Ed Tech Center debuts renovated gym

Published 7:06 pm Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Last Thursday was a day of celebration at Beaufort County Ed Tech Center.

After months of construction, the school debuted its newly renovated gym space with a school-wide celebration, which included games, entertainment and food provided by First Baptist Church.

The renovations were made possible by around $60,000 of grant money from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, as part of Healthy Places NC, an initiative to improve health care opportunities in rural areas. Bright Futures Beaufort County helped to facilitate the grant award.

Kate B. Reynolds also granted funds to go toward seven other projects around the county, including renovated basketball and tennis courts at S.W. Snowden Elementary School, a walking trail at John Small Elementary and an improved playground and walking loop at Northeast Elementary.

“The grant was given to the Ed Tech Center in the spring, and over the summer, the renovations started,” Principal Betty Jane Green said. “We have gone through painting, a new gym floor, new backboards and rims, new volleyball equipment and installation of the … supports of the volleyball nets, etc.”

Green said the newly renovated gym makes a big difference for the students, as they are now excited about exercising and having a space to hold basketball and volleyball games. The school began a partnership with TEACH (The Eastern Association of Christian Homeschooler) to start a basketball team during the last school year.

“It’s really made the students appreciate the efforts of the adults to get them a facility that we can be proud of,” she said. “They just feel a sense of pride in the school and a pride in the facility itself.”

The work isn’t finished yet, however, as Green said the school is also expecting the installation of new bleachers soon. She said the students and staff are more than ready to make use of a fully functioning facility.

Green said she is grateful to all parties involved in making the gym and sports teams a reality at the Ed Tech Center.

“The celebration was really just an impromptu ‘let’s have a good time’ sort of day,” she said. “A big thank you to everyone involved. … It was a big effort, and everybody really did the utmost that they could.”