ASHLYNNE BRYANT, with medal, poses with the Bradley County School Board during Thursday’s meeting. Bryant was the second-place winner in the Health Occupations Students of America national Interviewing Skills competition. Bryant graduated from Bradley Central High School with honors and will be attending college this fall. At Bryant’s right is Johnny McDaniel, director of Bradley County Schools. At left, from left, are Cindy Leslie, a health occupations teacher, and Arlette Robinson, CTE supervisor for Bradley County Schools.
“The resolution is very clear the money collected by this wheel tax will go toward the four projects listed in the resolution,” Rose said. “Tomorrow [July 13] the citizens of Bradley County will have the opportunity to speak as early voting begins in our county and the final election day is Aug. 2.”
Rose said the Bradley County School Board is on record as saying the school system has three major capital outlay projects. These include an academic building at Lake Forest Middle School, an addition of academic rooms at Walker Valley High School, and a new elementary school to replace Blue Springs Elementary. Cleveland City Schools have expressed a need for a new elementary school on the north side of town due to increased student enrollment, Rose said.
“It was the decision of Bradley County Commission to fund these projects through a $32 Wheel Tax for each vehicle and a $16 per motorcycle. This tax will be collected each year when one renews vehicle registration, should the referendum pass,” Rose said.
An update was given on Michigan Avenue Elementary School construction by Cason Conn.
“The firewalls were installed and the building received a 100 percent certificate from the Fire Marshall,” Conn said. “She blessed it for occupancy.”
According to Conn, the athletic equipment and bleachers for the school are 60 percent complete. The bleachers will arrive within the next two weeks and everything should be done at least a week before school begins.
In other news, the board recognized student Ashlynne Bryant, a national winner of Health Occupations Students of America’s interviewing skills competition. Bryant placed first in regionals and state before placing second on the national level.
“Ashlynne received second place out of 30 students — the best 30 students in the nation,” said Cindy Leslie, a health occupation teacher at Bradley Central High School. “I am so proud of this bright, intelligent, and compassionate young lady.”
Leslie told the board how Bryant lost everything but her laptop computer in the April 27 tornado.
“Ashlynne always had a smile on her face in spite of everything. When I first asked her to compete she said she couldn’t and I told her, ‘Ashlynne, you can do anything you put your mind to.’”
Bryant graduated with honors and will be attending college this fall.
Additional information discussed at the board meeting includes:
- Registration for the Bradley County Virtual School ends on July 20. An orientation session will be held on July 30 and 31. Almost 30 students have signed up.
- Olin and Charleston Elementary’s Relay for Life team collected more than $1,200 for the American Cancer Society. Ocoee Middle School raised more than $1,800 for Relay for Life. OMS raised the most money of any school in Bradley County.
- Charleston Elementary Panther Club Choir earned first place in the elementary division along with an overall first place in the Showcase Festival Competition at Dollywood.
- Park View Elementary School added a Robots Lego Lab to the STEM program through the support of Eaton Corporation and its employees. Park View and Weatherbug have partnered to install a weather station. The station includes: up-to-the-minute local radar and alerts, campus weather cameras, tracking stations and access to Online Weather Center. Weatherbug will provide weather-related classroom lessons with curriculum guides.
- The Summer Feed and Recreation Program at Taylor Elementary School served 25-40 children per day during the month of June. The program was sponsored by the Bradley/Cleveland Community Services Agency.
- Representatives from Walker Valley High School participated in the National Leadership Conference in San Antonio. The Walker Valley Chapter was recognized as a National Outstanding Chapter from among the more than 15,000 chapters. Only 92 chapters were recognized.
- Adult Education received a $5,000 grant from Dollar General to provide $40 toward the current $65 fee for GED testing.
