Carter County board approves moving sixth–eighth graders to expand CTE access

The Carter County Board of Education voted Wednesday to move sixth‑, seventh‑ and eighth‑grade students from two elementary campuses to nearby schools, a change board members said will expand access to career and technical education courses and save district operating costs. The board approved moving sixth–eighth graders from Unica Elementary to the Hunter campus and moving sixth–eighth graders from Central to Happy Valley Middle School after separate roll‑call votes.

Board members and district staff framed both moves as a way to open space for CTE programming at the middle school level. District presenters and a representative from the regional technical college said earlier in the meeting that expanding CTE offerings — robotics, welding, automotive, diesel and other career pathways — is a district priority and that exposing students to those options as early as sixth grade will create clearer pathways into high‑school CTE and industry certifications.

The CTE presentation described partnerships with TCAT (a regional technical college), dual‑enrollment arrangements with Northeast State, and a long list of technical and college‑credit courses available to Carter County students. Richard Church of TCAT described a spring event that drew more than 300 eighth‑grade students from across the school system and listed about 200 high‑school students enrolled in various TCAT programs this spring. He said the partnership had allowed the college to reinvest tens of thousands of dollars into local CTE programs.

Board discussion focused on facilities limits, special‑education classroom needs, athletics and band logistics, and the practical steps necessary to start CTE pilots in middle schools. Board members asked whether the Hunter campus could accommodate a full K–8 configuration; district staff said Hunter’s cafeteria and other facilities currently limit expansion so the board is starting by moving only grades 6–8. Staff said further facility work or additions would be required before any broader grade reconfigurations.

Votes at a glance - Move sixth–eighth grade from Unica Elementary to Hunter: motion passed (roll call recorded in transcript; several yes votes and two no votes). - Move sixth–eighth grade from Central to Happy Valley Middle School: motion passed 6–2 (roll call recorded in transcript).

The board asked staff to proceed with the transitions with implementation timed around the end of the school year; staff said logistics (bus routes, special‑education placements and athletics/band schedules) will be worked out during the summer. District presenters reiterated that the moves were intended to expand early CTE exposure — including robotics — and to provide students a head start toward industry certifications and dual‑enrollment credit.

The board’s approvals at Wednesday’s meeting are the latest step in a multi‑meeting discussion the district began in workshops, where staff said the moves could create recurring operating savings and better align CTE opportunities across feeder patterns. District staff will report back with implementation details and any adjustments needed for athletics, cafeteria capacity and special‑education services.