Entrepreneur gives $10,000 to Grand Oaks principal
Entrepreneur and retired legislator David Coffee gives a $10,000 check to Grands Oaks Elementary School Principal Jessica Conatser for reading achievement at the school. (photo:Ben Pounds )
The award, accompanied by a $10,000 prize to the school, recognizes Conatser’s dedication to academic excellence and student growth, particularly for achieving high proficiency in third-grade reading among economically disadvantaged students, a news release stated.
Entrepreneur and retired legislator David Coffey, the award’s namesake, presented the award and the $10,000 check to Conatser at the Nov. 14 Anderson County Board of Education meeting.
“This award places Grand Oaks at the forefront of Anderson County’s educational success, including Clinton City and Oak Ridge City Schools,” the release stated.
Conatser credited her school’s success to the teachers, educational assistants and other staff, including custodians at Grand Oaks.
“It is truly an all-hands-on-deck approach,” she said. She spoke of the school’s remediation program and said all of the children get some kind of instruction every day in a small group for at least 45 minutes. She said the school can target “any kind of skill deficits” during that time.
She said she planned to talk to the school’s teachers about how to spend the funds.
Career and Technical Education
Two budget matters approved unanimously at the same meeting related to Career and Technical Education.
The board approved $936,436 for a new building in Clinton. On top of that it also designated $3,817 tied to the Innovative School Models grant funds and the CTE Perkins grant for CTE programs.
After the meeting, Board of Education Chairman Scott Gillenwaters explained the new building will be part of Clinton High School and will help meet the high demand for trades-related classes like welding. The existing CTE facility is a standalone building near Anderson County High School, but serves both schools.
“It’s the same program but we’re making it easier for Clinton folks to get there,” Gillenwaters said.
Dutch Valley Playground
The Board of Education voted to give $15,000 to Dutch Valley Elementary School for a new playground, combining for a total of $40,000.
Dutch Valley Principal Stephanie Sherwood said the school is aiming for a “newer, more kid-friendly play structure.”
“We’ll find it somewhere,” Parrott said regarding the $15,000 the school system voted to give.
Fire alarm procedure
The board voted for a new procedure on fire alarm evacuations.
It aims to reduce unnecessary risks by having students stay in the building while administrators check the fire control panel and surveillance footage.
An administrator and a school resource officer will check the possible fire site to figure out if students need to evacuate.
If there’s no danger, an announcement will be made for students to go back to their classes.
However, if they find an intruder set off the alarm, the school will go into lockdown.
Staff members can proceed to evacuate the school if there is a real fire, however.
Gillenwaters wins AWARD
Gillenwaters recently won a 2024 School Board Member of the Year award. He will serve as chairman of the All Tennessee School Board.
The All Tennessee School Board nominee that receives the highest collective ranking by the judges is the recipient of the School Board Member of the Year/C. Hal Henard Distinguished Service Award. This person automatically serves as the chairman of the All Tennessee School Board.
The award goes to Board of Education members with “specific accomplishments,” “quality of service” and “leadership activities.”
“While on the board, student school board members have been added, chrome books have been provided to all students, and free breakfast and lunch has been provided to all students,” said a news release listing Gillenwaters’ accomplishments.
He has helped to put a school nurse in every school and increase the number of social workers and mental health therapists at the schools.”
Vehicles
The board will also vote to allocate $126,000 for special-education transfers.
Of that amount, $80,000 will go toward purchasing vans for student transport, with the rest for instructional supplies, materials, and a part-time delivery staff salary.
