Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

District Facing Budget Crunch

"Gurdon School District's first concern should be staying in budget," announced superintendent Bobby Smithson at the February meeting of the Gurdon School Board.

The district is feeling pinched in operating funds, and this time of year is normally a low point in cash flow. The discomfort is increased by the pressure on the operating fund to help support the building fund.

Competition for the recent sale of Gurdon's second lien bonds was brisk. A financial advisor for the district and vice-president of Stephens Inc. of Little Rock, David Smith said, "This is the closest bid I've ever worked on." The winning bid for the $300,000 in bonds was chosen by a difference of $13.97 in the net interest cost.

The 'middle man' companies with the winning numbers were Sterne, Agee, and Leach of Birmingham, Ala. The trustee, actual holders of the bonds, will be Farmer's Bank and Trust of Magnolia.

The construction bonds were issued as 10-year bonds. The benefit in raising money this way for the school is found in the 20 percent the state will be paying. The state pays 20 percent of the school's 'annual debt service.' This encourages the schools to use this type of debt.

Construction still lacks minor finishing, one being the creation of a flume, a concrete drainage ditch for the front of the primary school. The others are sidewalks in the back of the building. The weather has delayed the laying of the concrete.

Smithson covered many areas in the budget during review of the financial report, one of which was food service.

Currently, the food service budget is showing a deficit pending the arrival of funds from federal reimbursement. Concerning costs of meals Smithson stated, "Next year we'll have to go up a lot."

Discussion involving improvement of educational scores arose. Some of Smithson's suggestions consisted of extended days, summer school, tutoring and mandatory summer school. Also, suggested was a policy of requirements for passing. "With more science and math being required, there are bound to be more failures . . . We've got to get away from this low 30th percentile," Smithson said.

During the executive session held toward the end of the meeting, the board discussed the contract of superintendent Smithson. When the board resumed the meeting, the motion was made and voted on to extend the contract for another year.

At the meeting held in January, the contract had been approved for another year. Smithson's contract will now expire in 2002.

The school district received a bid of $25,000 for the old high school property from M&M Enterprises, currently located on Highway 67 South in Gurdon. The board was extremely reluctant to let the property go for such a low price.

Several suggestions were made including retaining the area with the football field on it in hopes of higher value later.

Board member Billy Tarpley remarked, "Every business in the district is valuable and everyone benefits from it."

The board decided to counter propose an offer of $40,000 for the whole of the property with the stipulation that the offer must be officially accepted within 30 days of notification.

The board agreed to allow Smithson to notify M&M Enterprises of the counter offer.

Third on the new business list for the meeting was discussion of the four snow days the school is required by law to make up.

Board members agreed with Smithson's recommendation to hold classes on previously scheduled winter break days.

School will be held on Feb. 21 President's Day, March 17 teacher in-service day, and April 21 Good Friday. The fourth and final day to be 'made-up' will be held on Saturday, May 27, when students may pick up the children's report cards.

During the discussion the comment was made questioning polling the teachers for their opinion.

Smithson had sought the opinions of the three school principals as to feeling expressed to them by their teachers.

Smithson continued, commenting, "We certainly have the authority to decide when to make them up, no one wants to give up spring break . . . This seems the most logical way."

Smithson stated there was, as yet, no official word concerning a pardon for the days from Governor Mike Huckabee.

Shortly after portions of the state were declared disaster areas, a rumor began implying the governor would pardon schools from making up the days.

Smithson explained, in his words, his "conservative actions" in letting school out for the Monday, Jan. 31, and Tuesday, Feb. 1, following the record-breaking storm. "The Kansas loop, Red Springs Road and the Burtsell area were still troublesome, . . . Ice and school buses don't accommodate each other very well."

Continuing along that same line, Smithson refreshed the boards' memory concerning a bus incident a few years ago in which the bus was turned over after sliding on an icy road.

The schools did receive some damage from the snow fall. Ranging approximately $10,000 to $15,000, the damage consisted of rain gutters pulling away from the buildings out at Cabe Middle School and Gurdon High School, bent or moved heater ventilation pipes and the kindergarten canopy at Gurdon Primary School.

Some of the repairs have already been made, and all of the damage has been reported to the insurance company.

Near the end of the meeting, Smithson covered some recently acquired statistics from the state department for fiscal year 1997-1998.

The district was estimated to have spent $4,436 per student based on average daily attendance. The district is paid approximately $4,000 per student.

The district ranked 94th out of 300 schools in Arkansas in average teachers' salaries. "We're in the top third in the state for salaries, not including the most recent raises," expressed Smithson.

The Gurdon High Cheerleader squad, requested through GHS principal Leonard Gills, the school board place a banner in the gym for their win in state competition.

School board president Jesse Runyan suggested the board wait on deciding for the moment. Runyan suggested there are many groups who may have banner recognition coming their way for their accomplishments over the past year, such as the band and the golf team.

Runyan commented, "I don't want to overlook anyone."

Smithson commented, "Cost of banners usually runs anywhere from $150-$200."

Board members Billy Tarpley and Stan Escalante conveyed praise for the golf team.

Gills finished informing the board stating, "I've looked into it and this is the first state win for Gurdon's cheerleaders."

The board members toured the newly renovated GPS before the regularly scheduled meeting. GPS principal Rita Roe proudly progressed from room to room conveying the comments of pleased teachers who have been enjoying the improvements.

The most drastic improvement would be a toss up between the new bathrooms and the new teachers lounge.

The bathrooms are divided up between grades. The counselor's lounge is still in the process of being completed, but clearly they will be pleased if it turns out to be anything near the quality of the teacher's lounge.

The new furniture furnished by the Cabe Foundation, light wood paneling and new carpet make the room seem a complete island in the middle of the school.

Anyone caring to view the same rooms and renovations as the school board members, GPS is holding its open house on Sunday, Feb. 27, from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m.