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In Superintendent of Schools Arnold Bunch’s monthly “Director’s Report,” Hamblen County CTE Director Joe Ely led off by discussing the recent Skills USA Competitions in which up to 25 students getting state championships or finishing runners-up.

“Skills USA is a student organization started in our high schools about three years ago,” Ely said. “We’ve done pretty well with it in a short period of time.”

Ely said that Hamblen County sent 30 students to the state competition with at least 25 of those students being state champions or runners-up.

“That says a lot about the CTE programs,” Ely said. “The local funding, the classes were offering and what we’re doing in the classroom has translated into what these guys are doing in the real world.”

Ely said that the leaders are at these competitions to hire those who perform well.

“A lot of these kids leave these competitions earn jobs on-site if they have the skills or they’re invited to earn scholarships to schools where they can further their education,” Ely said.

These winners will be recognized at next month’s BOE meeting.

TCAP testing began in Hamblen County Schools this week, according to Bunch.

“I hope and pray our (Internet) network stays up,” he said. “It’s a stressful time for our teachers and a lot of our students and their families. We hope it goes well. We just need the students’ focus to be there.”

Summer program plans have yet to be fully finalized because the system doesn’t know how much money they’re going to get for these programs.

“We’re missing a few pieces here of how much money we’re going to have for transportation, but we’re on path,” Bunch said.

Bunch said that there has been a major amount of projects inside the district. Miller Boyd Alternative School has a couple of items that have to be taken care in-house before it is deemed complete. West High’s CTE Expansion may be getting a certificate of occupation soon. Punch lists are being built for Lincoln Heights and Meadow View middle schools. It is hoped that punch lists on both middle schools are completed by year’s end.

Work at the new Lincoln Heights Elementary is now completed. Additional funds allocated for that school will be allocated by early next month.

“There’s been a lot of work by a lot of people to make all of that happen,” Bunch said. “I’m really proud that we’ve been able to get all of these things done.”

TRANE Light Switch Cover Design Winners

Three students from Hamblen County Schools were each honored with an iPad, case and stress ball for being named winners of the TRANE Light Switch Cover Design Contest.

Nancy McBee and Brian Lester of TRANE, who has been performing an Energy Efficient School Initiative, announced the winners.

“We are upgrading all of the schools in the county,” McBee said. “As part of this, we did a contest where all of the students were asked to design a light switch cover sticker to help them remember to turn the lights off when they leave the room.”

Elementary Division design winner went to Paxton Tilley of Russellville. Stephanie Gonzalez De Paz of Meadowview Middle School won the Middle School Division and Naomi Lou, of Morristown West, won the Senior High Division.

McBee said that all of the winning designs will be mass produced and the schools fitted with the covers. All of the schools will be fitted with the respective light switch covers.

All-State Choir and Band Members

Eleven students, four from Morristown East and eight from Morristown West were honored for making All-State honors for their musical talents.

In Band, East’s Dorian Carpenter on Oboe, made the Grades 11-12 All-State Concert Band.

East’s Ethan Ogle on Piccolo, was honored for making the Grades 11-12 All-State Symphony Orchestra.

East students selected as alternates for choir were Jeremy Howerton and Luke Reuschel.

Four West High students were chosen for All-State Choir, including Eli Archer, Caroline Brady, Brayden Martin and Joel Oliver. Eden Gibson was chosen as an alternate.

West Band members named All-State included Dylan Moore on Alto Saxophone and Porter Stuart on Bass Clarinet.