Burke CountyPublic Schools

Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam said, “Join me in congratulating Dr. Swan as our new assistant superintendent. Dr. Swan comes into the position with 22 years of experience as an educator. He has a vast knowledge of education and leadership and has our students’ needs and their best interests at heart.”

Burke County Public Schools was made aware today of numerous cases of COVID-19 at North Liberty School. The number of positive cases is leading to a staffing shortage as well as several classrooms needing to be quarantined. As a result, North Liberty School will move to Plan C instruction through at least Monday, Dec. 21. All learning at North Liberty will transition from in-person to remote while the school building is closed. There will be no activity at the school at least for several days to ensure adequate time for any virus to dissipate from the air. Once that time period is up, the custodial team will move in to start the thorough sanitation process. North Liberty School classroom teachers are communicating with students and families and providing specific information to let them know what to expect while the school operates under Plan C.

Burke County Public Schools was made aware today of a cluster of at least five or more related positive COVID-19 cases at Icard Elementary School. As a result, Icard Elementary School will move to Plan C instruction through Monday, Dec. 21. All learning at Icard will transition from in-person to remote while the school building is closed. There will be no activity at the school at least for several days to ensure adequate time for the virus to dissipate from the air. Once that time period is up, the custodial team will move in to start the thorough sanitation process. Icard Elementary School classroom teachers are communicating with students and families and providing specific information to let them know what to expect while the school operates under Plan C.

Burke County Public Schools was made aware on Tuesday of a cluster of at least five or more related positive COVID-19 cases at Hildebran Elementary School. As a result, Hildebran Elementary School will move to Plan C instruction through Monday, Dec. 21. All learning at Hildebran will transition from in-person to remote while the school building is closed. There will be no activity at the school at least for several days to ensure adequate time for the virus to dissipate from the air. Once that time period is up, the custodial team will move in to start the thorough sanitation process. Hildebran Elementary School classroom teachers are communicating with students and families and providing specific information to let them know what to expect while the school operates under Plan C.

Burke County Public Schools and Chartwells K12 cafeteria staff were each given a turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. The turkeys were bought by Chartwells K12. Usually, to celebrate the holidays with their work family, the child nutrition staff gathers together for a big feast in December. But as we know, this year is different.

Burke County Public Schools in 2020 had its highest graduation rate in 10 years. The district’s four-year cohort graduation rate for the class of 2020 is 91.7%, up 2 percentage points from 2019 and up 6.8 percentage points from a district low in 2012. The average graduation rate for the state is 87.6 in 2020. All four traditional Burke County Public Schools high schools had graduation rates above the state level, and Burke Middle College once again had a 100% graduation rate.

Burke County Public Schools was made aware Monday of a number of exposures to a positive COVID-19 case at Hallyburton Academy. As a result, Hallyburton will transition to Plan C instruction until Thursday, Nov. 19. All learning at Hallyburton will move from in-person to remote while the school building is closed for cleaning and exposures are quarantined or isolated. There will be no activity at the school for several days to ensure adequate time for the virus to dissipate from the air. Once that time period is up, the custodial team will move in to start the thorough sanitation process.

A high percentage of Burke County Public Schools students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education course earned an industry recognized credential in that class. A recent ranking released at the annual state CTE conference lists Burke County CTE students 12th in the state in the number of credentials earned; 13th in the state based on the number of credentials earned as a percentage of CTE course enrollment aligned to a credential; and as 1 of 4 districts out of 115 in the state to place in the top 15 in both categories.

Burke County Public Schools was made aware today of a cluster of at least five or more related positive COVID-19 cases at Icard Elementary School. As a result, Icard Elementary School will move to Plan C instruction until Thursday, Nov. 5. All learning at Icard will move from in-person to remote while the school is shut down. There will be no activity at the school at least for several days to ensure adequate time for the virus to dissipate from the air. Once that time period is up, the custodial team will move in to start the thorough sanitation process.

A national website that researches schools ranks Burke County Public Schools 20th overall and third compared to districts its size on a list of the best school districts in North Carolina. The site, Niche.com, recently released its new 2021 Best Schools rankings. On this list, Burke County Public Schools is ranked the 10th best district for teachers and the 16th best place to teach out of 115 school districts.

Burke County Public Schools has named Walter Johnson Middle School Principal Lora Austin the 2020-2021 Principal of the Year for the district. Austin’s fellow Burke County Public Schools principals nominated her for the honor, and she was chosen following an interview panel session.

Salem Elementary School continued its healthy tradition by earning a second award from the 5210 Healthy Together program sponsored by Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge. The Drexel Wolverines also focused on brain breaks during class lessons and started a PE Club and archery team coordinated by PE teacher Jodi Brown.

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $29.5 million GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant to Appalachian State University for funding to begin this academic year (effective Sept. 30). The scope of the grant includes Burke County Public Schools and nine other partnering school districts, eight partnering North Carolina higher education institutions and approximately 14,000 middle and high school students and their families. Appalachian is one of only six institutions awarded a GEAR UP Partnership grant in 2020.

Burke County Public Schools Child Nutrition Department is partnering with The Enola Group Early Head Start to reach out to the community in a tasty way through a program called Cooking Matters. For four weeks, the school district’s food truck and chef will help families learn how to cook nutritious meals on a budget. The first session was held Thursday in the parking lot of New Day Christian Church where four families gathered to learn new cooking skills from Burke County Public Schools and Chartwells Chef Nick Bobotas. The Burke County Public Schools brand new food truck was used as the mobile kitchen for the event.

Burke County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. David Fonseca will be transitioning to a new professional opportunity starting Nov. 1. Fonseca has been selected as the next superintendent of Martin County Schools. Fonseca came to Burke County Public Schools in 2015 from Watauga County Schools where he also served as assistant superintendent of schools.

NC Gov. Roy Cooper announced late last week that elementary schools in North Carolina could choose to operate under Plan A for full, in-person learning starting Oct. 5. On Thursday, in anticipation of the Governor’s announcement,

Monday September 28, 2020 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm. Learn how to borrow less while maximizing your college experience. The FAFSA opens Oct. 1! Join CFNC reps Skip Watts and JuanEs Ramirez to learn about applying for financial aid. Receive information about how to apply for local scholarships that can help you pay for college wherever you choose to attend…

Burke County Public Schools Child Nutrition Department will continue to serve students during the transition to hybrid learning, which starts Sept. 14. Students will have the option to receive free breakfast, lunch and a super snack at school. Students enrolled in the Virtual Academy will have the option to pick-up meals as well.

Congratulations to DHS student, Reed F., 2nd Place Winner of the Camp Med Video Contest this summer! Reed won $250 in this competition and gained valuable insight into careers in health care.

The Burke County Board of Commissioners has approved additional funding to Burke County Public Schools to purchase 750 hotspots to help students connect with their teachers during remote learning. The commissioners made the announcement at their regular meeting on Tuesday.

Please read the following updates for Burke County Public Schools food distribution that will take effect, the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 17.

Students within Burke County Public Schools are still being served by GEAR UP, which is a grant-based program out of Appalachian State University that gives students opportunities to learn about educational options after high school. GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. Jessica Stockham and Kim Logan, GEAR UP coordinators for BCPS, work with students on completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), applying for college and scholarships and much more.

I am writing as Chairman of the Burke County Schools to address the decision of the School Board on July 27, 2020 to begin the school year in Plan C or remote only until at least September 14, 2020. The decision was made during a public meeting following significant discussion and debate.

We will not be able to hold a back-to-school bash and backpack give away this year. But thanks to Burke County United Way, The Outreach Center and Chartwells, we will still have backpacks and schools supplies to give to students. Backpacks will be handed out at school, but students must register by Aug. 7. Register here

The Burke County Board of Education has voted for Burke County Public Schools to operate under remote learning between Aug. 17 and Sept. 11. The vote to revert to Plan C came during a special called meeting on Monday, July 27. Due to the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in Burke County, the plan has changed from Plan B, where students would have gone to school two days a week. The Board of Education will revisit the plan before Sept. 14.

Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam said, “Unprecedented times call for great leaders. I am proud of the administrative team we have in place and am excited to add to our team as we navigate together through this time of the COVID-19

The Burke County Board of Education approved Plan B in a special called meeting on Friday. Under this plan, school will start on Aug. 17 with both in person and remote instruction. Parents do have options. Parents can choose for their students to learn two days in school and three days remotely, or they can choose 100 percent remote learning through the Burke County Virtual Academy.

Please see the official enrollment form to register your child for the Virtual Academy. REGISTRATION FORM. The deadline for registration into the Virtual Academy is August 1st. Burke County Public Schools will host several virtual informational meetings that will allow you to ask questions next week.

Burke County Public Schools will open Burke County Virtual Academy in the fall for students and parents seeking a longer-term, flexible remote learning option. The academy will be open to any K-12 student whether currently enrolled with Burke County Public Schools or in a homeschool, private school or charter school anywhere in the state.

Patton High School Principal Sara LeCroy announces head football coach Jonathan Browning has resigned his position as head coach. Browning announced he was stepping down to the football team via a Zoom meeting Thursday evening. LeCroy has named Eric Shehan as the interim football coach. Browning, who has been the head coach since June 2018, will remain at the school as a teacher and as the head baseball coach.

Though they haven’t physically seen each other since March, Burke County Public Schools coaches and athletes, have stayed connected virtually over the past few months. Starting Monday, they will be able to work out and train in person. Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam said it is the first step as schools prepare to reopen.

During Burke County Public Schools summer feeding food distribution for Tuesday, June 30, students will receive a full week’s worth of breakfast and lunch meals. There will be no food distribution on Friday, July 3 due to the Fourth of July holiday. The following meals will be given out to anyone 18 and under.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony today at the Olive Hill Resource Center, members of the Burke County Board of Education, along with officials from the Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation and Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge, declared the new Burke County Public Schools food truck open for service.

Aiman Hussein, a 2017 graduate of Patton High School, is now a junior at North Carolina State University and majoring in technology design and education. After coming home to Morganton when the university was closed due to the pandemic, he wanted to put his skills to use to help his community. He found a design and started 3-D printing masks inside his home. Paul Gantt, a Project Lead the Way teacher and instructional coach, was Hussein’s senior project mentor.

The Strong Schools NC Public Heath Toolkit for K-12 schools is now available and provides a comprehensive set of requirements and recommendations that all public schools must follow to minimize COVID-19 exposure for students, staff and families.

Burke County Public Schools transitions to its summer feeding program on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Grab-and-go meals will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays this summer in the car rider lines at:

The State Board of Education has given permission for the required 30 hours of book work for driver's education to be taught online. The driver's education instructors have been working diligently to get the curriculum ready to be taught online.

Andrea Gladden, Project Lead the Way teacher at East Burke Middle School, has been named the Burke County Public Schools 2020 teacher of the year. Gladden is in her 18th year of teaching and her second year at East Burke Middle. She previously taught fifth grade at Icard Elementary School for 16 years.

As the school year comes to a close, Burke County Public Schools is making changes to the grab-and-go meal distribution schedule that has been in place since school buildings closed in mid-March due to COVID-19. Grab-and-go meals will be available on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the summer at five (5) school sites. Extra meals will be handed out on distribution days to ensure students have enough breakfasts and lunches to last until the next distribution day.

Though schools are closed and classrooms are empty, teachers and staff at North Liberty School have found a way to positively impact our community. Lisa Summey, principal at North Liberty School, learned that one of her students, Jasmine Powell, was in need of a handicapped wheelchair ramp at her home. Jasmine was having to be carried through her front door and it was a hardship on the parents. After approval from the family, Summey reached out to Foothills Service Project for assistance.

Heritage Middle School art teacher Ben Cook received a $500 grant from the Morganton Service League. Mr. Cook plans to provide all of his art students with the proper tools to sculpt clay. Different grade levels will be using these tools purchased to create ceramic sculptures

A local non profit in Morganton recently met the needs of some students through a special project. Bianca Moses, director of community relations for the Outreach Center in Morganton, was inspired by the fleet of Burke County Public Schools school buses deployed after schools were closed due to COVID-19 to feed students multiple meals a day. She kept hearing parents say how they never knew how much a child could eat. It was then that Moses and her co-workers started putting together healthy snack bags.

Burke County Public Schools received a gift of 1,400 Chromebooks from Lenovo. The donation will help the district provide a technology device for every student to use at school and at home for the upcoming school year. Kindergarten through second graders will receive iPads, fifth graders will receive Macbooks and third and fourth graders and sixth through 12th graders will receive Chromebooks. The district will deploy the devices by Aug. 1

Burke County Public Schools is excited to announce plans for graduation. “The Class of 2020 deserves the best graduation ceremony that we can give them under the current circumstances,” said Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam. “It will be special, it will be classy and it will be as close to a normal ceremony as possible, with a few twists and turns.”

Three years ago, Daniel Nieft, who is now a fifth grader at Mull Elementary School, could have asked for anything for his birthday, but what he wanted most was to help others in need. On that birthday, he planted a garden at his house to grow food for those in need and each year since then he has replanted and made the project a tradition.

State Board of Education approved guidance for remote learning, evaluation of student progress, graduation, and grading for grades k-11 and seniors...

Burke County Public Schools is working on plans and considering all options to recognize our seniors and their accomplishments in special ways during this unique time. We apologize for any confusion surrounding pre-Covid-19 events and calendar items posted on social media and our website. The original dates and times of our high school graduation ceremonies will change, and we will make an official announcement regarding graduation following the May 11 Board of Education meeting. We are taking into consideration several factors, including the progress of Covid-19 and when the Governor's orders will be relaxed. Please know that our decision will center around the No. 1 factor and that is that our class of 2020 deserves the best we can offer them during this time. We thank you for your patience and understanding during these fluid and unprecedented times. We will do everything we can to honor and recognize our seniors while at the same time doing our part to keep people safe.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that public schools in North Carolina will remain closed for normal operations for the remainder of this school year. Schools were originally scheduled to be closed through May 15. Students are currently continuing their schoolwork via various remote learning methods. State Superintendent Mark Johnson said that while there was hope schools could eventually reopen this school year, the current COVID-19 situation in North Carolina does not make that possible.

More than a dozen families received donations of masks, gift cards and food through the Burke County Public Schools FUTuRES Program last week. The program helps to build positive parenting strategies with families including grandparents (or kinship caregivers) who are raising their grandchildren.

Burke County Public Schools recently received a donation of a refrigerated truck from Case Farms in Morganton that will help to keep our students fed. Since the change in food distribution packaging methods, child nutrition staff has had an increased need for places to keep meals frozen. In seeing that need, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam reached out to Jon Strange, vice president and general manager of Case Farms in Morganton, to see if they had a truck available. A few days prior, Putnam granted permission for Case Farms to use property on Freedom High School for a public chicken distribution.

This week is Every Kid Healthy Week!! We miss seeing your smiling faces at school, so we hope you will join us in this week of fun and post your photos of you and your family joining in on our daily events. Each day of the week next week, we will be doing a new activity that will be fun for the whole family to get involved in. There are also more resources and events that you can join in on at

The Burke County Board of Education is currently accepting applications for a position on the Western Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees. Applications will be accepted through Thursday, April 30, 2020 until 5:00 PM.

Burke County Public Schools has received two grants, totalling $6,000, to help purchase masks for the district. Each grant was for $3,000; one was from the Community Foundation of Burke and the other from Duke Energy Foundation. All Burke County Public School employees are wearing their masks while they are working. This precaution, as well as social distancing and staying at least six feet apart from each other are measures district employees are taking to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Burke County Public Schools is reducing its grab-and-go meal sites from eight schools to six, and the number of distribution days from five days a week to two days a week - Tuesdays and Fridays. The change will start the week of April 20. The same number of meals will be available to ensure students are fed breakfasts and lunches seven days a week. Extra meals will be handed out on Tuesdays and Fridays so families can stockpile the meals for children 18 and younger.

In its continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina announced today that it is working with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to assist with stay-at-home solutions for students and their families or caregivers. For more than 65 years, UNC-TV has served as a trusted partner alongside parents and educators to provide quality educational content that is both free and accessible to North Carolina’s children.

Burke County Public Schools recently received a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to help provide sanitation products to our daycares and food distribution sites. The $3,000 grant will help BCPS to purchase hand sanitizer for our daycare sites and the schools that are providing meals to students.

BCPS would like to announce a few changes in our meal distribution program. The eight (8) school sites will not be open this weekend for meals to be picked up. Instead, on Friday, students will receive six (6) meals:

The Good Kitchen is donating more than 25,000 kids meals to Burke County Public Schools. The school system will give out the meals starting on Friday as part of the food distribution program taking place while schools are closed due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The donation came about as a result of a partnership between The Good Kitchen, based in Charlotte, and American Food Service, based in Morganton, and owned and operated by Charlie and Chasity Rice.

The Burke County Medical Society and Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge have teamed up to offer free thermometers to families receiving free meals through Burke County Public Schools. The thermometers will be delivered starting Tuesday, March 24, at the eight BCPS school food distribution sites. The thermometers are intended for any community member who does not currently have a working thermometer in their home.

Eight (8) BCPS school parking lots will be open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to distribute food to children ages 18 and under. Pull through the car rider lanes to pick up the meals, which will include a lunch for today and a breakfast for tomorrow. The sites are Table Rock Middle, Liberty Middle, East Burke Middle, Mountain View Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Valdese Elementary, Ray Childers Elementary and George Hildebrand Elementary.

Effective today, Friday, March 20, 2020, after 5 p.m., Burke County Public Schools will close all facilities, including Central Office and school buildings, to the public to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). All school facilities will be closed to the public until further notice. This is being done in conjunction with the City of Morganton and the County of Burke, who also are closing all government buildings to the public in response to the recent declarations by Gov. Roy Cooper and the federal government. This does not include our childcare facilities as that is considered an essential service.

Burke County Public Schools has continued to feed thousands of students as the statewide school closure continues due to the coronavirus situation. On Wednesday alone, a total of 4,630 meals were handed out through the various car rider loops and school bus food distribution sites. And the school district wants to expand past the county lines.

Burke County Public Schools will open five sites for temporary, emergency, out-of-school child care purposes on Thursday, March 19, to meet day care needs of families with parents who must continue to work through the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis while schools are closed for instructional purposes. Childcare services will be provided between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on week days for children ages 5 to 12. The cost will be $15 a day and is due by cash or check each morning. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

To ensure students continue to have access to meals while schools are closed, Burke County Public Schools has opened seven grab-and-go feeding locations. Children will receive a lunch for that day and a breakfast for the next. The lunch will include a hot or cold sandwich, milk, cold vegetable and a whole fruit. Breakfast for the next day will include milk, whole or dried fruit and a grain-based breakfast option (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Click "Read More" for the NC State Board of Education's resolution in support of school closures and emergency actions to prepare and respond to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Burke County Public Schools has received word from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) that due to the threat from COVID-19, they have decided to postpone the 2020 Men’s and Women’s Basketball State Championships indefinitely. Burke County Public Schools is in full support of this decision. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Burke County Public Schools has canceled all field trips effective today, Thursday, March 12, 2020, until further notice as a proactive measure concerning coronavirus (COVID-19). This applies to all school sponsored in-county, out-of-county, out-of-state and out-of-country field trips for students and staff as well as all professional development travel in and out of county for staff. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Burke County Public Schools recently held its first county-wide archery tournament involving elementary schools. Archers from all over the county descended on George Hildebrand Elementary School and competed against each other in multiple different flights. This was the first time Burke County elementary schools and individual archers competed against each other in a county-wide competition. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

On the evening of Sunday, March 8, 2020, Burke County Public Schools learned that it was the subject of a ransomware cyber attack. The school district’s technology team immediately started assessing damages and executing safeguards to contain the attack and prevent further incidents. The technology department also contacted the proper authorities, who are investigating the attack. Due to the nature of the investigation, (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

At Burke County Public Schools, we are staying informed about the Coronavirus via regular updates from local, state and national health officials, including the Burke County Health Department, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control, as well as education associations, including the School Superintendents Association. As we make plans and review procedures to be prepared, we encourage you to listen to facts and not respond to fears. We are committed to communicating with families, educating about prevention measures and providing a safe and healthy learning environment. Coronavirus symptoms can mimic those of a cold or flu and similar steps can be taken to prevent all three. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Students from 12 schools within the Burke County Public Schools system competed in the 2020 North Carolina National Archery in Schools Program state tournament. Schools that participated were East Burke Middle School, Drexel Elementary, Forest Hill Elementary, George Hildeband Elementary, Glen Alpine Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Icard Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Ray Childers Elementary, Salem Elementary, Valdese Elementary and W.A. Young Elementary. Schools placing in the top 10 were: (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

The North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) recognized 36 school districts and handed out 258 awards during the annual Blue Ribbon Awards brunch and ceremony on Jan. 31, 2020. Burke County Public Schools received a total of 11 Blue Ribbon Awards. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

East Burke High School has reignited its local chapter of Quill & Scroll. Originally chartered in 1987 the chapter has remained dormant for over 20 years. The school's newspaper and yearbook clubs organized and re-established the Honor Society this year. Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists was organized on April 10, 1926, at the University of Iowa by renowned pollster George H. Gallup and a group of high school advisers for the purpose of encouraging and recognizing individual student achievement in journalism and scholastic publication. Since its founding, school charters have been granted to more than 11,300 high schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 29 foreign countries. Media advisers in chartered schools are eligible to recommend outstanding high school journalism students for membership in Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

A small group of students at Patton High School are getting a glimpse into what being a teacher is like through a new academy started this school year. The Teacher Academy at Patton High School was created to help generate more interest in teaching as a profession and to give those students a way to explore the career in more depth. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

East Burke High School Principal Katie Moore announces Derrick Minor as the Cavaliers new head football coach. Minor started his teaching career in 2005 and head football coaching career in 2012. Most recently he was the head football coach at Fred T. Foard High School in Newton, where he took the team to its first back-to-back winning regular seasons and playoff win since 1982. He comes to East Burke after spending this school year at Oak Hill Elementary School. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Mountain View Elementary School offers students entering kindergarten a voluntary, dual language immersion experience called the Global Immersion Academy. Through the program, students learn the standard course of study in both English and Spanish and learn content while learning the two languages. The students spend half of their day learning in English and the other half learning in Spanish from highly qualified teachers. The goals of the dual language program are biliteracy, bilingualism, grade level academic achievement and cross cultural competence. Students who enter the language immersion program in kindergarten are eligible to continue in the academy through the fifth grade. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Cadence and Gillian started the Burke Youth Health Coalition when they were students at Heritage Middle School. Now juniors at Draughn High School, they continue to bring awareness to health issues facing teens, including most recently vaping. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Burke County Public Schools constantly seeks to keep curriculum and programs relevant to the needs and interests of students, aligned with the skills business and industry desire, and a step ahead of the latest demands of technology. To achieve this, district leaders are always looking for the “next new,” a term coined by Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam, which is an innovative discipline to introduce to students. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

The new year brings a new employee assistance program to Burke County Public Schools. Effective Jan. 1, 2020, district employees have access to free, confidential, 24/7 help from McLaughlin Young. Based in North Carolina, McLaughlin Young offers employees short-term counseling and consultation for a broad range of life events an employee may experience, including family and relationship issues, depression and anxiety, resiliency and coping skills, work-relation issues, grief and loss, alcohol or drug use, stress and legal and financial issues. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Chelsey Taylor, an ESL teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School, and Luke Elliot, a junior at East Burke High School, have started teaching an English-as-a-second-language class for those wanting to learn the English language. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, approximately a dozen parents of Hillcrest Elementary School students drop off their children for school and become students themselves. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Burke County art students will be honored at the Asheville Museum of Art’s 2020 WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Patton High School’s Hannah S. won an honorable mention for a contour line drawing, Nelson M. won a Silver Key for a handmade book, and Ellie H. won an honorable mention for a portrait drawing. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Two Burke County schools received recognition from the 5210 Healthy Together program sponsored by Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge. Salem Elementary School earned a Silver award and George Hildebrand Elementary School earned a Bronze and have banners proclaiming the award. “5-2-1-0 encourages kids to eat 5 handfuls of fruits and vegetables per day, limit recreational screen time to 2 hours or less, get 1 hour of exercise or play each day, and drink 0 sugary drinks,” (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Burke County Public Schools is launching its seventh annual Souperintendent’s Souper Bowl Canned-Food Drive. Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam, who first initiated the drive in 2014, said, “It is always exciting to flip the calendar to not only a new year but also a new decade. It also is exciting to continue familiar traditions, such as our annual food drive.” (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Burke County Public Schools students are setting aside their own wish lists to spread holiday cheer to others in the community by volunteering, committing random acts of kindness and organizing fundraisers for those in need.

Brian Hamilton, founder of the Brian Hamilton Foundation, spoke recently to East Burke High School Career and Technical Education students about entrepreneurship and how it can help students succeed. Hamilton told his story of growing up on food stamps, his parents not being able to pay medical bills and having their power cut off multiple times. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

The Burke County 2019-20 Middle and Elementary speech contests were held at the Old Rock School on Dec. 11 and 12. First-, second- and third-place winners were recognized in five categories for each contest. All total, 66 students advanced to the county-wide middle school competition after winning their school level speech contests. The winners were: (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

In partnership with Kramden Institute and STEM West, Burke County Public Schools was able to donate 150 desktop computers to students at nine elementary schools and two middle schools. The computers went home with families just in time for a holiday surprise. Parents have been picking up the computers from their child’s school over the last few weeks. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Several Burke County Public Schools students were awarded at this year’s Continental Science Fair at Liberty Middle School on Nov. 21. The following students’ projects were selected to advance to the regional science fair at Appalachian State University on Dec. 17. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Freedom High School senior Riley C. is a state winner in the 2019 Heisman High School Scholarship program and recipient of a $500 college scholarship. The Heisman High School Scholarship extends the prestige of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding college football player in the nation, to the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors. The high school scholarship recognizes and rewards outstanding scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories not only happen on the field, but in their schools and communities. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Leviton Manufacturing Company Inc., Geiger International and many other local industries have been visiting middle and high school students to show the connection between what students learn in school and how each industry operates. The visit was a result of teachers, including Liberty science teacher Monique St. Louis, within Burke County Public Schools attending a STEM West professional development... (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

The Burke County Board of Education celebrated a gift of land from the state on Friday during a special called meeting at Liberty Middle School. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture signed over to Burke County Public Schools the nearly 50 acres of land that Liberty Middle and North Liberty School sit on, as well as an additional 28 acres of land near the Liberty property and behind Patton High School. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

BOONE, N.C. — Current seniors at Burke County high schools who meet specific academic requirements and submit an application by Friday, Nov. 1, are guaranteed admission to Appalachian State University through a newly announced program called GEAR UP Guarantee. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Once Foreign Language Teacher Drew Laningham finishes up his fourth period class at East Burke High School, he doesn’t pack up and call it a day. Instead he takes a group of students outside to tend to more than a dozen beehives. Laningham recently started the East Burke High School Beekeeping Club to help students learn about honeybees and how they have a very important job in our society. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Patton High School Principal Sara LeCroy is the 2019 Burke County Public Schools Principal of the year. LeCroy’s fellow Burke County Public Schools principals nominated her for the honor and she was chosen following an interview panel. LeCroy said, “I am humbled and honored to be chosen as this year's Burke County Public Schools Principal of the Year. There are so many amazing administrators in our county who also are deserving of this award. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

The outdoor, athletic tracks at Freedom and East Burke high schools will soon be revamped to have rubberized surfaces by the end of the school year. The track at Freedom High School is currently being worked on and is set to be finished by the end of football season. The renovation of the track at East Burke High School is set to start after the end of football season and be complete before spring. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

The Burke Education Foundation Inc. held its fourth annual golf tournament on Friday, Oct. 11 at Mimosa Hills Golf Club. Twenty-seven teams participated and the players and sponsors helped make the event a success. The Burke Education Foundation was formed in July of 2016 by a group of Burke County Public Schools stakeholders who wanted to find a way to further support the students and staff of the school system. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Patton High School was selected as one of 22 organizations to receive a grant to help further the building of special project within their school. The Duke Energy Foundation awarded the high school a $40,000 grant that will help to restore the Enola Trail Wetlands Area and eliminate erosion and treat runoff. (For those using the BCPS app - see the full story in the Recent News Section)

Burke County Public Schools was recently recognized as a National Board Accomplished District by The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The district was recognized along with 80 other school districts in ten different states due to having greater than 20% of teachers who have achieved National Board certification.