Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

GPS Construction Over Budget, Not Finished Yet

Gurdon's School Board will be hunting for money to finish the Gurdon Primary School renovations.The construction cost for the Gurdon Primary School (GPS) renovations has ended up $59,877.83 over budget. When first budgeted, the district had $800,000 to spend. Now, the total cost to date the construction is $1,890,948, and work at the primary isn't finished.

It shouldn't be hard to see where the money has gone. For example, it was pointed out by district secretary, Betsy Hearst that the washbasins alone for GPS were $1,800 each, with 10 installed.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson and the board are investigate having the track refinished with polyurethane, which would cost an estimated $75,000. Members of the board will be traveling to Mena and Lake Hamilton later this year to check out the work of an interested company.

The uniform committee members were approved by the board after some discussion on the legality of the list being "packed with teachers," as Smithson put it. Smithson had checked into the legalese concerning teachers serving on the committee. "Teachers can serve on the committee as long as they are parents," he said.

The board had received a quote from Hoffman-Henry Insurance of Pine Bluff, but the Arkansas School Board Association (ASBA) insurance is only higher by $1,183. Plus, Smithson relayed that he believe it would behoove the school to remain with the ASBA because "They gave us builders risk at no extra cost . . . they've been really good to us." Currently, the average cost of insurance for the buildings is $60 per square foot.

February 1st is the anniversary date for the buildings and vehicles insurance to be renewed. But Smithson did convey his belief that the contents of the band building had been under insured. "We've got $50,000 for the band equipment, I think we need $100,000."

The school board approved the transfer of a student experiencing problems at Gurdon to go to the Bismark school system. "It will serve him well to have a change of environment, I recommend we allow it," stated Smithson. "The student was involved in a fight last year and failed a class at the beginning of the year," continued Smithson. The board approved the transfer.

Some years ago the school board deemed it illegal' for a student to transfer without their approval. Most schools require the approval of the previous school before they will accept a student transfer.

The members of the school board were presented their Code of Ethics' papers, otherwise called "Statement of Financial Interest." It is a lengthy 10 page form according to Smithson. The members must return it by Jan. 30, so they can be filed with the Clark County Clerk's office. The papers are required for any elected official.

The members of the board approved time off for a teacher's aid to complete classes vital to earning a degree in education. This had been done before, but the previous request was for completion of a higher degree by a certified teacher.

Sandra Hitt, choir instructor for Cabe Middle School and Gurdon High School, presented four of the 15 students who qualified for All Region Choir. Junior high students, Katie Barbaree and Nathan Sorball, and high school students, Jerime Means and Nicole Orsbone were presented with merit awards from the school board president, Jesse Runyan. The other students will receive their awards from Hitt.

Rita Roe, elementary principal, is planning an open house to show the public the renovated GPS building in March. The board briefly commented about holding one of the future school board meetings there.