Burke County superintendent proposes moving Halliburton Academy into secure wing at Dron High; parents press for board vote

Burke County Schools Superintendent Mike Swan on Tuesday outlined a proposal to relocate Halliburton Academy into a secured wing at Dron High School, saying the move would preserve Halliburton’s separate identity while saving the district ‘‘a minimum of $400,000 annually.’’

Swan told the special-call meeting that Halliburton’s enrollment has fallen from about 90 students in 2023 to 36 at the start of 2025 and that McKissick Architecture’s facility study shows Dron has seats available to host a ‘‘school within a school.’’ ‘‘We immediately began to brainstorm problem solve to determine how we can provide a more robust educational experience for our students at Halliburton, but more efficiently,’’ Swan said.

The administration proposes a locked wing with its own bus drop-off, entrance and exit, bell schedule, principal and graduation ceremonies; Swan said students would keep Halliburton’s school number, colors and mascot, but would not be eligible for Dron athletics by default. Swan added the district would fund upfront retrofit work from the repair and renovation budget and that the relocation would equate to savings equal to nearly 9.8 teacher positions, freeing funds for the wider…