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| Hildebran News Website www.hildebrannews.com admin@hildebrannews.com |
The Hildebran News Website
Your Voice section is a new
section here on the Hildebran
News Website,
www.hildebrannews.com. The
Hildebran News Website Your
Voice section features
opinions from our readers and
of course, from you, our loyal
website viewers. If you would
like to have an opinion posted
here on the main comment
page, you can send us a letter
at admin@hildebrannews.com.
Your Voice section is a new
section here on the Hildebran
News Website,
www.hildebrannews.com. The
Hildebran News Website Your
Voice section features
opinions from our readers and
of course, from you, our loyal
website viewers. If you would
like to have an opinion posted
here on the main comment
page, you can send us a letter
at admin@hildebrannews.com.
| Your Voice |
To the Community,
As a relatively new resident of Burke County having relocated to North Carolina not quite two years ago, I have watched the
story surrounding Superintendent David Burleson with interest. As a new member of your community as this developed I did not have
an opinion one way or the other but with a son in Heritage Middle School I certainly would be impacted by the outcome of this issue.
When I accepted a job with a Hickory based company two years ago it was no accident that we moved to Burke County. We are where
we are because of the quality of the schools. It would have been much easier for us to move to Hickory as my wife and I both work in
Hickory, but we made the decision to have our son educated in Burke County and Heritage Middle School in particular. It would seem
to me that some of the credit for the quality for the school system in Burke County should go to the man in charge, David Burleson
who has 25 years in the Burke County School system.
When this issue first arose I not knowing Mr. Burleson and only knowing of his record from what I have heard from friends,
neighbors and people I work with I was sure that the School Board had acted in good faith and had reasonable cause for their
decision. I was sure that the reason that they had not released the information was due to a personal nature concerning Mr. Burleson
and that had not given full disclosure out of respect for his length of service. I expected that Mr. Burleson would accept their decision
and step down. When he did not and asked for full disclosure I became more interested in hearing all the facts. When he asked to
make his files public and then found out most of the pertinent information was missing I became more than just interested in
hearing the exact reasons for the school board’s decision.
After the public outcry and the community support that David Burleson has received it is imperative that the school board
make a full disclosure of all facts that have led to their decision. I am sure that in general if they have a firm and legal basis for their
decision that most of the community will accept their decision. If they continue to follow through with their decision and do not release
all pertinent information then further action should be taken. If they cannot make this disclosure then it makes this appear this is just
another case of cronyism and worse with the out pouring of support for Mr. Burleson from the community it appears to be another
case of elected officials ignoring their duty to represent those people who elected them.
As I originally stated I watched this story unfold with interest but felt that I really did not have a dog in this fight but I have since
changed my mind and as a citizen of Burke County with a son in the Burke County School system I demand some answers. I
demand full disclosure of all information leading to the decision made by the School Board and a rescinding of their decision until
there is a full disclosure. This is not because I fully support Mr. Burleson because again I have not lived in Burke County long
enough to have an opinion one way or another. I do however feel that justice must be served and a man has a right to face his
accusers and an opportunity to see and refute any and all evidence they can bring against him. I am convinced that the community of
Burke county has spoken and supports David Burleson and that those people are the ones to whom the school board should
answer as elected officials. If the school board does not grant full disclosure then they should immediately reinstate Mr. Burleson. If
they do not do so the members of the board responsible should immediately resign. If they chose not to resign then a petition should
be drafted and circulated for the removal of those members immediately and a special election held so the community can elect
officials who will uphold the will of the People. For the rights of Mr. Burleson and more importantly for the rights of the People of Burke
County I will not only sign such a petition but will help circulate copies and collect signatures.
Michael L Downing
Vice President of Operations
Grasche USA, Inc
Hickory, NC
828-322-3253 ext. 105
Cell: 231-598-2163
As a relatively new resident of Burke County having relocated to North Carolina not quite two years ago, I have watched the
story surrounding Superintendent David Burleson with interest. As a new member of your community as this developed I did not have
an opinion one way or the other but with a son in Heritage Middle School I certainly would be impacted by the outcome of this issue.
When I accepted a job with a Hickory based company two years ago it was no accident that we moved to Burke County. We are where
we are because of the quality of the schools. It would have been much easier for us to move to Hickory as my wife and I both work in
Hickory, but we made the decision to have our son educated in Burke County and Heritage Middle School in particular. It would seem
to me that some of the credit for the quality for the school system in Burke County should go to the man in charge, David Burleson
who has 25 years in the Burke County School system.
When this issue first arose I not knowing Mr. Burleson and only knowing of his record from what I have heard from friends,
neighbors and people I work with I was sure that the School Board had acted in good faith and had reasonable cause for their
decision. I was sure that the reason that they had not released the information was due to a personal nature concerning Mr. Burleson
and that had not given full disclosure out of respect for his length of service. I expected that Mr. Burleson would accept their decision
and step down. When he did not and asked for full disclosure I became more interested in hearing all the facts. When he asked to
make his files public and then found out most of the pertinent information was missing I became more than just interested in
hearing the exact reasons for the school board’s decision.
After the public outcry and the community support that David Burleson has received it is imperative that the school board
make a full disclosure of all facts that have led to their decision. I am sure that in general if they have a firm and legal basis for their
decision that most of the community will accept their decision. If they continue to follow through with their decision and do not release
all pertinent information then further action should be taken. If they cannot make this disclosure then it makes this appear this is just
another case of cronyism and worse with the out pouring of support for Mr. Burleson from the community it appears to be another
case of elected officials ignoring their duty to represent those people who elected them.
As I originally stated I watched this story unfold with interest but felt that I really did not have a dog in this fight but I have since
changed my mind and as a citizen of Burke County with a son in the Burke County School system I demand some answers. I
demand full disclosure of all information leading to the decision made by the School Board and a rescinding of their decision until
there is a full disclosure. This is not because I fully support Mr. Burleson because again I have not lived in Burke County long
enough to have an opinion one way or another. I do however feel that justice must be served and a man has a right to face his
accusers and an opportunity to see and refute any and all evidence they can bring against him. I am convinced that the community of
Burke county has spoken and supports David Burleson and that those people are the ones to whom the school board should
answer as elected officials. If the school board does not grant full disclosure then they should immediately reinstate Mr. Burleson. If
they do not do so the members of the board responsible should immediately resign. If they chose not to resign then a petition should
be drafted and circulated for the removal of those members immediately and a special election held so the community can elect
officials who will uphold the will of the People. For the rights of Mr. Burleson and more importantly for the rights of the People of Burke
County I will not only sign such a petition but will help circulate copies and collect signatures.
Michael L Downing
Vice President of Operations
Grasche USA, Inc
Hickory, NC
828-322-3253 ext. 105
Cell: 231-598-2163
| Letter From Michael Downing |