A trio of students earned some education money with their writing skills, E.L. Ross students are getting iPads, the high schools’ heating and air problems are being addressed, a parking quandary has been resolved, a group of Cleveland High students have returned from a Model U.N. Conference in Washington, D.C, and cleaning services have been secured for the coming school year.
Keep America Beautiful Director Joanne Maskew was on hand to announce the winners of this year’s Environmental Essay Contest. All three winners are Cleveland High students.
The 31 entries were judged by a committee from Cleveland Associated Industries, and Westside Ruritan Club members provided prize funds of $250 for first place, $150 for second and $100 for third.
Sara Ann Owenbey was the winner with a paper titled “Tables Turned.”
In second place was Brandon Caylor with his essay titled, “What has Cleveland’s government done for the environment?” Hannah Aubrey Arrington wrote “An action is an action, no matter how small” for third place.
W.W. Johnson of the Ruritan club said, “This is one of the ways we can help our young people.” The Ruritan president said he hoped the three winners would use the money for their education. Joyce Johnson and Linda Melton also attend the presentation from the Ruritan Club, along with KAB’s Maskew.
Guidelines for the essay were that they must be two pages long, use proper grammar and punctuation, and contain a listing of all material sources.
Other notes from Monday night:
- Steve Robinson of the Cleveland Public Education Foundation and Scott Taylor of the Bank of Cleveland presented a $30,000 grant from the bank to E.L. Ross Principal Lisa Erby.
“Scott came to us with the proposal of the gift,” said Robinson. “He was the driving force behind this, and wanted a project that would be measureable for his investment. He hopes this will be a model for others (individuals, businesses or industries) to do something similar.”
Taylor said it was a way the shareholders of the bank can give back to the community.
Erby said the grant will be used for an iPad learning lab.
Board members Dr. Murl Dirksen and Dawn Robinson said the board appreciates it when local businesses and industry “give back.”
- A group of 14 Cleveland High students echoed their thanks to the school board for approving a trip to Washington and George Washington University for this year’s Model U.N. Conference Monday night.
Eighteen CHS students made the trip. They discussed the conference and what they did in debates and writing competition. They also brought back video of the adventures.
- Arnold School Principal Kellye Bender introduced her two employees of the month.
Selected by the Arnold faculty were Adam Moss and Rhonda Weeks.
Moss, whose students improved their grades by 12.5 percent this year, was an Arnold student himself. Bender said Weeks makes her job easier in the school’s office. “She makes everyone happy, every day,” she said.
- Energy and Maintenance Supervisor Paul Ramsey reported that the City Schools system has approved the low bid of $323,000 for renovation of the heating and air conditioning system in the east wing at the high school.
The bid, although higher than the funds previously approved by the school board, was from Four Seasons, a Knoxville firm. Work will begin as soon as school lets out for the summer, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 1.
Four bids were received on the project, all well over the projected cost. Ramsey said the school system has used Four Seasons before.
- The city school board approved a bid from D and B Janitorial Services in Chattanooga for cleaning services during the 2012-13 school year. “We’ve decided to try something different,” said Director of Schools Dr. Martin Ringstaff. He said there were 11 competitive bids, adding that the administrative staff has confidence in the company, which has been in operation for 41 years.
- A property owner adjacent to the school system’s STaR Center on North Lee Highway has reversed a decision to ban parking on the north side of the building, on property he owns. Educators had used the space for parking for some time, but thought they were going to have to find space at another location.
The school system leases the building and surrounding property from the Church of God of Prophecy.
