Preparations for the upcoming Back-2-School Bash by the Elizabethton City Schools System took another step forward during the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening.
The BOE unanimously voted to approve the purchase of backpacks from IDS/Blusource in the amount, not exceeding, $18,931.28 for the event, which is scheduled for July 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Citizens Bank Field on the Elizabethton High School campus.
Donations received by the system will be used to cover the cost. When asked about the current amount for the event by Vice-Chair Tyler Fleming, Superintendent Dr. Corey Gardenhour added that event currently has over $13,000 raised with people continuing to ask about details on how to support.
“We have 40 sponsors,” Gardenhour said during the meeting. “We still have people coming each day. We’re so appreciative of the support by the city, churches, businesses, and individuals that are helping with the event.”
The event currently has 800 backpacks available, each equipped with school supplies, and Gardenhour added the school would look to accommodate as many children as possible for the bash.
While the school is preparing for the Back-2-School Bash, work continues on LaPorte Track as Gardenhour provided an update that painting and fencing projects are underway at the location with the opening date still to be determined. A grand opening for the track is tentatively in the works.
In other business, the BOE unanimously approved the cost reimbursement sub-award between the ECS and East Tennessee State University for the walking program in effect for the ESP program. The BOE also approved a 60-day lease and service agreement with NOVACOPY for $4,644.74.
NOVACOPY will be the new printing service for the ECS with Dr. Gardenhour saying the school system vetted other companies that were looking at a near $100,000 upfront cost for services and that the City of Elizabethton has praised the efforts by the company since their recent transition to the service. The BOE capped off the meeting by approving a board policy revising bids and quotations.
At the conclusion of the meeting, BOE members Susan Fleming and Dr. Grover May praised the efforts made by the state following Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen’s announcement on July 14, noting that testing time for assessments will drop by 30 percent for the 2016-17. Peters added praise for the efforts of the new testing this year reverting back to pencil and paper, adding to a less stressful time for parents, students, and teachers for the upcoming school year.
In a press release issued to the Elizabethton Star, McQueen stated the department learned a lot after the TNReady chaos last year and are ready to move ahead with the state’s newest testing vendor, Questar.
“We have learned a tremendous amount from our testing experience this past year, and we want to make the right adjustments to create a positive, balanced culture around testing in Tennessee’s classrooms,” McQueen said. “These adjustments will give educators a greater ability to maximize rich, well-rounded instruction for all our students. We are still working toward the same goal of providing aligned, rigorous assessments to measure what our students know and can do, but now we have a smarter logistical approach and a strong partnership with Questar to achieve this goal.”