Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Carter County Board of Education has approved the transition of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students from Unaka Elementary and Central Elementary to new facilities, while also voting to adopt a new mascot for Hunter Elementary.

The board approved the transition of Unaka Elementary’s middle grades to the newly built Hunter facility, following a motion by board member Tony Garland and a second by Renee Lewis. The move is expected to be complete by the end of the school year.

Director of Schools Dr. Brandon Carpenter said the transition opens new educational opportunities, including early access to career and technical education (CTE) courses. “We are on the verge of having one of the best CTE programs in the state,” he said, pointing to the district’s success in state skills competitions and signing day participation.

The board also approved a similar transition for Central Elementary students to Happy Valley Middle School. The move will allow for early robotics and CTE exploration, a decision Carpenter said is “in the best interest of the students.”

In both cases, space limitations and special education classroom needs prevented full K-8 transitions, officials said.

Also on Thursday, the board voted to officially change Hunter Elementary’s mascot from the Tigers to the Rangers, aligning with the mascot used by most of the school’s athletic programs. The decision followed a community survey in which 67.1% of respondents favored the Rangers mascot.

Carpenter clarified that changing the gym floor logo would now have minimal or no cost, due to work already in progress. Concerns over potential uniform changes were also addressed, with most affected programs already operating under the Rangers name.

Board members voted 8-0 in favor of the mascot change. The new branding will be coordinated by school leaders and unveiled in the coming weeks.

“We want to do what’s best for kids and our system,” Carpenter said, noting the board’s efforts to reflect both community input and financial responsibility.

The board’s next meeting will include plans to honor students excelling in CTE competitions.