Board recognizes SROs, CTE competition winners and students who served in The Bahamas

Elizabethton City Schools used part of its meeting to recognize school resource officers, career and technical education (CTE) students who placed at regional competitions, and a group of T.A. Duggar students who completed a week of service at Camp Bahamas on the island of Eleuthera.

District Director Richard Van Huss opened the recognitions by thanking SROs stationed across the system and said they have “really become part of the school family.” CTE director Brian Colbert and instructors introduced winners and participants in several events, including a first-place team in a “Battle of the Build” woodwork competition, finalists in culinary competitions at Bristol Motor Speedway, and business‑challenge participants who placed in the top three at a regional event.

Staff and students also described a recent service trip to Camp Bahamas: teacher Travis Smithdale and T.A. Duggar students worked on camp facilities, cleared brush for a paintball field, organized and bleached equipment rooms and made hygiene bags for a local school. Multiple students told the board the week-long service trip strengthened teamwork and provided perspective on community needs. “These are your future leaders,” T.A. Duggar principal Chris Berry said of the group.

District staff also highlighted music, band and winter guard competition results: mixed and men’s ensembles received superior ratings and the winter guard placed third at a national event, district leaders said.

The recognitions were acknowledgements only; the board did not take formal votes on the items.