Superintendent highlights summer meal gains, teacher hires and FFA awards; new central office work under way

Superintendent Doctor Swan told the Burke County Board of Education on Thursday that the district saw higher participation in summer meal programs, fewer new teacher hires this year compared with last year, continuing central office renovation work and several student and teacher recognitions. "Our summer 20 25 breakfast, we had 42,942 breakfast served, 46,749 lunches served," Doctor Swan said, presenting participation counts and noting an increase from the previous year. He said the district adjusted distribution sites during the summer and credited the Child Nutrition department and Mister Wall and his team for the changes. On staffing, Doctor Swan said the district hired roughly 115 new teachers last year versus about 40 new teacher hires this year; he cautioned that the causes are complex but credited increased teacher supplements from county commissioners for improving retention. The superintendent said selective demolition has begun at the new central office and that Moss Marlowe Construction Firm of Hickory received the demolition bid; he invited board members to tour the site during an upcoming Leadership Institute. Doctor Swan also highlighted Career and Technical Education and Future Farmers of America chapter awards: East Burke was recognized with a National Gold Chapter award and Freedom High School earned a National Silver Chapter award; individual students received livestock evaluation honors and Old North State degrees. He recognized Miss Gladden, a PLTW/CT teacher who attended the Transatlantic Outreach Program Fellowship in Germany after receiving a Burroughs Welcome Fund award. "I'm excited to bring what I've learned back to my students, colleagues, and school community," Miss Gladden told the board during the recognition. The board was given dates for new teacher orientation (Aug. 12–13) and tentative public meeting windows for the Eichard and Hildebrand school projects. Several community programs and partnerships were also noted, including Appalachian State University's Gear Up partnership and a backpack registration program with Burke County United Way and Chartwells. The board took no formal action on these informational items; the updates were presented as superintendent and staff reports.