If you have a child attending a Fort Mill school, you have definitely heard Joe Burke’s voice on the other end of your phone or received one of the many emails he sends to keep you updated on what’s happening with your child’s school. Serving as the Chief Communications Officer for the Fort Mill School District, it’s Joe’s job to keep parents and children informed while also navigating multiple points of change in a town with ever expanding growth.
As he enters his eight year, we wanted to get to know the man behind the voice, while asking him to provide feedback on recent attendance line decisions and how that impacts families in Fort Mill with student age children.
Getting Started
With a degree in Communications from Newberry College, Joe’s career started in TV media, both during and after college. His work in media paved the way for his entry into public education communications when he joined the Richland County School District in 2007. Over a decade in Richland saw him climbing the ranks, managing everything from the district’s TV channel to more significant communication strategies.
In 2017, a personal choice to relocate factored into his decision to join the Fort Mill School District. He and his family initially moved to Lancaster, allowing his wife, a professor at USC Lancaster, to cut her commute significantly. A recent move to Fort Mill has allowed him to also take advantage of less time in the car “I went from commuting an hour each way to 20 minutes,” said Joe.
Managing Growth and Change
The Fort Mill School District has experienced rapid growth, a challenge that Joe and his team face head-on, particularly when it comes to attendance line adjustments. These adjustments are driven by the opening of a new school.
The recent adjustments are a result of two new schools, Flint Hill Elementary and Flint Hill Middle School. The funding for these schools was provided by either impact fees or bonds.
Joe explains the process of redrawing attendance lines as both necessary and data-driven. “We start with an outside consultant who gives us an impartial look, factoring in projected growth and current student data. Our goal is to prevent under or over-utilization while ensuring that students are distributed across our new schools.”
Parents are encouraged to participate by submitting feedback, and Joe emphasizes that the district is carefully reviewing all input. “We know we can’t address everyone’s concerns, but we are doing our best to incorporate what we can. When you send an email, there is a person on the other end who’s actually looking at all of this.”
Attendance Line Timeline
October 1st:
- Initial findings presented to the school board by an external consultant
- Interactive maps provided to the public showing impact to students and households
- Parents were asked to provide feedback
October 2nd – November 4th
- Parents and students are encouraged to provide feedback on the initial proposal via email to communications@fortmillschools.org
- Data will be collected and local expertise will be used to provide input and direction on next steps
- Findings are provided to administrators and decisions on next steps are made based on the information that has been gathered
November 5th
- A revised proposal based on the additional findings is provided at the school board meeting
- The school district asks for the school board to provide approval to move forward with the revised proposal
- If approved, the school district will move forward
- If not approved, additional discussions and analysis will take place. The school board will be asked to review the revised proposal at a later date.
Addressing the Challenges
When asked about the most significant challenges facing the district, Joe is quick to mention the teacher shortage. “Nationwide, fewer people are going into teaching,” Joe says, although he acknowledges that North and South Carolina have raised teacher pay, which has helped mitigate the issue in Fort Mill. Managing rapid growth and navigating school funding formulas are also ongoing concerns.
With a 10-year plan in place to project growth and plan for new schools, the district is prepared to meet future demands. However, Joe stresses that challenges like these require constant vigilance and long-term planning.
A Community Connection
Joe is most proud of the teachers who work tirelessly to maintain Fort Mill’s high standards. “Our teachers are what make this district great. The latest Niche ratings show it—they’re dedicated and put in a lot of hard work.”
As the district navigates rapid growth and evolving educational needs, Joe stands as a key figure in ensuring that communication between the schools, parents, and community remains open, transparent, and effective.
NOTE: the subject of Silfab Solar was discussed via email prior to our interview. Mr. Burke declined to comment but did provide the following notes from a recent board meeting:
We are aware that several legal proceedings are currently underway that could potentially impact future plans at a neighboring site. However, according to the state and federal regulatory agencies responsible for community health and safety, the nearby SILFAB site will be required to meet all health and safety guidelines for operation. These agencies establish operational standards and will monitor compliance to ensure there is minimal to no risk to our community.
Emergency planning is a routine practice for all school districts across the state. We are currently awaiting finalized emergency response plans from York County, which must first receive approval from the EPA. It is our understanding that these plans must be approved and submitted to the county before any chemicals can be present on the SILFAB site. Once these plans are submitted, the district will assess whether any additional site-specific safety measures are needed. This process aligns with the district’s established protocols for addressing unique safety concerns, such as the Catawba Nuclear site and natural disasters. Similar site-specific safety considerations were addressed during the openings of Nation Ford High School, due to its proximity to a nearby rail line, and Banks Trail Middle School, because of the neighboring U.S. Foods facility.
Once the district has received the finalized plans and the legal matters are resolved, we can share any additional information necessary to ensure transparency and safety.
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