Some of Beaufort County’s top school officials joined volunteers and the staff of the Beaufort County Ed Tech Center on Tuesday to help ready the school for the start of the new school year Monday. Their work closed the book on repairs to damage caused by Hurricane Irene when it struck the North Carolina coast last August. The hurricane caused extensive damage to the roof of the main classroom building at the Ed Tech Center, leading school officials to relocate classes at the school on North Bridge Street in Washington. Helping in the effort was Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps (right), who was joined by William Bryant (center), the school’s principal. Others helping out were the Washington AAU basketball program and BCS Central Office personnel. (Submitted Photo/Beaufort County Schools)