Carter County board approves in-place repair of Hampton High, authorizes superintendent to sign disaster grants

The Carter County Board of Education at a special-called meeting voted to repair and mitigate Hampton High School at its existing location and gave Superintendent Dr. Carpenter authority to sign disaster-recovery grants.

Board members discussed four options for flood-impacted school locations before selecting Option 4, which would repair Hampton High in place and include mitigation work. The board also unanimously approved a separate motion authorizing Dr. Carpenter to execute grants and related paperwork needed for recovery work.

The decision follows severe flooding that county officials said damaged hundreds of homes and multiple pieces of public infrastructure. Mayor Patty and county officials gave the board an update on countywide damage and ongoing recovery contracts before the school-specific discussion began.

Dr. Carpenter, superintendent of Carter County Schools, told the board he needed “authorization to sign for the grants that pertain to the disaster recovery,” citing urgency and reimbursement rules tied to federal programs. The board approved that authorization in a motion moved by Keith Bowers and seconded by Danny Ward; the vote recorded Yes from Keith Bowers, Renee Lewis, Tony Garland, Dylan Hill, Gary Oaks, Jeremiah Tolley, Danny Ward and one additional vocal affirmative, and the…