Burke Schools leaders preview central office at former BUCM building

With an eye toward the future, members of the Burke County Board of Education and some of the district’s senior office staff toured their new central office space Monday, marking a significant step in the systems’ relocation, planned for the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.

The district purchased the former Burke United Christian Ministries (BUCM) building, at 305 W. Union St. in Morganton, in 2024. BUCM vacated the Union Street building last week and are currently settling into their new home in the old Food Lion building on East Fleming Avenue.

Vern McKissick, of MCK Architecture out of Winston-Salem, spoke to the board and administration about the central office project during the first day of the system’s annual planning session, which will concluded on Tuesday. After McKissick’s presentation, the board and school officials took a field trip to the site of the new district office.

The Burke County Schools office is currently at 700 E. Parker Road in Morganton, in a building owned by the county. The school system currently shares the structure with the health department and the Department of Social Services, which will occupy the entire facility after school personnel move.

According to McKissick, the new central office project is currently out to bid for a contractor, and plans are for the chosen firm to begin “selective demolition” in June. This process will include removal of ceiling and floor tiles, along with some walls, among other work. He said the plan is for workers to salvage as many materials as they can for reuse.

“There’s some very nice doors in there,” McKissick explained, “and we’re keeping about 45% of the walls.”

McKissick noted the firm tried to design around the building’s newer elements, installed during a 2001 remodel. He said the plan is for the demolition to take place over the summer and for the builders to begin work on the project around Labor Day.

MCK Architecture has worked closely with the City of Morganton to see that the project meets all municipal zoning codes and requirements, including landscaping, roadway access, and vegetation buffers, due to the fact the facility has a common boundary with a residential neighborhood.

When McKissick completed his presentation, board members made the five-minute trip to their future central office. The architect led the group through a maze of hallways, pausing now and then to create a verbal picture of things to come.

“I’m glad you’re seeing this now, so you’ll appreciate how good it will look when it’s finished,” he told the group, as they eyed the new space. The building will require a significant overhaul in order to serve as a new administrative center.

According to Swan, the all-in budget for the project is $10 million.

“This is where the superintendent’s office will be,” McKissick explained as he gestured toward one end of a room. “And the kitchen is here,” he stated, pointing out an industrial dishwasher and showing board members where new appliances and cooking equipment will be placed.

When it is completed, many passersby may not recognize the former BUCM building. A reconfigured parking area will feature about 86 spaces for cars, including Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant spaces and entrance area. Trees planted on small green spaces will provide shade and will beautify the parking lot.

Inside, a learning and teaching kitchen will be utilized by district employees for classes and training sessions, as well as by Chartwells, the food company that supplies all meals and snacks to BCPS. The kitchen can also be used in case of power outages, if food service employees need to heat breakfasts or lunches for students.

A large, open area in the building will be converted into workshop and meeting spaces, and an outdoor patio area will provide a place for employees to take breaks in a green space.

The hour-long tour gave board members and administrative staff a glimpse of the future — a modern, attractive district headquarters with improved space for meetings, storage areas, and updated offices.