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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
The Elizabethton Board of Education met in a regularly-scheduled October meeting a week early due to the upcoming Fall Break for the school system that begins on Monday of next week.

With an agenda that wasn’t overbearing, the board was able to move through the meeting efficiently.

Opening up with a period of recognition, Mr. Mike Koruschak was recognized for his years of dedication and work as the team chaplain for the Elizabethton Cyclone football program.

Koruschak began serving in that capacity when former head coach Dave Rider invited him to fill that position.

Also, the board recognized Physical Therapy Services for the installation of sensory pathways in the city schools as well as recognizing Dr. Danny Smith for over 40 years of service to the school system.

After hearing from citizen Vanessa Monk of Elizabethton in regard to virtual learning, Richard VanHuss, Director of Elizabethton City Schools, gave an update on some things that are currently in the works in the school system.

During the regular agenda, the board approved a 60-month contract with Pitney Bowes in the amount of $58.66 per month for the purchase of a postage meter at Elizabethton High School.

The board also approved the addition of $17,682.37 using the current contract with Sevier County Contract No. 010419SCS and Central Technologies which is being utilized to install security access control equipment at Elizabethton High School, East Side Elementary, and Harold McCormick Elementary.

The funds are needed in addition for security access control equipment at the schools.

Also approved was the purchase of Bipolar Ionization equipment which will be installed by Trane in common areas throughout the school district.

That amount is not to exceed $82,978.

The board also approved resolutions for the Elizabethton Board of Education in support of Basic Education Program Hold Harmless legislation for the 2021-2022 school year along with supporting a moratorium on State Standardized Testing for the 2020-2021 school year.

A part-time Special Education Assistant position was also approved by the board to meet the needs of a Special Education student at West Side Elementary.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Mack Pierce Board of Education Room at the central office located at 804 S. Watauga Avenue in Elizabethton.