Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon School Wants Names

Some students currently attending school in the Delight School District are in a bit of a legal tangle with the Gurdon School District.

"It's time we notify Delight they are no longer driving a bus in our district," said Gurdon Superintendent Bobby Smithson during the Gurdon School Board meeting Feb. 15.

At the time of Okolona School District's consolidation into surrounding schools in 1987, students and their parents were given their choice of schools.

This has been the common assumption ever since, and is a false premise, according to Smithson.

In 1994, a letter was received by the Gurdon School District from Delight's Superintendent Randy Hughes. The letter requested the students who were attending Delight, yet resided in the Gurdon School District, be allowed to continue attending Delight schools.

Those students who moved into Okolona would be ordered to attend Gurdon unless legally transferred. Gurdon agreed.

On Feb. 2, Smithson drafted a letter requesting all the students names who are attending school in Delight and residing in the Gurdon School District.

When interviewed, Hughes acknowledged receiving the letter.

"We're trying to be good neighbors. . ." said Hughes, "and are abiding by the agreement." Hughes added there are nine students involved.

Smithson, when discussing the subject with the school board, estimated there are 10 to 13 students in this legal limbo. "Only two or three would still be allowed to attend Delight," he said.

Smithson related, "$1,000,000 in tax assessments goes to Delight (after the consolidation)."

"When a student is legally transferred there's documentation, I couldn't find the documentation," Smithson further stated.

Hughes said, "The bulk of the Okolona district went to Gurdon (after consolidation). We got most of the students, but not of the tax revenues."

To avoid any antagonism between the schools, these students may need to be legally transferred or attend Gurdon schools.

For now, Hughes announced he will be sending a letter of response.

Smithson stated to the board, "I hope it doesn't come to it, but we may have to go to court and file an injunction."