Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Construction is set to begin soon on new CTE buildings at both Claiborne and Cumberland Gap high schools. Bob Oakes and Daniel Satterfield shared information about the planned buildings during the April Board of Education meeting.

Oakes said the building project has gone through some hiccups and ups and downs over the past couple of years, but they are excited to announce the project is ready to move forward.

They shared slides with the blueprint of the buildings and showed where the new buildings will go on each campus.

“It’s basically going to be the same at both high schools and the buildings are identical,” Oakes said. “They’ll both have two classrooms and the set up is going to be the same. Facing out toward the front are two garage doors, there are two classrooms in the back with separate bathrooms and offices and small study rooms. The whole front half is going to be a workshop.”

The plans include a sidewalk connecting the buildings to the main school buildings at both high schools.

Oakes said Skilled Services out of Knoxville had won the bid for the project and all the contracts have been signed and the building permits are in place for work to begin.

“We’re looking at the first to the middle of next month for them to break ground on the project,” he said “The contract gives them 240 days to complete everything before they start getting assessed fines. . . Any way you look at it, the buildings should be completed by December and will be ready to use for the second semester in January.”

Satterfield said the new programs will be able to start in the fall at both schools because the first course is a fundamentals of construction course that can be taught in any classroom.

“By the time we get into the building we’ll actually be into the second program and third course, which is more hands-on,” he said.

He shared that the buildings are being added to house the mechanical, plumbing and electrical programs as well as HVAC.

“This is a very broad program that we’re very excited about. When we talk about certification opportunities for our students, it’s not just HVAC, there are going to be multiple opportunities,” Satterfield said. “Plumbing is going to be in there, electrical is going to be in there — it’s just a really cool program of study.”

He said each of the new buildings are 3200 square feet with one side dedicated to housing the HVAC program and the other side housing other new CTE programs.

“We’ve already got one program that we receive in partnership with TCAP in Morristown which is going to bring welding to Claiborne High School. We already have welding at Cumberland Gap,” he said. “We’re also looking at how we can expand our programs at Cumberland Gap as well. I’m telling you all that this is really exciting and these buildings will bring a lot of opportunities for our kids.”

Board member Dan Pearman said Cumberland Gap had already had welding students test out and start working through the program.

“I commend you guys for all you’re doing,” he said. “This will be a huge benefit to our communities. I’ve said this for years going back to when I was a teacher: Not every student is equipped to go to college, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to find a good living. These programs will give those students who are hands-on the opportunity to make as good of a living as those that go to four years of college.”

Satterfield said that in many cases they will make more money by working in the trades.

“Ultimately, every child in Claiborne County will have a pathway to a career that’s going to be high wage and high demand,” he said. “Whether that’s a four-year college or whether that’s going straight into the workforce, it doesn’t matter.”

Director of Schools Meredith Arnold said the specific programs being offered go back to when the schools reached out to the community and asked what was needed.

“A lot of effort and time and planning has been put into the layout of the buildings and I’ve very grateful to these two gentlemen,” she said.

Teachers in attendance also spoke highly of the Be Pro Be Proud program that was hosted by Claiborne High School’s CTE program. Middle school students were able to visit and sit in the cab of a tractor and use virtual reality headsets to see what it was like to operate heavy equipment.

SMMS principal Rudy Poore said the kids started working with the CTE program before spring break.

“They’re really excited about it,” he said. “We had Miss Tennessee come to visit and we gave them the option of going to see here or stay in the CTE module and every single one of them chose to stay in the CTE.”

Also during the April meeting, Andrea Wilson from H.Y. Livesay and SMMS was presented with the Tennessee Association of School Librarians Librarian of the Month Award. She had nominated by the administration of both schools.

Brad Lott from Springdale Elementary and the North Tazewll Volunteer Fire Department was recognized and presented a plaque for his commitment to student safety and fire safety. Also recognized was Paul Trupore from the Knox County Fire Department who was unable to attend the meeting.

Arnold presented Lott with a certificate of appreciation “in recognition of your dedication and hard work in coordinating the Fire Safety House visits with Claiborne County Schools from January 15 to March 5.”

“We also want to express our gratitude for your role in organizing volunteers from our local fire departments to assist in delivering this important safety initiative to our communities’ children. Your dedication and commitment ot Claiborne County goes well beyond the walls of Springdale Elementary School as is evidenced by the multitude of volunteer roles you fill in our community including Claiborne County’s Red Cross representative, Tennessee Federation of Fire Chaplains and as the Assistant Chief of North Tazewell Fire Department,” she continued. “Your selfless service and unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of others are an inspiration to all who know you. We are proud to recognize you for your invaluable contributions and we thank you for all you do for our community.”

Lott said he had the opportunity to visit the Fire Safety House in Knox County over a year ago and told Trumpore that he wished there was something like that in Claiborne County. He got letters sent in from the district to get Knox County to bring the Fire Safety House to local schools.

“It’s about a 40-foot long, 12-foot tall trailer,” Lott explained. “We had about 2,000 students from 134 classrooms go through and about 15 different people volunteered to staff it over 11 different days. They travel all over Knox County with this trailer every year and I kept hearing them say that we have great kids here, they’re really well-behaved. So kudos to all the administration and the teachers who make that happen.”

He said the Fire Safety House can come back to Claiborne County every three years.

The board voted 5-2 to to set the 2025-26 meeting schedule to be held at Claiborne High School from July to December and at Cumberland Gap High School from January to June instead of having the meetings at a different school each month.

They also approved a resolution signaling their intent to participate in the Education Freedom Act for a one-time teacher bonus.

During her committee report, Arnold said the language used in the resolution regarding the Freedom of Education Act was discussed. She said board approval of the resolution will result in teachers getting a one-time bonus and noted to the board members that their approval is only for teachers to get a monetary bonus and is not reflective of the board’s stance on the voucher program.

The board also approved establishing a Teacher Advisory Council.Arnold said the purpose of this council would be to “create a more inclusive, supportive and effective educational environment.”

“Our hope is by showing that we truly value the input of our teachers it will enhance the quality of education for all of our students and foster a thriving community of educators,” Arnold said. “This program will go into effect the following school year.”

A policy revision was also approved in regard to the alternative school. This change enables the director to place students at either placement facility on a case-by-case basis. Arnold said currently there is a 1st through 6th grade facility on the Powell Valley campus and a 7th through 12th grade facility adjacent to the Soldier’s Memorial Middle School campus.

The following changes are also approved for employee benefits, effective January 1, 2026:

• the implementation of Maintenance Matters;

• the implementation of Exclusive Specialty Pharmacy Network;
• the implementation of Member Pays the Difference;
• and adding dental, vision, and hearing to retiree benefits as of April 1, 2025.

The next board meeting will be May 8 at Claiborne High School.