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By Buzz Trexler

Star Correspondent

Elizabethton High School Cyclones fans will soon have their own place in cyberspace after the Elizabethton Board of Education approved a contract with an athletics website development company in New York.

The board during Thursday night’s regular meeting approved a three-year contract with Sidearm Sports LLC, of Syracuse, N.Y., at $3,810 for the first year, which includes a one-time fee of $500 to design and build the site. The second and third years of the contract – at $4,005 and $4,210, respectively – cover software and support for the content management system. Funding for the project will come from the athletic department, but Presnell and Miller said there is a potential for advertising revenue to help offset the expense.

“It’s a very dynamic part of sports in 2024, and for what we do as an athletics department it’d be very beneficial for us to be able to reach our community, our students, our fans, very quickly and very dynamically as well,” EHS Athletics Director Ryan Presnell told the board as he and Assistant Athletics Director Nicholas Miller presented the plan.

“I can remember, back in my day, going down and sitting outside The Elizabethton Star office at about 4 a.m. in the morning just to see whose picture was going to be on the front page, and I think there’s kids that obviously still do that,” Presnell said. “But in 2024 this is also one of the ways that we can make our student athletes feel special.”

The company – which was launched in 2000 with Syracuse University as its first client – has developed more than 1,500 websites for NCAA, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and National Junior College Athletic Association clients. Among the high schools partnering with Sidearm Sports are Baylor School, Chattanooga, and Lakeway Christian Academy, White Pine; among the colleges, East Tennessee State University and Appalachian State University.

Other companies considered were Presto Sports, of Gilbert, Ariz., and WMT Digital, of Miami. Miller said Sidearm Sports was chosen because it is cost-effective, offers a shorter-term contract, includes around-the-clock support, and has a 24-year track record. Other factors cited were presentation, accessibility, and the potential for advertising to help offset the expense.

Features planned for the Cyclones site include rosters, schedules, photo galleries, statistics, streaming, and ticketing integration.

The go-live date for the website, the domain name for which has not been selected, is 45 days from the contract date.

 In Other Actions

– The board recognized 10 Advanced Placement (AP) scholars from the 2023-2024 academic year, several of whom were on hand at the meeting. Dr. Jon Minton, EHS principal, said enrollment in the AP program has doubled each of the past five years.

– Director Richard VanHuss said it was inspiring, but not surprising, to see how the community rallied to support those impacted by flooding and other storm damage after the remnants of Hurricane Helene passed through the region. VanHuss also praised city officials and employees for their work as a team during the recovery effort.

 Personnel Actions

The board approved the following new hires:

– Monica Brewer, Extended School Program (ESP) student leader, systemwide, effective Sept. 17;

– Kelsey Dalton Sutherland, supplemented band assistant at Elizabethton High School (EHS), effective Sept. 9;

– Tammy Gilbert, educational assistant at Harold McCormick Elementary (HME), effective Sept. 20;

– Isabel Swearingin, substitute teacher, effective Oct. 15;

– Aaron Taylor, maintenance, effective Oct. 4;

– Madison Turley, ESP student leader, systemwide, effective Sept. 17;

– Cody Williams, educational assistant, EHS, effective Sept. 12; and

– Annie Wallace, educational assistant, HME, effective Oct. 1.

The board approved the following additional position: Farzana Farid, ESP student leader, effective Oct. 15.

The board approved the transfer of Owen Jaynes, from substitute to educational assistant at East Side Elementary School, effective Sept. 23.

The board approved the following resignations: Patricia McKesson, part-time educational assistant, EHS, effective Oct. 15; and Ellie Kirk, ESP student leader, effective Oct. 15.

The board approved the following leaves of absence: Courtney Mathena, effective Oct. 16-Nov. 1; Nakisha Campbell, effective Nov. 18-Jan. 6, 2025; and Kendra Cline, effective Dec. 12-20.

The next regularly scheduled school board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Mack Pierce Board Room of the Elizabethton Board of Education, 804 S. Watauga Ave.