Burlington FCCLA students ask commissioners for help to cover national competition costs

Lindsay Johnson, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) adviser at Burlington High School, and five students told the Coffee County commission on April 27 they qualified for the national FCCLA parliamentary‑procedure competition in Washington, D.C., July 5–11.

Student presenters summarized their competition level and offered a line‑item budget: hotel (~$2,933), airfare (~$3,500), food (~$2,100), registration ($1,190) and local transport — total approximately $9,823. They explained early‑bird registration is due May 6 to avoid higher fees and outlined planned fundraisers (ice‑cream social, cooking‑class raffle, carnival food sales) and requests to approach the school board and non‑tax revenue sources.

Commissioners praised the students’ presentation and noted county policy generally does not fund travel for student groups. Several commissioners and staff suggested alternative funding paths — diversion funds managed by the county attorney’s office or discretionary non‑tax funds — and one commissioner offered to discuss partial support for the adviser travel expense. The board committed to help identify local sources and encouraged the students to meet with the sheriff and county attorney to explore diversion or program funds. No motion to provide county funding was made at the meeting.

The students said they had raised just under $1,000 and described a series of last‑minute fundraisers to meet the registration deadline. Commissioners encouraged quick follow‑up given the early‑bird cutoff.