Chesterfield Elementary will officially close prior to the 2018 school year and the Superintendent's contract was extended by one year in Monday night's regular Burke County Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam gave an end of year update that reviewed many of the issues with keeping Chesterfield open. To recap, there was overcrowding at Mountain Crest Elementary and the board's goal was to make sure students were in brick and mortar buildings rather than mobile units for safety reasons. The cost of the new Mountain View Elementary School is fully funded with costs taken from the capital outlay budget and will provide enhanced learning. Putnam's recommendation was to close Chesterfield Elementary and reassign students effective for the 2018-2019 school year to the new Mountain View Elementary. The board voted unanimously to approve Putnam's recommendation. The board also voted unanimously on extending Dr. Putnam's contract as Superintendent for another year, extending his contract for four years. Even with an extension in his contract, Putnam will maintain his current salary.

Three names were added Friday to the list of Burke County's Most Wanted. They include:
1. 41-year-old Billy Earl Murphy - Homeless, charged with (F) Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, (F) Larceny of Motor Vehicle & (M) FTA on DWLR
2. 34-year-old Kristopher Keith Childers - Morganton, charged with Parole Violation for Habitual Felon Charges
3. 39-year-old Sandy Kale Champion - Morganton, charged with Probation Violation for (F) Burglary Charges
Anyone with information as their whereabouts is urged to contact the Burke County Sheriff's Office at 828-438-5500 leave an anonymous tip at Morganton-Burke Crime Stoppers at 437-3333.

George Hildebrand Elementary recently received a $7,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries. The Foundation provides grants of up to $7,000 to the nation's neediest schools so they can extend, update, and diversify the book and print collections in their libraries with the goal of encouraging students to develop a love of reading and learning.