With a continued emphasis on growing the special needs programs within the Elizabethton City Schools System, Board of Education members will look to continue that trend during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
According to the agenda provided from the school’s central office, the BOE will look to ratify approval of the creation of two assistant to the teacher positions to effectively meet the needs of new special education students’ IEP requirements.
While just one small item on the agenda, it provides a continued trend of support within the system to accommodate students. The system recent implemented the first-ever sensory inside Forrest Holt’s special needs classroom at Elizabethton High School. The room officially opened up on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Holt credited the work provided by the school system and members of the community, including Thomas Davis of Edward Jones Investments who provided tools for students, for getting the room situated. ECS Public Relations Coordinator Bekah Price recently told The Elizabethton Star that Harold McCormick will soon follow suite after a donation by a parent from the school. T.A. Dugger Junior High, behind the efforts of Assistant Principal Penny Nave and extended resource teachers are also creating a sensory garden outside the premise to provide similar accommodations.
The relatively light agenda for Thursday includes the BOE looking to approve a contract between the ECS and Blackburn, Childers & Steagall, PLC for audit services the first year ending June 30, 2017 at a cost not exceeding $13,800 for activity funds and $19,000 for general purpose, federal programs, and school nutrition program funds. The other piece on the agenda is a line item to approve the 2016 LEA Compliance Report.
School officials will also take the evening to recognize the high school golf teams’ recent success under the direction of head coaches Kenny Hardin and John Hutchins and hear a report from Davis on retirement seminars for ECS employees.
ECS Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour addressed the Elizabethton City Council on Thursday and told the board of a proposed expansion of T.A. Dugger that will look to cost between $3.5 to $4 million according to early projections. Dr. Gardenhour stated during the meeting that the project would not cause the property taxes for citizens to be raised due to the school’s half-cent tax bond, adding that the funds would be available if action is taken soon. The item was placed on the agenda for November’s City Council meeting.