ECS looks to continue detection contract, honor students
Published 4:41 pm Friday, March 16, 2018
- Photo Contributed Elizabethton High School senior Hannah Roaten was recently victorious in the inagurual Shark Tank business competition hosted by SMARTY PANTS at Northeast State Community College. Roaten was awarded $1,000 for her business idea of a locally-produced grocery service.
With safety being the focus for schools across the state, Elizabethton City Schools is looking to continue one initiative into the 2018-19 school season.
The district’s Board of Education will meet Tuesday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. to go over a variety of policies on first readings, and will look at continuing a contract with Interquest Detection Canines. Officials will vote on a contract from August 2018 through May 2019 for a cost of $3,000 for 10 visits.
Interquest and the school district entered into an agreement for this school year to allow non-aggressive canines to conduct random searches at T.A. Dugger Junior High and Elizabethton High School. Canines part of the program are professionally trained to detect the presence of “illicit drugs, prescription pills, alcohol and firearms” according to the school district.
Once an item is detected, the canine sits in front of a searched location. The district added that canines do not search individuals or visitors or each school and that students and staff “can expect very little disruption” from the service. In Tennessee, Interquest offers their service to over 25 counties.
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Before delving into the contract, the BOE will honor a trio of students that recently boasted sizeable achievements for the city.
Jordan Teague of EHS was recently named a Roan Scholar at East Tennessee State University. Nestor Grubb will also be recognized during the meeting for his appointment to West Point.
Fellow senior Hannah Roaten will also be highlighted for being awarded first place for the inaugural Shark Tank: It’s All About Business entrepreneur competition.
Roaten, who serves as the BOE student liaison, is part of the inaugural Bartleby Program Entrepreneurship Program and was able to receive $1,000 to go toward her business, Local Harvest Delivery. The business is a grocery service that is geared toward promoting local farmers throughout the region instead of corporations.
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Budget season is soon to get underway for the district. Prior to the start of Tuesday’s meeting, the BOE will meet in a workshop to compile the 2018-19 fiscal year budget.
