The Advocate and Democrat

It might be summer break but the Sweetwater Board of Education still meets and did again Monday for the board’s June meeting.

Director of Schools Dr. Keith Hickey gave board members a brief list of highlights for the 2007-08 school year, which just ended.

The list included:

• Another state pre-K classroom added

• Standardized test scores continued to trend upward

• Writing scores at record high at junior high

• All special education students who are on portfolio assessment scored proficient and above

• A record number of eighth-graders

• Opened $1.3 million classroom addition and kitchen remodel at junior high

• Expanded Fast ForWord lab with another assistant

• City spelling bee champion, Ryan Daggs, tied for second place at regional spelling bee in Knoxville

• Junior high choir received highest possible rating

• Received grant for Coordinated School Health program

• Began archer program in schools, junior high formed competitive team

• Added roller skating, noodle hockey, wall climbing, Dance Dance Revolution, roller skating

• Created five high-tech classrooms with Promethean systems

• Added part-time social worker/mentor/student support person at junior high.

In other board business, the board voted to have architect Sam Moser study a recent state fire marshal report on Sweetwater Elementary School.

Hickey said most years the inspector has found very little wrong with the aging school but this year the inspector found more.

Hickey did not foresee major problems addressing the report and said three of five issues listed have already been fixed.

But the inspector said a stairwell in the old building needs to be separated from adjacent floors and that construction requires plans from a licensed engineer.

The school system is still interviewing candidates to replace Special Ed Coordinator Pam Parkinson, who left to go to another school system.

tommy.millsaps@advocateand democrat.com | 337-7101

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