David Barnard resigns from Burke County Board of Education

By: Arrick Gordon | Morganton News Herald
Published: May 03, 2009

Morganton --

David Barnard on Saturday resigned from the Burke County Board of Education.
Citing personal, family and health reasons, Barnard made the long-rumored resignation official in an e-mail to school board Chair Tracy Norman.
"I called Tracy last week and told her that I had no desire to continue serving on the board," Barnard said. "But to make it official, the board needed my resignation in writing. So that's what I did."
Norman said Barnard's resignation will not be on the agenda for tonight's board meeting.
"I did receive Mr. Barnard's letter of resignation," Norman said. "The board will not discuss the appointment of a school board member to replace the vacancy at (Monday night's) meeting and will discuss the matter in a few weeks."
Barnard said he missed last Monday's meeting because he was on a business trip scheduled before the school board postponed its April 20 meeting to April 27.
At a special-called meeting on April 20, Barnard recused himself from voting to terminate Superintendent David Burleson's contract on June 30. The motion passed 4-2.
"At the time, I wasn't convinced that the board was taking the right actions regarding the contract. And I'm still not convinced that some kind of compromise can't be reached," Barnard said.
Since the vote, Burleson's supporters have organized protests through e-mail, online social sites and blogs. Some threatened to boycott businesses and services operated or frequented by the four board members plus Barnard, whose wife is a physician in practice in Morganton.
"I'm not going to continue to subject my family to issues that don't even concern them," Barnard said.
Elected to the board in November 2007, Barnard has sometimes sided with a voting bloc made up of Norman, Vice Chair Tim Buff, Rob Hairfield and Karen Sain.
However, Barnard also went against the majority on some controversial issues including redrawing the school board district lines map and on policies concerning the selection of classroom reading materials and the rights of parents/guardians concerning reading materials assigned to students.
"Dave has been a wild card of sorts when it comes to various issues," board member Sam Wilkinson said. "While many may not realize it, Dave and I have seen eye-to-eye on several issues, and I really hate to see him leave at a time like this. My prayers will continue to go out to him and his family."
Wilkinson said he remains hopeful that the board and Burleson can reach a compromise. With Barnard gone, that will require support from at least two of the four board members who voted to terminate Burleson's contract.
Barnard, too, calls for a compromise.
"All sides need to come together, both the public and the board, and bring an end to this circus," he said. "The focus needs to be placed back on education and the students."
Barnard, a former middle-school teacher, said he ran for a school board seat "to try and bring fresh ideas and positive change to the school curriculum."
But his personal situation has changed.
Barnard said, "The reality is that my family and personal health come first."
The Burke County school board's policy and the N.C General Statutes say Barnard's vacated seat "shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the board." The replacement member, like Barnard, must come from the school system's Western District. That person will serve until the November election when voters choose a permanent member for the remaining two years of Barnard's term.
The policy manual says the board "will announce the opening and seek qualified applicants. Each nominee will be informed and requested to send a resume' that signifies willingness to serve. The board may request an interview of the candidates. The election shall be by written ballot. The nominee receiving a simple majority shall be elected."
The school board's meeting Monday begins at 5:15 p.m. in Patton High School's auditorium. People who want to speak during the public-comments period must sign up before the meeting begins, preferably by calling the school board office at 439-4311.

David Barnard resigns from Burke County Board of Education

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