Cooperation continues to be the focus of the Elizabethton City Schools Board of Education.
Officials held a called meeting Monday afternoon to approve the presentation of a letter for City Council to fund phase two of improvements at T.A. Dugger Junior High School.
According to the letter provided from Central Office, BOE chair Rita Booher requested for City Council to fund the T.A. Dugger project through proceeds from the half-cent sales tax and for the project be placed on the December City Council agenda.
“We thank you for your support and encouragement over the years and truly appreciate our working relationship,” Booher stated in the letter. “You are public servants and valued members of our community.”
The letter follows the decision of the BOE to approve a contract with Thomas Weems Architect for schematic design master planning services in regards to expansion at junior high school.
According to a preliminary bond study, Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour told the board that 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.
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.
Improvements call for additional classrooms for STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – classes, parts of the building be connected for handicapped accessibility, improvement and add restrooms and demolish portable classrooms that are “20 years past their life expectancy,” according to the system.
Improvements will be vital for the school, according to the letter, which cites the schools being the “oldest, most recognized and used City school building”, the school’s usage for several community events, being named a level 5 status school last year and being part of the school system’s 2017-18 Exploring School District status from the state.