Board honors winter athletes, hears parent complaint about travel‑team gym fees; approves EHS weight‑room renovation bid

The Elkin City Schools board recognized winter athletic accomplishments across programs and then addressed two facilities items affecting student athletes.

Amanda Burton (speaker 5) and Coach Joey Hurrell (speaker 6) detailed winter team honors and individual awards, including conference and state qualifiers across basketball, swimming, track and wrestling. The board invited two student athletes in the audience to stand during recognition.

During the public‑forum segment, parent Mindy Reniger (speaker 9) told the board that travel sports teams formed by Elkin coaches help students develop skills affordably but that this year some teams faced unexpected gym‑use charges: she said volleyball teams paid a little over $1,500 for roughly six gym uses and that a comparable neighboring district allowed access at no cost. Reniger asked the board to reconsider the fee or find compromise; board members asked follow‑up questions and thanked her for speaking.

Separately, Dr. Hall presented two bids to renovate the Elkin High weight/locker room: Advantage Sport and Fitness at $103,872.17 and Red Zone Strength (a local Salisbury firm) at $96,782.56. Dr. Hall recommended the Red Zone Strength bid and noted available county lottery funds and an estimated $200,000 balance held by the county that can be requested for capital projects. The board moved to accept the recommended contractor and approved proceeding with the renovation pending final HVAC quotes and county fund requests.

Dr. Hall also reported that new bleachers for a gym have been ordered and that the project team expects installation soon. Board discussion connected the facility improvements to increasing student participation in weight classes and creating a safer, more inviting environment.

The board did not make a policy decision on travel‑team gym fees during the meeting; the public comment was taken under advisement.