Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Architect Is Hired For Auditorium

Bobby Smithson, Gurdon School District superintendent and the Gurdon School Board have hired Trull-Hollensworth Architect of Magnolia.

The architects will be working with the Horace Cabe Foundation and others in constructing a proposed $2 million, 2,000 seat auditorium for the district.

The district chose Trull-Hollensworth after comparing it against Twin Rivers Architects of Arkadelphia. Twin Rivers offered a 6% fee cost with a nine to 10 month construction time. Trull-Hollensworth offered a 5% fee with less than a year construction time.

Trull-Hollensworth Architects were the firm used for the construction of the Gurdon school complex on 67 South.

The project is expected to take another year in raising the approximate $2 million goal. Anita Cabe of the Horace Cabe Foundation and John Hall of Henderson State University will be in charge of an committee appointed specifically to raise funds, consult on construction and supervise other decisions.

Three locations are in consideration for placement of the auditorium. Under scrutiny are the areas directly North of the Cabe Student Center, in-between the high school and Cabe Middle School and across the surface road from the high school.

Board officials hope to place administrative offices in the proposed building also.

Smithson announced the Gurdon School District will finish in the black if everything goes according to plan. The board approved the GSD 2000-2001 budget.

According to Smithson there may even be enough money later on after all items come in to consider a cost of living raise for the teachers.

Smithson reiterated the cost of living raises will depend on the school following the approved budget. "I believe we'll have $37,200 left, first, before we give raises we'll have to wait to make sure those two items come in," conveyed Smithson.

Also, passed was the athletic budget presented by Coach John Pace. Present at the meeting, Pace commented on the lack of interest by the young ladies in the school to the first year of Gurdon's volleyball program. The discussion of the specifics of the program and athletic budget concluded without questions from the board.

The acre of land, previously discussed at the prior board meetings, was mentioned in passing. School board member, Tommy Overby reassured Smithson, he would continue to communicate with the Crossroads Baptist Church inquiring to their interest in the land.

Overby said, "You know they could take us to court and sue us for the cost of up-keep on the land over the past years. At least, that's what an attorney I talked to said."

There will be new students attending this year, 15 of them according to Smithson. These 15 will allow the school $70,000 more in funding.

The board has accepted the resignation of the Lady Go-Devils basketball coach, Sandra Hatley. The long-time Gurdon native has accepted a position in the Warren School District.

During executive session the board rehired the bus drivers and food service employees. Also, newly hired were Maxine Weems as media specialist for the high school and Betty Marsh, bus driver.