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Tennessee school board selects local superintendent

Burke County School Board Controversy

More articles about the Burke County School Board Controversy

By Steve Welker | The News Herald

Published: May 20, 2009

Morganton, NC - Burke County Public Schools Superintendent David Burleson will not be moving to Dayton, Tenn.
The Rhea County Board of Education, after repeated balloting Wednesday evening, offered its superintendent's position to a local high school principal.
The nine-member board voted 5-4 three times to offer the position to Burleson, but the selection required a two-thirds vote. Two finally changed their minds and the job went to the local candidate, said Ryan Harris, editor of The Herald-News.
Burleson was among almost 30 people who applied for job overseeing the eastern Tennessee district's five schools and approximately 4,300 students.
Three members of the Rhea County Board of Education visited Burke County on Monday to talk about Burleson with local residents.
Burleson has said he applied for the position after he became aware of the Burke County school board's concerns about his contract. Burleson said he felt he needed to take action in his family's best interest if his job here was in jeopardy.
"I was looking for any opportunities that were close enough for my wife to make a choice about whether she would stay here or move," he said.
The Burke County Board of Education voted on April 20 to terminate Burleson's contract on June 30.
Burleson, who attended the Holocaust survivors' event Wednesday at Draughn High School, learned about the Rhea County board's decision when The News Herald called him about 9:30 p.m.
"I just prayed that God's will would be done and doors would open or close. This one has closed," he said, adding, "That might be a good thing."
Burleson said, "My desire has been for many years to finish my career here. This is home. This is family. If there is any possible way to stay in Burke County, that's what I want to do and that's what my family wants to do."
He said the only reason he would ever consider moving is to provide for his family.
"My aspirations would be to do anything I could to do to make this school system the best around," he said. "I think we still have got a lot we can do here to help students and that's what I desire."
Burleson also confirmed Wednesday that he was a candidate for the superintendent's position in Transylvania County. That job also went to a local candidate.
Burleson said he currently has not applied to any other school districts, but is considering one possibility. He said he expected to decide Friday whether to apply for that job.
"There aren't many out there," he remarked, as many school districts are concluding arrangements to have superintendents in place by July 1.