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Kingsport board accepts $500,000 gift for teacher supports, honors students and DBXL teacher
Summary
The board accepted a $500,000 donation earmarked for teacher professional learning and grants, heard reports from student delegates who attended a statewide SCOPE conference, and accepted a $9,804 gift from the Julius C. West Foundation for DBXL classroom equipment and recognition of teacher Antonia Adenolfi.
The Kingsport City Schools Board on May 12 accepted a $500,000 gift routed through the Kingsport Education Foundation and used the meeting to recognize student and teacher achievements.
Mr. Fry told the board the $500,000 donation from Mr. and Mrs. Baharti and Natu Patel will support teacher professional learning, stipends for highly effective teachers who mentor others, teacher‑driven grants for instructional materials and technology, and STEM tool upgrades. Administration recommended acceptance and the board approved the donation.
During recognitions, Miss Jackson highlighted 60 students who completed post‑secondary technical certificates with Northeast State Community College through DBXL and Dobbins Bennett partnerships and called up students by program. Chase Howard, who came to lead the pledge, told the board he “graduated with the other middle college students with an associates of science in the humanities department” and said he plans to pursue a doctorate in epidemiology or biostatistics.
Tony Nelson of the Julius C. West Foundation presented a $9,804 check to DBXL to buy a laser cutter and router for a digital arts/science classroom. Nelson summarized the foundation’s commitments and said the board’s funding decision for that gift was unanimous.
Student delegates who attended the Tennessee School Boards Association SCOPE conference described debate topics. Andrea Gordon said her group opposed moving funding from arts to career and technical education, proposing instead that small revenue sources such as sports ticket receipts be considered to support arts and CTE. Piper Osterhaus and other delegates summarized arguments in favor of extracurricular participation and reported audience voting on the debate topics.
The board paused for applause and photographs to honor students and educators. No formal vote was required for the recognitions themselves; the donation acceptance was authorized as a formal business action.
