A concrete proposal

By Staff
Eagle Scout project helps local school
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
The vision of one young man and the assistance of numerous Boy Scouts, parents, educators and businesses across Hartselle have paved the way for less traffic and congestion in the hallways of F.E. Burleson Elementary School.
Hartselle High School senior Kelly Sandefer, 17, chose the grounds of BES to complete his Eagle Scout project. With a total of $1,965 in donated materials and more than 312 man-hours invested in the project, Sandefer and a team of volunteers built two concrete walkways, measuring 88-feet and 55-feet in length, in the school's courtyard.
"The walkways are very practical, they are not just for looks," Principal Joe Walters said. "Third through fifth grade students use them to move from the gym to their classrooms each morning, which greatly lessens the traffic and congestion in the hallways. We're very appreciative for that. Kelly did a great job."
Sandefer is the son of Mike Sandefer of Birmingham and Ginny Carden of Hartselle, a fourth grade teacher at BES.
"I teach with my classroom door closed because students can be easily distracted by other students traveling the halls," Carden said. "But now that so many classes are using the walkways, there is much less distracting traffic, which is great. I'm really proud of Kelly for choosing this project."
"I knew there were lots of things that needed to be done here, but I picked this project because the kids needed it," Sandefer said. "I'd like to thank all the volunteers and businesses who helped me make it happen."
The following area businesses contributed to the project: DCA Ready Mix USA, Dobbs Equipment Co., Inc., Carroll and Corum Building Supply Company, Fowler Pharmacy, F.E. Burleson Elementary PTO, Byford Plumbing &Electric Supply, Inc., Vulcan Materials Company, Buy-Rite Drugs, Americ Equipment Rental, Tennessee Valley RC&D, Tim Scott Farms in Cullman, and other individual donors.
Sandefer, Hartselle Boy Scout Troop 336 and Scout Master Scott Owen began the planning phase of the project Jan. 26 and began construction Feb. 28. The project was completed March 7.
Hartselle Boy Scout Troop 336, under the direction of Scout Master Scott Owen, and numerous volunteers assisted Kelly Sandefer with his Eagle Scout project at F.E. Burleson Elementary School where two concrete walkways were lain to lessen student traffic and congestion in the school's hallways.