A group of OES students rounds the corner of the walk-a-thon track.Instead of selling wrapping paper or cookie dough this year, Ooltewah Elementary School students walked to raise money for the school.
The school’s walk-a-thon raised nearly $25,000 – all to support classroom supplies for the art and science teachers the school hopes to gain next year. Each student turned pledged laps into dollars as they walked, ran and skipped around a track marked in the school’s parking lot. Loud music blared from speakers throughout the day as different age groups participated.
The school has been lobbying local and state government to provide OES with the salaries for one art and one science teacher. If they do, the school and community will do the rest, representatives have said.
While there’s no confirmation yet, PTA president Miranda Perez said she’s confident the school will get support for the new teachers.