BOE honors student achievements, approves work projects
Published 5:39 pm Thursday, March 16, 2017
Members of the Carter County Board of Education honored a group of students for their recent achievements and also approved a list of school improvement projects for the summer.
The Board presented certificates to members of Happy Valley Middle School’s robotics team to recognize them for their hard work and their recent accomplishments in two competitions.
Happy Valley Middle School Principal Jon Minton explained to the Board the school received grant funding to start the robotics program but soon realized the grant would not cover all the expenses. Minton thanked the school system for providing some funds for the program and said the school had also received donations from the community to assist.
When the materials to build the robots finally arrived, the students began working to construct their “warbot” and get it ready for competition.
“They hit the ground running,” Minton said.
In their first two competitions the students placed well — capturing 3rd place and 10th place at the first event and then bringing home 3rd and 4th places at the second contest.
“For a first year of competition it has been really impressive,” Minton said.
The students involved with the robotics program this year are Zach Stephens, Hailey Crawford, Kole Havner, Adam Sheppard, Eli Phillips, Lucas Chausse, Autumn Lyons, Cayden Campbell, and Cameron Buck. The school hopes to be able to add another team for next year’s program, Minton said.
Members of the Board also approved a list of school facility improvements to be completed during the summer while students are out of school.
Among those projects are:
• Hunter Elementary School bathroom renovations
• Hampton High School bathroom renovations
• Happy Valley High School bathroom renovations
• demolition of 10 portable classroom units
• Happy Valley Middle School gym window replacement and ventilation work.
Building and Grounds Supervisor Phillip Nave informed the Board plans are still being worked on for the handicap accessibility renovations at Unaka High School’s football stadium. Nave said some drainage issues have arisen and they are working to resolve those before work gets underway.
The Board was slated to finalize the donation of a parcel of property across from Hampton High School to the county for use as a river access and possibly a public park, but that action was deferred to next month.
During the Board’s February meeting, members voted to donate the property to the county pending the county getting a survey of the property completed. The County Commission voted in February to conduct the survey and accept the property donation.
Board Attorney John Banks informed the members on Thursday that he had not yet received a copy of the requested survey.
County Commissioner Danny Ward, who has been working with a citizens group on the river access project, made a phone call to County Attorney Josh Hardin and then reported back to the Board.
“I just got off the phone with Attorney Hardin, and he has the survey in hand, and everything is a go,” Ward said.
The Board took no action on the donation, citing a need for their attorney to review the survey.