Demolition of TAD grandstands anticipated early July

Published 9:10 pm Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Being proactive is the name of the game for Elizabethton City Schools.
The system’s Board of Education voted to OK a bid number for the demolition of the home grandstands at Brown-Childress Stadium on the T.A. Dugger Junior High School campus Wednesday evening, along with putting other plans in motion to address the future of the system.
Demolition will be performed by D.H. Griffin Companies, based out of Bristol, Va., for the amount of $88,800. The company was one of two bids submitted to ECS and was the lowest provided.
Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour told the board that demolition is tentatively scheduled to take place July 9 and wrap up around August 9 before students arrive back on campus for school.
The director said the project is considered “phase one” of potential expansion at the middle school. The hopes of the education system are to extend to the facility out to where the grandstands are to house classrooms to offer more STEM opportunities for students. The expansion also includes other items, including allowing the school to be fully ADA accessible and additional restrooms for students.
Dr. Garenhour also thanked the efforts of all that were involved with the project, including the support of the Elizabethton City County, which toured the facility a few months back during a system-wide tour provided by ECS of different city schools.
At the start of the meeting, the director alluded to a story recently published about Kingsport City Schools being affected by federal Title funding for education in the country.
ECS has been no exception, with the director adding that title one funding for the school recently saw a 15 percent cut, roughly $85,000, compared to minor cuts absorbed over previous years. Cuts to federal funding have seen the system cut four positions and one paraprofessional position.
Dr. Gardenhour added that federal funding is essential for students and school systems across the country to “keep a level playing field” for students.
Over the next school year, the BOE will meet to look at different ideas to possibly prepare for federal cuts, including ways to sure up the budget and the possibility of rezoning, redistricting and consolidation of schools.
While the federal budget is not in place yet, both BOE member Susan Peters and BOE Chair Rita Booher encouraged citizens to voice their opinion respectful to state and federal officials to express their support for title funding.
BOE member Grover May added that while looking at it from a budgetary standpoint, the system also needs to look at the idea of consideration for the best and most “efficient” way to be work with students inside the system, including transportation and to secure adequate funding for schools.
The Board also added they’re going transparent with the public over the academic year with discussions on the variety of topics.
“We’re going to have to tackle this together,” Booher said. “We welcome everyone’s input.”
ECS teacher Julie Hartsook also provided an update from the system’s first ever Summer Reading Camp – “Camp Read a Lot.”
Hartsook, who teaches at West Side, applied for the grant, which procured roughly $34,000 for the system to have the program in place. 30 rising first, second and third graders have participated in the camp, which allows students to work with teachers to develop reading and writing skills.
Different partners have also assisted with the camp, including Barnes & Noble, Second Harvest Food Bank, local student Kagney Bennett, Farm Bureau and the Imagination Library.
Students that qualified for the program will have taken home 22 books once the camp is completed Friday.
Booher, who visited the camp this week, praised the effort of the teachers that worked the camp and said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The BOE also held a workshop following Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting to discuss Dr. Gardenhour’s contract with the system.
The director is in his second year of a four-year contract, and the board praised his efforts. The possibility of a two-year extension was discussed.

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