Members of the Elizabethton City School Board of Education worked with a relatively light agenda during their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, while taking a moment before the meeting to recognize a variety of faculty and students for their recent accomplishments.
BOE members opened the agenda discussing the potential of a work ethics diploma.
Taking the initiative following its creation within school systems in Hamblen, Hawkins and Grainger counties, the region is looking at implementing the programs as early as the next 2017-2018 school year.
ECS Superintendent Dr. Corey Gardenhour told the board that the program would be available for current juniors this school year. They will be allowed to sign up for the diploma this year and work toward obtaining it next year.
Dr. Gardenhour added the system received work ready community grants to help with the program, and that students that participate will be able to receive entry-level job opportunities following graduation within a company that goes along with the program.
“Our goal is to have around 100 businesses within a 90-mile radius,” Dr. Gardenhour added about the region’s goals to have students obtain employment following graduation.
The work ethic diploma has various standards to abide by while pursuing the item. To earn a diploma, a student must receive a minimum of 20 points towards the work ethic diploma, along with their regular diploma.
Point totals range from one to six for each standard, which includes an attendance standard, absence standard, tardiness standard, discipline standard, overall grade point average standard, drug free standard, CTE coursework standard, CTE completion standard, TN Promise standard, dual enrollment & credit standard, industry awareness and certification standards, enrollment in post-secondary school standard and career readiness certificate standard.
Due the to the program not having to deal with any finances, no vote was taken after Dr. Gardenhour’s discussion. The BOE were unanimously in favor of the program.
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Students from Elizabethton High School teacher Alex Campbell’s Sociology class visited the BOE following their $200,000 award and separate $1,000 scholarships provided by XQ America’s Super School Project held last week.
Teachers Dustin Hensley and Daniel Proffitt, along with students, provided a powerpoint presentation of the “Bartleby School Project” during the meeting while mentioning where the awarded money will go.
“The majority of the funds will go to the students,” Proffitt said, adding the staff was wanting students to become entrepreneurs. Loans would be provided to students looking to start up an item and could be paid back off to the school.
Along with their recognition, EHS students Seth Simerly and Harrison Wright were honored for their successful solo flights with teacher Dan Mills and Lt. Col. Bill Powley with the F.L.I.G.H.T. Foundation. Cody Dugger and Heather Feuchtenberger was also recognized for their respective accomplishments. Dugger finished 10th in Medical Terminology at the inaugural HOSA international competition while Feuchtenberger finished eighth in the 800-meter event during the U.S. Junior Olympics held in Houston, Texas this summer.
EHS head softball coach Kenny Hardin, along with members of the Lady Cyclones coaching staff and team honored multiple individuals at the start of the meeting for their assistance of work completed at the Lady Cyclones’ field.
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In other business, the BOE approved an agreement between ECS and Trane, Inc., for $656,998.85 for the groups to work together on different items needed at various schools, including a new boiler at Harold McCormick. The board also discussed the policy regarding religious content of courses and added they would treat things fairly while posting content online for public viewing.