BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Burke County Schools have proposed a school merger that, they say, will save hundreds of thousands of dollars. But some parents told Channel 9 that they have concerns.
The school district is $4 million short for next year’s budget. To help, the district has proposed merging Draughn High School with Hallyburton Academy. The district said the merger could save at least $400,000.
Both schools will maintain their individual identities, according to the district. They would each keep their names, principals, and own graduation ceremonies.
The plan includes moving Hallyburton into one wing of Draughn High School.
Hallyburton Academy is an alternative school. Fifty percent of its students are there because they fell behind in their classes and were not on track to graduate. Others have behavioral issues and may have violated a school policy.
Parents are holding a meeting at a church this weekend to discuss the merger before the school board meets on Monday. Some told Channel 9’s Dave Faherty that they have safety concerns.
Justin Radabaugh has three children who have graduated, attend, or are soon to attend Draughn High School. He told Faherty that parents only recently learned about the proposal.
“There is parents that are concerned,” one parent said. “And they have every right to be concerned. And then you go and put them right back into the public schools which they were removed from.”
Some parents told Faherty they’re not opposed to the proposal. One mother, Tamika Garrison, said she thinks that many people don’t understand the purpose of an alternative school.
“I’ve had lunch with the kids there,” she said. “I think the common misconception is that the majority of the kids are there for credit recovery and not for disciplinary issues. And I think there’s been a huge communication issue.”
The district said that Hallyburton students will enter and exit from different doors than the Draughn students, and they will have different start and end times.
Officials said a majority of alternative schools in NC follow this model of a school within a school. Amanda Rivas has children in the district and said she is trying to keep an open mind.
“Some parents may have issues because they’re high school kids, she said. ”I think sometimes when they do have trouble, they are just misunderstood or not given the right tools.”
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