With the school year is preparing to come to a close, the Elizabethton Board of Education convened Tuesday evening and had the opportunity to acknowledge student achievements in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) field.
Elizabethton High School CTE Director Brian Culbert addressed BOE members and talked about the efforts of FBLA students Dylan Fritts and John Tapp coming away with high schools among other high school competitors. Fritts and Tapp both placed third, respectively, in the state competition in their respective categories. Fritts handled Networking Concepts, and Tapp competed in Organization Leadership.
EHS HOSA student Cody Dugger placed third in the medical terminology for the state competition while FFA students Jesse Carr and Mason Yates obtained their FFA state degrees.
Following Culbert’s speech, EHS teachers David Campbell and Paul Linberg and student Ethan Fields talked to attendees about the recent solar go-kart competition that took place last week.
The Cyclones’ go-kart made waves compared to 20 other participants. While taking home fifth in overall, EHS was able to secure a first-place finish in the endurance, which included 50 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway with four drivers competing.
The drivers for the kart included Miraj Cline, Ethan Field, Caleb Skeen, Garrett Taylor and Lance Crowe. Crew members were Jacob Griffith, Lucas Holly, Dalton Mullins, Max Ramsey, Cameron Coleman, Ryan Wetzel, Anthony Glass, Chris Taylor, Alex Norwood and Russel Carter.
Campbell and Linberg both commended the efforts of the 20-plus students that participated in the endeavor and added the school is looking forward to possibility competing again next year.
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During the regular agenda of the meeting, BOE members voted unanimously to pass the 2017-18 Elizabethton City Schools Budget. The estimated general fund budget for 17-17 is $22,551,611, which is a $21,857 increase from the 16-17 amended budget. Federal projects’ fund dropped to $1,326,610 for the new budget while school nutrition was bumped up by $16,000.
While different from last year, BOE members, including Tyler Fleming and Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour commended the efforts of Beth Wilson, school system’s director of business and fiscal management, and her staff for putting together another “professional” budget and praised the previous work of the department.
BOE members also approved the 17-19 purchase of backpacks and supplies from Blusource in an amount not to exceed $16,000 – purchasing 1,000 backpacks for $16 each – for the system’s Back-2-School Bash. The school system stated the purchase for backpacks would be made from donations received from the event.
The upcoming Bash, scheduled for August 5, is being planned by the education system, East River Park Christian Church, Elizabethton Police Department and the Carter County Health Department. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations and can be accommodated by contacting Bekah Price, system’s public relations coordination, via email at bekah.price@ecschools.com or by calling the Central Office at (423) 547-8000.
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In other business, Dr. Gardenhour thanked Elizabethton Rotary Club, Carter County Bank and Big Lots for their monetary donations to schools in the system. The director also commended the effort of EHS Women’s Ensemble and director Deb Gouge for recently coming away with a top three finish in the state.