Hallyburton move to Draughn on the table for next year?

Burke County school officials are deliberating a cost-saving move that could have Hallyburton Academy sharing a campus with students at Jimmy C. Draughn High School as early as next school year.

Burke County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Dr. Mike Swan said he intends to present to the Burke County Board of Education on March 23 a concept that would transfer up to about 30 students from Hallyburton to a portion of Draughn.

On Thursday, March 5, school officials discussed the potential move during a joint faculty meeting with Draughn and Hallyburton staff.

Following the meeting, news of the possible relocation rapidly spread to parents, teachers, and other faculty across the county, fueling speculation through social media. Responses from the online community were largely skeptical or negative.

However, Swan didn’t clarify specific details, opting instead to save the majority of the information for the board meeting near the end of March.

Cheryl Shuffler, the public relations officer at BCPS, said that “no formal announcements” have been made, but relocation scenarios are being considered.

The concept has floated around budget discussions for months, but this is the first public step taken by district leadership. The presentation allowed staff time after the presentation to ask questions and voice concerns.

Hallyburton staff would likely move with the students, though teachers work for the county, not a specific school unit, and can be reassigned between schools anyway.

“Every student who walks through our doors deserves someone who believes in them,” Swan said. “We see young people who need guidance and support, and adults who refuse to give up on them. We don’t see them as ‘those kids,’ as some have referred to them. We see them as our kids, and all of our kids deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”

Although Swan intends to outline the possible relocation at the board meeting, according to North Carolina General Statute § 115C-276, alternative school programs could fall under the superintendent’s jurisdiction as an administrative move, not requiring a formal board vote.

WHY DRAUGHN?

Simply put, Draughn is the closest to Hallyburton, limiting the shift in commute times. Draughn is also the most central high school that the county has in terms of population coverage.

This is not the first time the district has considered the idea, with discussions temporarily surfacing in the early 2010s.

Late last year, when the district gathered suggestions from directors for cost-saving measures to combat a $4.5 million deficit, “Hallyburton Relocation” appeared on the list, suggesting a potential savings of $356,043.

According to county officials during last week’s Board of Commissioners budget and strategic planning meeting, the school district is still $1.5 million short of resolving its $4.6 million budget deficit.

Although district officials requested $750,000 in support from the county, a $356,000 cost-saving move would proactively set the district up for coming years in the event that enrollment continues to decline.

School officials expect the remaining $750,000 to come from a school fund balance appropriation, which is still materializing due to the fact that reductions are still in process for next year, according to BCPS Finance Officer Keith Lawson.

Swan plans to discuss how the $356,000 cost-saving numbers break down at the board meeting as well.

WHAT IS HALLYBURTON?

Hallyburton is the county’s alternative school, built in 1947 and functioning as a schoolhouse for multiple grade configurations before currently hosting a small population of 45 students across middle and high school grades.

The school curriculum comprises three programs for students: credit recovery, behavioral, and day treatment.

Of the 36 high school students, 13 are there for credit recovery. Seven attend for violating the district’s vaping policy, which states that after multiple offenses, students can be suspended or sent to an alternative school.

“Our big thing is (that) you graduate with your cohort,” Shuffler said. “There’s several reasons why kids need that credit recovery to stay on track to graduate with their cohort. So, they can go to Hallyburton and make up those credits easier than they can in a traditional high school.”

When behavioral issues prompt consideration of Hallyburton, school officials including the principal and the director of student services meet to determine whether the move is appropriate.

Students with severe behavioral issues are assigned to Homebound, a program where students learn at home, receiving packets, working online, and checking in with district representatives, but are not allowed on school grounds.

Day treatment students need therapy for mental health concerns. This program requires parental consent, unlike behavioral decisions, which are determined solely by the district.

The day treatment facility for elementary students is located at Mull Elementary, while day treatment for middle and high schoolers is at Hallyburton.

Focus Behavioral Health, an independent agency, runs the day treatment program. Due to licensing technicalities, day treatment programs are not part of the current discussion around moving students from Hallyburton.

The future of the nine middle schoolers at Hallyburton is also undetermined and not part of the materials Swan plans to bring before the board.