One local elementary school has launched a unique project to help ensure that every child gets the chance to hear a bedtime story.

On Thursday, members of the Carter County Board of Education heard about Hampton Elementary’s “Dog Tales,” which is available through the school’s website. HES Principal Brandon Carpenter spoke to the board about the project he and his staff dreamed up and then made happen.

The inspiration for the idea came from Carpenter’s own personal experience.

“My wife reads to my son every night, and he loves it,” Carpenter said, adding his son has grown more enthusiastic about reading.

However, Carpenter said, not all of his students get that opportunity.

“We have kids who don’t get read to, for whatever reason,” he said. “If we could read to kids we could get them interested in reading.”

Carpenter said he came up with the idea of making video recordings of different people reading and putting them online so the children could access them. While the idea was his, Carpenter credited his staff with all of the work to bring the idea to life.

The school turned to local leaders and prominent citizens to record the bedtime story videos. Among those who have already recorded videos are Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford, Judge Keith Bowers Jr., Elizabethton Fire Department Deputy Chief Rusty Barnett, Dr. Kenneth Hopland, and WJHL News Anchors Josh Smith and Sara Diamond.

Since the first videos were recorded, Carpenter said the school has received a lot of positive feedback and even requests from other individuals to take part in the project, including UT Lady Vols Basketball Coach Holly Warlick. “She called us and wanted to do it,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter said he has also spoken to staff at other schools regarding the project, which is not just for students at Hampton Elementary.

“Anybody that would want to use it, all they have to do is go to our website,” Carpenter said.

Members of the Board commended Carpenter for the project and how it will benefit the children.

In other business, members of the Board voted to delay the selection of a chair and vice-chair until the group’s meeting in October due to Board members Jerry Stout and David Buck being absent from Thursday’s meeting.

“That way the full Board can vote,” said Board Member Kelly Crain as he made the motion to postpone the vote. The motion passed unanimously, and current Board Chairman Rusty Barnett will continue serving in that role until a new chairman is selected.