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Burke County School Board meeting gets ugly

By Steve Obnesorge - bio l email

BURKE COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - There was another volatile school board meeting in Burke County Tuesday and the board chair even called police during the meeting to control the crowd.

The biggest issue on the agenda was whether the board should start the search for a new superintendent.

Outgoing superintendent David Burleson has filed suit to stop that and so has a citizens group.

The meeting started as so many other have with people holding signs.  Board Chair Tracy Norman remains the focus of a lot of people's anger.

Burleson supporter and Board Member Buddy Armour asked for the meeting to be moved to a place where everyone could fit.

More than 200 were present but the room only had room for about 85 seats.

The motion was voted down and that's when things got testy for a time.

The associate superintendent asked one woman to leave and got on the phone with police.

Board Chair Tracy Norman did the same. 

As one man stood up to quiet the crowd, Norman told him, "Sir, you do not have the floor."

The meeting recessed for an hour until police could clear many people out.

Two hours later, after a closed-door meeting, the board came back with their decision. 

Despite lawsuits trying to stop them, they voted 4-2 to start looking for a new superintendent.

As the meeting adjourned, people started yelling at the board.

"Why don't you leave, all four of you," one protestor yelled.

David Burleson says with the search on for his replacement, reality is seting in.

"I guess the toughest part is being here 27 years and still nothing said to me personally," he said.

Next week, the matter will go before judge.