[{"_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",6197097,"mediaKeyId","3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c","parentId",3853850,"title","Board extends Superintendent Swan’s contract one year and awards five personal days","audioSeconds",184,"startMs",12854000,"endMs",13038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c&start=12854&end=13038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c/thumbnail_12854000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6197097/North-Carolina/Board-extends-Superintendent-Swans-contract-one-year-and-awards-five-personal-days","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197097-97e2dea8ff597fedf9a4a5b23b6136ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930480&Signature=Ae6bwihoyzyA0gJiCwPhN1hPmVwhGEA-Es2tf8Vk1aNF7NklVNm9UpAz-ou0cRMrOT38keVPGcFn4icVoW5vJdYTe-TmfRVgbZgDx5YV21kHQ908UKx-UW6jEyR1v0ZGjKMFoyJ-ncEtqNxcnVDlx7weN8cu6~WV5UnL7nX0kQogPvZXwlGwQC9ZtUVVtdak-LgK06Ckob28S3eRY5Onl6OirJAv1nIpohextHM9VMh7KF3cn-kft5ulgaUzCWLDdgA3Wu62SYJ3jD3WwhhdyiYBwzEHNaw6guu2x3jIB0Qk4DvJk1vnGVB9~sUGEX27kUACzYPNSrX3Kb5giYNsLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS","date","2025-05-29T20:41:33Z","article","The Burke County Board of Education voted on June 16 to extend Superintendent Mike Swan’s employment contract by one year and to grant five additional locally paid personal days.

A motion to extend Swan’s contract for one year passed in a roll call vote of 6–1. The board’s roll call record showed one dissenting vote; a member who voted no said the decision reflected identified areas for improvement and not the superintendent’s overall performance.

Separately, the board considered a motion to grant the superintendent five local personal days. That motion passed on a roll call vote, 4–3. Board members who supported the personal days cited the high demands of the superintendent role and framed the days as a restorative benefit; members who opposed the days said the timing was difficult to justify while the district faces budget constraints and staff replacement needs.

Why it matters: the one‑year extension secures continuity in district leadership through the coming year. The five personal days are locally funded and not part of a salary increase; board members discussed optics and budgetary messaging when making their votes.

At the meeting, multiple board members and staff offered public praise for Swan’s leadership and for district outcomes during his tenure. Swan thanked staff, his family and the leadership team for their support.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Special Called Meeting 6/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Burke County Board voted 6–1 to extend Superintendent Mike Swan’s contract by one year and later approved, by a 4–3 roll call, five locally paid personal leave days for the superintendent.","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},6197101,"Board adopts resolution favoring pen‑and‑paper instruction and limited screen time",377,12019000,12396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c&start=12019&end=12396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c/thumbnail_12019000.jpg","/articles/6197101/North-Carolina/Board-adopts-resolution-favoring-penandpaper-instruction-and-limited-screen-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197101-2b473c476e723b9ea7e5fe7d1ea31006/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930480&Signature=AkbQwiTcdZAzypLosrAW0l0meNsqcx0KOOZFwil~CaCDj9C3CqcT24GM6Ffedmt1fkwrI41M1iyLnDvv6b~Duno17s160k2SayqyjiYSyd2hsDhMTQDDQEiu6ih~JET1CurvXkVDnqzseYL5UYmsopk-tlOUdKb2jB7B-le3wku87RimKwIeKY766xjzC4QE5kqOKM7dQV0L~sNSbR6MXQ~CM1kTvexjKiQJwaNwb4SIK9xiAtZimbWLjJZLs0Aog8I2uama83GEC5nNNa5~ssir~AWzAfdKz8SkqRRw9dvXkfp1fx~8ZkwloN5KutnyAomhZB~3878CHwoERAgk1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution on June 16 encouraging the use of pen‑and‑paper instruction for activities such as note taking, reading comprehension, writing and assessments and urging “responsible and limited” use of digital devices for instruction.

The resolution, introduced by board members and discussed publicly, states that handwriting and paper materials can “minimize distractions” and support fine motor skills, and it asks the district to prioritize investments in printed textbooks, notebooks and writing supplies while still allowing technology where it offers clear instructional advantages.

Board members emphasized the policy is not an anti‑technology stance. One board member said, “We are not anti technology. That's not what we're saying. We're just saying that we've heard concerns from parents and educators, regarding the negative effects of excessive screen time.” The resolution also directs professional development to help teachers maximize the effectiveness of traditional instruction methods and leaves classroom discretion with teachers.

Why it matters: the resolution is framed as a local standard that the board said may be the first of its kind in North Carolina and is intended to address concerns from parents and educators about attention, sleep and mental health tied to excessive screen time. The board approved the resolution by voice vote; the motion was seconded and the measure passed unanimously.

What the resolution does not do: it does not ban classroom technology or change device procurement language; administrators and board members discussed further policy work around device management and brought up special‑education exceptions where devices are written into individual education plans (IEPs).","The Burke County Board unanimously passed a resolution encouraging pen‑and‑paper instruction for note taking, reading and assessments while calling for limited, responsible use of digital devices where pedagogically appropriate.",{"_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},6197105,"Summer meal pickup drives record participation; Chartwells rate proposed for next year",282,4854000,5136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c&start=4854&end=5136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c/thumbnail_4854000.jpg","/articles/6197105/North-Carolina/Summer-meal-pickup-drives-record-participation-Chartwells-rate-proposed-for-next-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197105-f90481e513097ffd4c2833f509fde14c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930480&Signature=DgGob-QBwcR1nbdKPZKMU9fIzbhu1OfxGncXKKbKlqURLXmMtkboshSB~1cVFJhdWFHYB2zDBB--~tdzXTM1sMENp6AL33WKExYV-ZxjGE7465hDek~USX0SM5g-nQja8m0hgROiBRLZnov1PiM0eZ61atQjfgqgKO7hcWKJj0YA-bz72vSVzpRof8TkV1Hc7ZpsFxGicE~3GkzHjxSgRYQnwDjLdedab9ozvv~oqAOJAXpBohWGbJjhxoJ8K0VS2eiAY1b-Bynrbw2ovlr8pFCTmMP8xc-tqTrMGeFNtRurv2qJV6VztIV9klrsHt7gz71593MXI17gHIqBdkWP3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Burke County Public Schools reported record summer meal participation and a request from the district’s food service partner, Chartwells, to set next year’s summer meal rate at $4.40 after a week that district staff said delivered 7,249 meals.

Director Mr. Wall told the board the recent pick‑up model drove the increase in participation, prompting Chartwells to propose a reduced rate. “This past week, we fed 7,249 [for summer], which is an all‑time record,” Mr. Wall said. He told the board Chartwells had previously received about $113,000 to run the program last summer and that the district experienced a typical summer loss of about $50,000–$55,000. With the increase in participation, Wall said the program is projected to come close to breaking even or possibly show a small profit if participation continues.

The board heard a public example of the program’s community impact: a community member described arranging meal truck pick‑ups for limited‑income housing and praised the district’s responsiveness in coordinating weekly multi‑meal pickups. Administrators noted a feeding site was moved from Oak Hill to Table Rock because of traffic management concerns raised by state highway patrol.

Board action: the board approved the Chartwells summer meal rate (motion by Mr. Beck, second by Mr. Johnson) by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: summer meal programs provide nutrition for children when school is not in session, and the district’s pick‑up distribution model appears to have increased reach. The district provided contact information for new school bus driver training to expand transportation capacity during the school year.","District officials reported a summer meal pickup surge — 7,249 meals served in one week — and Chartwells requested a reduced meal rate for next year, citing increased participation that may bring the program closer to breaking even.",{"_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},6197110,"Board approves selective demolition contract, easement and highlights summer capital work",237,5172000,5409000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c&start=5172&end=5409","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c/thumbnail_5172000.jpg","/articles/6197110/North-Carolina/Board-approves-selective-demolition-contract-easement-and-highlights-summer-capital-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197110-46de417c7d0250ca7e7292957ce38f3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930480&Signature=V21ed9YBTx6HTCmQrYcGO0kzqAVfBFXp7y1tKQBgzH3ib3bhD5PSG9mrmwaZJQ-pJX7t7XscznqdSppEIPuXG0IT5krxZcPsUoD65rqPB4TQWX0N1pDVHkPvD2F0Nu0hh9b6r8hkEhOxjsohMVUibJbLPs82~8NKhysBuiUWs-v-r780eph5la8HlB9KRGmTJotdTKmswCcVq8ppmPQ6q72HT-8byk~vZ100ioq78hA0yH3aovjQ5wAp67Vzqg3FUSndjsIzM1cvrCzT32FJn6XPDb8OW5ANTOSwK9IDjNJj0TogNFyMZks6ZExp9OGK111HhkD~DBXu1j72xFz~Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Education on June 16 awarded selective demolition work at the future district central office and approved a utility easement to support electrical upgrades at Freedom High School, while administrators reviewed other ongoing summer capital projects.

The board authorized awarding demolition work to Moss Marlow Building Company of Hickory, North Carolina, which submitted the low bid of $179,200, a figure the district said was about half the original estimate. The resolution delegates authority to the superintendent and finance officer, in consultation with the board’s legal counsel, to execute contract documents and carry out the work.

At Freedom High School, the board approved a Duke Energy easement to allow a transformer change‑out and underground line work to isolate power between the gym, the ROTC building and the agriculture building. Administrators said the work is scheduled for July after the easement is finalized and is intended to keep the remaining buildings powered if one section loses electricity.

Summer capital updates discussed by the superintendent included a new gym floor at Freedom High School, track repairs following September flood damage, grading and paving near the field house and student parking lot, bathroom upgrades and a deconstruction and replacement of the Valdez playground. The superintendent asked the board to place the demolition contract and the Duke Energy easement on the evening’s action agenda; both items passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the demolition contract advances the district’s move to a new administrative building at 305 West Union Street; the electrical work at Freedom High is intended to reduce outage‑related disruptions to athletics, ROTC and agricultural programs. The district said the low demolition bid leaves room in the project budget.

Board action: the board placed the resolution awarding demolition on the consent/action slate and voted to approve. The Duke Energy easement was also approved with a unanimous voice vote. The superintendent indicated contractors expect to perform the easement work before students return in the fall.","The Burke County Board awarded a selective demolition contract for the new central office to Moss Marlow Building Company for $179,200, approved a Duke Energy easement for Freedom High School electrical upgrades and reviewed summer capital projects including gym floors, track repair and playground work.",{"_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},6197115,"Burke County Board adopts updated AIG plan expanding services to 2,255 students",495,3985000,4480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c&start=3985&end=4480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853850-7b1cb470b6adf6a55c5f41f6681a5e3c/thumbnail_3985000.jpg","/articles/6197115/North-Carolina/Burke-County-Board-adopts-updated-AIG-plan-expanding-services-to-2255-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197115-afe8b129f1c14c4791d4c33625701757/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930480&Signature=ZesvLKVOYjfnXY~I8I-1~ITFJ1YkyKussb8HeJysB-PIbOqnRGjqu-asCV0nibE3VYiNr4PVgAr9REjmFNhTn4U0VVR1~NhJeSfwGD5zhAKVnTZX8ImBEA4YTC8QS-2WzfzhQzvdhFPx7hlnnA5yuO7wOgQqxhs37ttOBw9OLVTfqKCdK9ZYH1xY7~-mQDZRnB3vI-npXepzWENveKa-anwQG3YCRmL6RqNyUndDUQ1Icksi1-6uFlEcqos~Y5q3c5tc2w3lU9YwUpil7JsbEuTme90mz86Vdhvq4qBRKyJq5sciv5kfXLT3yUjzWt2Qrp0EYDUM2UinJ9-VPZXqdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Education on June 16 unanimously approved a new Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) plan that the district says expands services to 2,255 students — roughly 20% of enrollment — and will remain in effect through spring 2028.

The plan, presented to the board by a district staff member who outlined identification, program continuity and accountability changes, updates the district’s three pathways for placing students in AIG services and formalizes a portfolio pathway to capture students who may be missed by testing alone. “Pathway 3 … pulls data together that we already use in our school system, like standardized scores, grades, that motivation checklist again, star assessment, EOGs,” the presenter said.

Why it matters: the revision raises the district’s AIG enrollment from about 1,765 in the prior plan to 2,255 in the proposed plan, and the district says several previously underrepresented groups show increased representation under the new procedures. The board must approve the tri‑annual plan to meet state expectations and to maintain local program continuity.

Program details: the district retains three formal placement routes. Pathway 1 requires top-tier test scores (97th percentile on the Iowa or CogAT or a Level 5 EOG). Pathway 2 uses slightly lower test percentiles plus teacher rating scales. Pathway 3 uses a collected portfolio of throughout‑year measures to identify students who may not show in a single test. The plan also specifies differentiated education plans (DEPs) for grades 3–5, 6–8 and 9–12 and continues acceleration, enrichment, STEAM/STEAM Academy ties and countywide extracurricular academic opportunities.

Personnel and training: the district reported it has four licensed AIG specialists who provide teacher collaboration, data management and professional development. The presenter described a local endorsement available to teachers as a continuing professional development option to support differentiated instruction.

Accountability and alternative settings: the presentation noted the district must submit an alternative schools modified accountability participation form annually and outlined three state‑provided options for alternative settings. The presenter confirmed the proposed AIG plan was the board action item for the evening.

Board action and timeline: a motion to approve the proposed AIG plan carried unanimously. Board members were told the plan will last through the spring of 2028 and that the district followed the state’s three‑year review cycle.

What’s next: the plan will be implemented in cooperation with principals, school‑based AIG chairs and community partners including Western Piedmont (which houses the STEAM Academy), with ongoing feedback and periodic review.","The Burke County Board of Education unanimously approved a revised Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) plan that increases identified students to 2,255 and updates identification pathways, program services and accountability measures through 2028.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board extends Superintendent Swan’s contract one year and awards five personal days

Board adopts resolution favoring pen‑and‑paper instruction and limited screen time

Summer meal pickup drives record participation; Chartwells rate proposed for next year

Board approves selective demolition contract, easement and highlights summer capital work

Burke County Board adopts updated AIG plan expanding services to 2,255 students