When the Burke County Public Schools district learned early in the 2025-26 school year that they’d be working against a $4.6 million deficit due to declining enrollment, they started planning ahead, making cuts and slimming their spending in every area that they could afford.

Monday’s Burke County Board of Education meeting began with cheers as students from across the district were recognized for their achievements during January and February.

With the first days of the new school year just around the corner, Burke County Public Schools officials are preparing for students to return to class in less than a month.

A former custodian at Drexel Elementary School claims she was wrongfully fired after raising concerns about school safety and she is suing the district.

In 2024, Burke County Schools experienced a high teacher turnover rate of 10.1%, exceeding the state average and the district's own rate from the previous year. The elevated attrition rate was attributed to a significant number of retirements and the district's decision to rehire experienced teachers who had recently retired.