Derek Martin of American Constructors told Bradley County school board members on Thursday night that the addition to Valley View Elementary is almost complete and renovations should be finished by mid-January.

New construction of the $9.7 million Park View Elementary on Minnis Road is scheduled to be completed in time for 2010-11 classes to begin. Board members were shown roofing and brick samples that, according to Angie Lyon with Kaatz, Binkley, Jones and Morris Architects, blend the building into the natural environment surrounding the site.

Ms. Lyon also presented the board with a rendering of the exterior of Bradley Central’s new Fine Arts building.

Board member Christie Critchfield made a motion to approve on second reading Policy 6.307.1 Drug and Alcohol Testing of Students. The proposed policy was prepared by the school board attorney using language referenced in the Tennessee Code and adopted by the State Board of Education. The motion passed unanimously.

The newly formed Ethics Committee met this week to elect officers. Board member Terry McGuire will be President and board member Charlie Rose will be Chairman. Former Juvenile Judge C. Van Deacon will serve on the board and others will be named. This committee will soon begin working on a Code of Ethics for the Bradley County School System.

Approximately 1,100 computers have been placed in classrooms with stimulus funds received under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Technology Supervisor Scott Humberd made the board aware that areas churches and White Wing Book Store are allowing parents without computers at home to access their child’s report cards online.

The Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA) has awarded Bradley County Schools with an Excellence in Education award for its reading program. Director of Schools Johnny McDaniel said “it is one of the best in the state.”

Bradley County Education Association (BCEA) President Barbara Harrison read a statement in support of Bradley County Schools joining in the Race to the Top application process. Race to the Top will use stimulus funds from the Federal Government passed on to states that apply. The application must be signed by Director of Schools Johnny McDaniel, chairman of the school board David Kelley, and a representative from the local teachers association.

In Director McDaniel’s Good News Report:

Blue Springs Elementary celebrated the annual Bring Your Dad to School Day with breakfast and students reading to their fathers.

Courtney Johnson and Aaron Kannengieser, Bradley High band members, were selected by a very competitive application process to participate in the Lee University Honor Band.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provided dental care to 70 students at Charleston.

The Beta Club at Lake Forest Middle School collected 65 and Ocoee Middle School collected 55 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

The Tennessee Wildlife Search and Rescue Canine Unit visited classes at Michigan Avenue Elementary.

New computers have been installed in each classroom at Oak Grove Elementary from a $20,000 grant funded by BEST Partner Duracell, a division of Proctor and Gamble.

The following ninth grade members of the Walker Valley Mustang Bank were selected by audition for the All=East Tennessee Junior Honor Bank: Alexis Fay, Sierra Ellison, Morgan Corum, Beth Roebuck, Clay Butler, Sarah Everette, John Burton, Matt Taylor, Bradley Wetherill, Isaac Beaty and Andrew Atkinson.

Bradley County Schools has initiated an online Staff Directory available to all system employees and the public. The system will also begin an on=line application process on Dec. 14.