Burke County schools Superintendent Dr. Art Stellar, on only his second day on the job, met with parents, teachers and other county residents Thursday evening at East Burke High School.
He said he already has one priority: increasing participation in the free and reduced-lunch program before a fast-approaching Oct. 6 deadline for filing reports with the federal government.
Stellar said he believes that although 57 percent of the district's students already receive free or reduced-price lunches, the number should be higher because of widespread unemployment and other economic hardship caused by the recession.
He said encouraging parents to sign up for the program will be good for their children, but also good for the schools, who could receive up to $1 million more next year in child nutrition, federal-stimulus and other funds.
But several parents at the meeting, attended by about 50 people, had their own priority: accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on School Improvement and Accreditation.
They fear the possible loss of accreditation could harm their children's future prospects and the county's own future.
Stellar promised to have plans ready in "a couple of weeks" (perhaps as few as two) to start moving the school district into compliance with SACS CASI's standards.
"It's something we can fix," said Stellar, who also said he's faced accreditation issues in some of his previous positions. "There's no way we can get it all done by December, but we can meet the second deadline."
SACS CASI put the four county high schools on accreditation probation in August and ordered the district to fix 12 specific problems, all involving the school board. The council said it will send a review team in mid-December to check on the board's progress. It set a May deadline for full compliance with its standards.
"It's a big issue," Stellar agreed, "but by turning it around ... we can be magnet" for jobs, development and new residents.
After previously visiting six schools (East Burke was the seventh) since being confirmed as superintendent Tuesday night, Stellar said he believes "there is the foundation here to make it (the school district) as good as you want to make it."
He saw well-maintained, inviting schools "you want to walk in." Inside he saw many examples of students' work displayed in the halls. "That's a good sign," he said. "It shows the students, 'Your work is important. We want to display what you're about.'"
And he found classrooms filled with well-behaved, respectful students and teachers so focused on their work that they didn't stop teaching for even a moment when he and other administrators walked in.
Though he will return to Massachusetts this weekend to see his wife and collect what he needs to set up residence here, Stellar said he intends to visit every school by the end of the day Wednesday. On Thursday, he'll have another public meeting, probably at Freedom High School in Morganton.
"We're going to keep doing this for awhile," Stellar said.
More than a dozen people asked him questions and made suggestions for the schools.
Brooke Clarke, a 2007 East Burke High School graduate now studying to become a teacher, said, "I would really like the community to get behind him ... and the school board, because we elected them."
Clarke said she felt like the community has lost the focus on its children.
Emphasizing Clarke's words, Hospice executive director Ron Lasalle said loudly, "We gotta support the children."
The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.
Stellar said he welcomes people's suggestions for reducing expenses, conserving resources and finding additional sources of funding.
"I'm willing to listen to your opinions and I'm willing to give you mine."
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