Elizabethton Schools Superintendent Ed Alexander said a recent “information leak” didn’t compromise sensitive materials.
Student grade cards from across the school system were inadvertently sent to a single parent by the system.
“What had happened was we had a request for a grade card,” Alexander said after Thursday’s Elizabethton Board of Education meeting. “We don’t usually get those types of requests at the central office. We sent the grade card to accommodate the request and inadvertently sent other student grade cards also.”
Alexander said he could assure parents that no sensitive material was included in the information. He said the information had been secured and deleted by the parent who had received it.
He added that a change has been made to prevent a similar incident.
A new step was in place, he said, requiring the approval of two administrators before material is sent.
During Thursday’s meeting, the board approved contracts to add drainage and a new concrete concourse at the T.A. Dugger Junior High School Michael D. Whitehead Sports Complex.
The board unanimously approved a contract with Mill Creek Construction for $7,500 for storm drainage work on the ball fields, and a contract for $36,989.17 with Butler Concrete Service to build a concourse around the fields.
Board vice-chair Phil Isaacs asked if the work on the fields would be done before school starts.
Assistant Superintendent Richard VanHuss said that with the approval, the system could notify the contractors, who could start work immediately. He estimated that once work begins, it would take about three weeks to complete the projects, weather permitting.
“It will overlap a little,” VanHuss said. “There will not be as much disruption as it was when the fields were originally constructed. It is mostly concrete work this time.”
During the April school board meeting, VanHuss told the board additional drainage work and the concrete additions would be needed at the fields.
“There is some concern that the playing fields may not be ADA compliant without some sidewalk addition,” VanHuss said in the April meeting.
Sidewalks would be added around the scorer’s tower and the dugouts and along the third base line of the baseball field, and the first base line of the softball field. The work would include a storm water drainage collection basin and the downspouts would be directed toward a central drain in the new sidewalk system. VanHuss said that would help eliminate some of the drainage problems that have been found on the field.
The concrete would be placed over the areas that are currently graveled.
VanHuss said this may also help reduce potential vandalism incidents by removing rocks that some children might be tempted to throw.
The board recognized Gary Coontz for his work during the initial construction of the field. TAD Assistant Principal Jason Carter said Coontz donated many hours helping to construct the dugouts and towers at the fields, which saved the system thousands of dollars in construction costs.
“He was happy to serve our kids,” Carter said.
Isaacs also thanked Coontz for his hard work on the fields.
“It is a nice addition to the campus,” Isaacs said.