBSU8EupjY8r01SzbZ8M6xqRMguKrcUCSB-kyRjojzIl6xMZTRypo1FmIE0ENvFRLBbKIkpa-5gG3MVWOSBBYLAj33gx5KG7rWnc6-DoPOs~7iqzDFFrDMJAuzVoVLPI-~8u0RjkHH7iVY392rQz9CgA2VlTPu6NZng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Abernathy presented an overview of the Testing and Accountability and Advanced Learning departments, including how AIG services are identified and funded.

She told the board the district’s total enrollment is about 11,077 students (per the most recent PMR) and that the AIG department serves 2,174 students K–12, about 19.6% of enrollment. She noted the state funds AIG at a capped 4% and that the district’s actual AIG population exceeds the funded cap, meaning the district supplements services with local funds and grants; she described last year’s annual AIG budget as $658,729.

Dr. Abernathy explained the three local placement pathways used for AIG identification: (1) a 97th-percentile cut on achievement tests (EOG, BOG, Iowa achievement) or aptitude (CogAT); (2) a combination of achievement/aptitude thresholds and teacher-rated (TRS) criteria; and (3) a revised portfolio/equity pathway that uses a broader set of local measures (STAR assessments, grades, motivational scale) to identify students who come close to thresholds.

She described supports for AIG students — differentiated education plans (DEPs) for third through 12th graders, an annual plan review, DEP transition meetings for middle- and high-school moves, and a local endorsement Canvas course for teachers new to AIG instruction; she said the district runs a STEAM Academy in partnership with Western Piedmont Community College and provides AP and NCVPS course access for high-school students. She also described testing and accountability responsibilities: the department administers state assessments (BOG, EOGs, end-of-course tests), ACT/preACT/WorkKeys and alternate assessments as appropriate, manages online test platforms, trains school test coordinators and audits testing data and security.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the funding cap and testing platform outages; Dr. Abernathy said AIG funding is capped at 4% by the state and that the district used local funds and grants to serve additional identified students. She also described a recent statewide ACT platform outage that led to a temporary test-day suspension and later makeup options.","Dr. Abernathy briefed the board on the academically/intellectually gifted (AIG) program size, funding limits, screening pathways and testing/assessment responsibilities managed by the department.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095560,"District staff asks board to approve easement conveyance to Duke Energy for underground line near Drexel property",246,4785000,5031000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f&start=4785&end=5031","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f/thumbnail_4785000.jpg","/articles/6095560/North-Carolina/District-staff-asks-board-to-approve-easement-conveyance-to-Duke-Energy-for-underground-line-near-Drexel-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095560-e2b9f8493c70c04961811af06c504bfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165841&Signature=fbONpfDrU3yIoJh30EyGVe4ulFTVvDyljf9Z4ctKPvV3zSeZg5gIBeh8AMINmnHKExFCLE3~QH24XhI718eg3iBBjSc3JpqUTnWx3pMk2A8VLj1H92mhFmvUUsDkFuLboqwcTFL6hwr5Wr7tPgKaT91Pu2v5EoxO74Z968toSa3DEVL6NqsqyexPg63z4INGuin0VzZPlQlMY5kCNoP0w1u5XSZnTro~iElNYdO6x4U05UTV6WWEGte7i0cvFJarbmu9Lu-WdpUN89tkqSw1L6Y4YovufMBRs8g~Oog86QmRpgaZekYGRt3j9q2hYp23dJEuc6Cm41ADepCj4xblXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Aker presented a request from Duke Energy for an underground three-phase power line and associated easement that would cross district property near a high-school campus and connect to a transformer serving a nearby development.

Dr. Aker said the parcel at issue is a large tract adjacent to the high school that will be developed; the request follows a previously approved easement last fall for a town sewer lift station on the same development. She said the line is planned to run beside the student parking lot toward the stadium sidewalk and then to a transformer near the field house; the transformer will feed the adjacent development, she said.

Because a narrow sliver of the route crosses property owned by Burke County Public Schools, Dr. Aker said additional paperwork is required and that the district must join the County of Burke in the conveyance and grant of easement. She asked that the board place the conveyance/release deed as an action item on the board’s next meeting agenda so the necessary legal documents and approvals can be completed.

Board members voiced no objections and staff said they would place the item on the next meeting’s action agenda.","Staff presented a request from Duke Energy for an underground three-phase line and easement that crosses property adjacent to a Drexel-area high school; staff asked the board to join the county in conveyance and to add the release deed to the next meeting’s action items.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095565,"Burke County Schools staff recommends Chartwells as food-service provider; contract, wage and Navigate training proposed for board action",1263,3513000,4776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f&start=3513&end=4776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f/thumbnail_3513000.jpg","/articles/6095565/North-Carolina/Burke-County-Schools-staff-recommends-Chartwells-as-food-service-provider-contract-wage-and-Navigate-training-proposed-for-board-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095565-d2132be7fbd78a7cdbbf56600211dc7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165841&Signature=nfcLNd8NU0chtroLH3S-tm9MdZo83FVlgXPoM-bQLC8h~7tU0QHEEjQw1hDyApu~JtCZuPSeMEPAgI5LSPKiyncf0YzlAhKbknYm0c0u6UFw5lEAn-WxCXeYB6r266a71GVexoqdZE-wXdq~8dpKcvXcpX7nKF5n1cy4Krgf5U-Om4G-b5zP442IUUz48iS~ma2TUxqT~DGTImnxUpjr1~kgoPJyq8zhsPBRoeKOwdD-dk96E5jgAV37Uw7eqNgvHOeLX9T2p0vPuIGeriQ4fKYcGvhYG0rDr6lnoR4hIRGhDiHzRPKT6WxF6y0Y3hkmf-fMkJniL5LzxF2ocqZX4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Food-service director Mr. Wall and a Chartwells representative, Aaron, summarized the RFP process and the recommended contract for the board.

Mr. Wall said the district’s five-year Chartwells contract is coming to an end and the district issued an RFP beginning in September; four companies attended the pre-bid meeting and submitted proposals. A nine-person committee scored presentations and recommended continuing with Chartwells under a new five-year contract that the presenter described as renewable each year. The presenter asked the board to place the proposed contract on the action agenda for the next board meeting.

Contract financial highlights provided by staff and Chartwells included an increase in the mill-equivalent rate from about $3.43 to $3.74 per meal, and a Chartwells financial guarantee of $400,000 per year (the guarantee excludes equipment reimbursements). Mr. Wall said Chartwells proposed enhanced food quality with weekly premium-day menu options and an expanded coffee shop program that would reach all four high schools by the following fall or winter.

Employee compensation changes in the proposal would raise minimum pay for Chartwells employees to $14.50 per hour and to $15.30 for employees who have been with the vendor for seven years. The proposal also includes quarterly perfect-attendance bonuses, semester and end-of-year bonuses to incentivize retention.

Aaron described the Navigate program, a 12-week training pilot Chartwells offers that combines classroom instruction and hands-on experience to prepare students from underserved backgrounds for food-service careers, soft skills and workplace readiness. Chartwells proposed using the district food truck to provide hands-on experience at schools; staff said the proposal also scheduled use of the food truck twice per school annually for outreach and student experience.

Mr. Wall said the district will provide the full proposal documents to board members and asked the board to add the contract recommendation to the action agenda at the next meeting so the board can consider formal approval.","After an RFP and committee review, staff recommended renewing with Chartwells under a five-year contract (renewable annually) that increases per-meal mill-equivalent, guarantees $400,000 annual return, raises minimum wages for Chartwells employees and includes a 12-week Navigate career program and increased food-truck and coffee offerings.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095568,"Burke County Public Schools reports nearly 1,500 English learners and expands dual-language programming",798,2057000,2855000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f&start=2057&end=2855","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837994-7525be92e530ac54cb768b1711077e4f/thumbnail_2057000.jpg","/articles/6095568/North-Carolina/Burke-County-Public-Schools-reports-nearly-1500-English-learners-and-expands-dual-language-programming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095568-c20658795dc45e59d249d3293618d232/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165841&Signature=R8qYwds5HT-tE6EVMJd3jKTL~TDkHgP~cV2oeyiDy7Yg~If-TBynpZKiq44-vbmRu5jQTMaIPcs~NclDbdSQMIx65LwS9pHWR2cEVg5iJ4l1Et46W4YVG7FfE4EWMFBwrm~9ADg-QxdHo1Dxzi1PYMazc0zaza5Bo1B8ww8TVeb5c1vuxOasLpFKTF4iCZpKTbk2cfT1RttfVqe6spFuq~iLeqfqzvSU4bRtcZ-EKCBnz6Af4EIS9NWS1I8Gf8-gqXTOp2hX2TmtfmFyVZDMf0yuSHdP7TXxozZhPNBNAFL2QI0t9oz9vrsEGk09Ryyxtfhl-FhVhsCTgiUhOS9Ldw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lanny Simpson, who identified themself as working with English learners and dual-language programs for Burke County Public Schools, presented an overview of district EL and dual-language services and numbers.

Simpson said the district has nearly 1,500 English learners (ELs), representing a little over 13% of the district’s student population. Spanish is the primary home language for about 79% of students who speak a language other than English at home; the district also serves Hmong speakers (about 67 students) and more than 20 other languages, including Vietnamese and Khmer. Simpson said the total multilingual population is larger than the EL count because it includes students who have exited EL services or are already bilingual.

Simpson described dual-language immersion as a two-way model in which roughly half the students are native Spanish speakers and half are native English speakers; Spanish is the target language. At Mountain View Elementary, the oldest district dual-language program (started in 02/2018), students spend mornings with a bilingual teacher (Spanish instruction for language arts, science and math) and afternoons with an English-language teacher (English language arts and social studies); Mountain View’s Global Immersion Academy is fully articulated K–5 with two homerooms per grade and about 240 students participating, Simpson said.

The district recruits international teachers through Participate Learning and currently employs teachers from Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Honduras and Jamaica in dual-language roles. Hillcrest Elementary has a dual-language pre-K that alternates English and Spanish days; Forest Hill Elementary will add a self-contained dual-language kindergarten next year; and Walter Johnson middle school has a sixth-grade dual-language cohort where students take social studies and science in Spanish and English language arts and math in English, Simpson said. Middle-school students will also have the option to earn high-school credits in world-language electives and pursue a seal of biliteracy, Simpson added.

Simpson explained how EL services scale down as students develop English proficiency, described staffing (24 teachers, two teacher assistants, one lead teacher/instructional coach) and said average caseloads for EL teachers are roughly 60 students. On assessments, Simpson said North Carolina requires instruction and assessment in English except for designated world-language or dual-language classes; EL students are tested in English on state assessments (for example, EOGs), and dual-language programming is intended to close achievement gaps.

Simpson offered to answer board questions and described district supports including staffing, recruitment and program rollout plans.","District staff described the size, language makeup and structure of English learner (EL) services and dual-language immersion programs, including numbers, program models and where dual-language options are available.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Burke County Public Schools highlights teacher awards, CTE wins and explains school transfer closures

Advanced Learning director outlines AIG services, funding cap and testing responsibilities

District staff asks board to approve easement conveyance to Duke Energy for underground line near Drexel property

Burke County Schools staff recommends Chartwells as food-service provider; contract, wage and Navigate training proposed for board action

Burke County Public Schools reports nearly 1,500 English learners and expands dual-language programming