Solidifying a commitment for one school’s improvement was on the agenda Tuesday evening for Elizabethton City Schools officials.

Board of Education members convened for their monthly meeting and agreed to pass a resolution to show their support to continue improvements at T.A. Dugger Junior High.

The memorandum of understanding, which passed with unanimous support from BOE, will be passed along to City Council and provides the intent of the system for improvements at the school.

According to the MOU, it is understood that “… expenditures to be incurred for certain additions and alterations to the existing facilities of T.A. Dugger Junior High School will be funded by proceeds of bonds or other indebtedness to be issued by the city of Elizabethton … “

A change had to be made to the resolution due to the instability of the bond market, according to Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour.

Officials voted to approve the MOU but change the wording that included a date of August 31, 2019, as a deadline for the work.

Gardenhour indicated the desire is to have the project well underway by that point, but that both City Council and ECS understand the project can only be funded once the bond market is in a suitable position for both parties to fund the project.

Another part of the resolution indicates the school system will finish the project without exceed $4 million. The cost of renovations would be covered by the half-cent sales tax revenue.

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ECS recently received a tool to help fight back against diseases.

With influenza and other sickness making the headlines, Gardenhour told attendees Tuesday evening the system now has a tool to help with illnesses.

According to the director, the system now has a device that omits a fog, which nullifies any diseases in a room.

Not being harmful to individuals, Gardenhour indicated that Central Office received trial run and that Harold McCormick would be the first school to receive the service.

The intent, according to the director, is to help deter illnesses within the system. Attendance has been affected by sickness, Gardenhour added, and said the new device will help with the flu season still in full swing.

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In other business, the BOE:

• Approved a lease agreement between the City of Elizabethton and ECS for usage of property located near Rogosin Drive.

• Passed an attendance policy.

• Received an update from Travis Thompson about the Wandell Early Learning Center.

• Learned the “Betsy Book Bus” roughly $6,000 from its goal. The deadline for donations is tentatively scheduled for the end of March.