A collaborative effort could potentially have the ball rolling for the next phase of development for an Elizabethton school.

Elizabethton City Schools Board of Education met Tuesday evening and approved a contract with Thomas Weems Architect totaling $35,000 for schematic design master planning services in regards to expansion at T.A. Dugger Junior High.

According to documents provided by Central Office, the scope of services offered by Thomas Weems Architect includes presentation drawings – a schematic site plan, building plans, sections, elevations and rendering of the expansion project and a construction cost to begin the project.

Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour said the plan is needed as a way to come up with an estimate for renovations to bring before City Council. Over the next week, the director added the system will comprise a letter for councilmen as the ability for redevelopment continues.

Renovations at T.A. Dugger have been underway since last year. The school system was able to demolish the grandstands at Brown Childress Stadium before the start of the school year to prepare for expansion.

The freed space will allow TAD to tack on a two-story, eight-classroom addition, which is reportedly geared to addressed a growing need for STEM classrooms, additional restrooms and helped the school bolster handicap accessibility.

According to a preliminary bond study, Dr. Gardenhour added the system could make bond payments, at this time, to cover renovation costs but the prices could fluctuate. Cost for expansion is expected to cost roughly $3.9 million.

Currently, it is anticipated that development could be brought before City Council by December or the first of the year. The director added the school officials will continue to work diligently with Council, and thanked City of Elizabethton officials for their continued support of the school system.

School officials will also vote on a contract with Advanced Imaging Systems to provide  document management scanning at Elizabethton High School worth $28,5000. According to the project summary, the new scanning system would provide better security for students’ records, including a disaster recovery plan incase records are destroyed by fire, floods or other events.

The new system is also expected to be a cost-saving measure compared to current methods.

In other business, the BOE recognized ECS 2017-18 Teachers of the Year; Beth Stevens, Kip Anderson and Joe Diaz, teachers who qualified for tenure and continued discussion about corporal punishment within the school system.