A light agenda… City school board moves quickly through August docket
Published 6:00 am Thursday, August 22, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Elizabethton City School Board recognized the T.A. Dugger Jr. High Lady Cyclones for their efforts on the court in the last three seasons.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
The Elizabethton City School Board met in regular session Tuesday evening in the Mack Pierce Board Room at the Elizabethton Board of Education and found the agenda items to be minimal as the board was able to take care of the few business items quickly.
In the student recognition portion of the meeting, the T.A. Dugger Jr. Lady Cyclones were recognized for their accomplishments.
Head coach Matt Fox shared with the board and audience that the varsity team had a record of 51-26 in three years and the lowest the team finished in the area was third. The team finished second the previous two seasons.
Last season the JV team went 18-2. The varsity also made sectionals for the last three seasons which was remarkable considering the competition.
In other business, Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour thanked all the sponsors of the Back-to-School bash in helping bring goodwill and cheer to the students who came and picked up their backpacks filled with school supplies.
He also commended all the teachers and principals who came and interacted with the students and their families.
Gardenhour also informed the board that soccer goals have been put in place at the LaPorte Sports Complex and thanked the Elizabethton Soccer Association for the donation the organization made to put more grass on the field in the fall.
Also in the director’s update, the board was informed that there was record enrollment at T.A. Dugger Junior High covering the last few weeks leading up to the new school year. The numbers are appearing to shake out with a gain of approximately 100 students for 2019 which Gardenhour said spoke to the health of the school system.
The school board and city council are working to set up a day and time to meet about moving forward with what to do with T.A. Dugger in regard to expansion and get the project back in motion. Board members were encouraged to try to find a date where the two city boards could come together in discussion to move forward.
In other actions, the board voted 4-0 with board member Danny O’Quinn absent to approve moving a part-time Office Assistant position at the Central Office to a full-time Receptionist/SNP Assistant position at the Central Office. The position will be funded 50 percent from the School Nutrition Fund and 50 percent from General Purpose funds.
Also, the board approved to update bus driver benefits using the same guidelines as provided for support staff in providing three personal days and bereavement leave.
“It’s very difficult to find bus drivers,” Dr. Gardenhour informed the board. “Every person who walks through the door who has an interest we are trying to process through as fast as we can.
“We worked last year on improving the pay some and one of the things that we are trying to do this year is match some of the benefits that the drivers who are leaving us to go to other places are getting to be competitive.
“It doesn’t seem like a lot but three personal days and bereavement leave to a bus driver are a big help.”
The board approved the agreement between the Elizabethton City School System and the Elizabethton Police Department for the School Resource Officer Program which now has placed an officer in each of the city schools.
Dr. Gardenhour thanked Police Chief Jason Shaw and city council representative Michael Simerly for working with the board to make sure each school could be staffed with an SRO.
The agreement added three officers total to the elementary schools and Gardenhour commended Chief Shaw on the officers who were selected to fill those openings.
“I think that it speaks to safety because the number one thing besides educating our kids is keeping them safe,” said board member Dr. Grover May. “I think it’s a win for our law enforcement, I think it’s a win for our community, and it’s a win for our schools.
“Our children need to grow up knowing authority figures- there are teachers, law enforcement, ministers and others in various walks of life. We have a responsibility to make our students community ready.”
The school board will meet again on September 17th at 6:30 pm.
