Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ticket, lunch prices rising in Gurdon School District

Football tickets and school lunches may cost a little more when school starts this fall, according to Gurdon Superintendent Bobby Smithson.

The district is having to supplement the food service an additional $15,000, with most of these funds due to a 5 percent raise given to the food service workers.

Smithson said, "We gave our food service people a 5 percent raise and the cost of food has gone up due to fuel cost."

As of now the increase in lunch and ticket prices are not set in stone, but could become a major topic at the next few school board meetings.

The board was brought up to date on the summer school program. There are 50 students in Gurdon Primary School, 19 in Cabe Middle School and 32 in Gurdon High School.

At last month's meeting it was decided no student can take more than one English or math class at the same time.

Therefore, summer school gives the students who failed either of these classes the opportunity to catch up.

Teachers said the students are working hard and are optimistic the program is already a success.

Smithson updated the board on construction projects underway.

First was the new pavilion at CMS, which is complete except for the lights. The district plans to let bids on those soon.

The second of the projects is the parking lot at the west end of the football field. So far the dirt has been removed and the ground prepared for gravel. The gravel is planned to be hauled next week.

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department has also sent approval to have another entrance added to the school off Highway 67.

The baseball field is also coming along, he said. The backstop has been installed and the wire has been provided for the outfield fence. School personnel will put up the fence when time is allowed. Dugouts and bleachers are going to be planned in next year's budget.

Smithson also said the CMS P.E. building will have a cover installed on it this summer.

Teachers who attended the meeting learned Smithson and the board had decided to go with option two for the 2001-02 school calendar. This means the teachers will be allowed five full days to prepare for teacher in-service.

These five days will count as student days, but without students. These days will also take the place of early dismissal days.

Changes to the student handbooks were also discussed.

Rita Roe, the GPS principal, was on hand with a few suggestions.

She said the handbook will state each student's grade will now have to reflect their actual work grade.

She also said the handbook will request parents not send any type of carbonated beverages to school with their child.

Her final change was any student who keeps a 96 percent on their conduct will be allowed to go on a special field trip at the end of the year unless the student has been suspended.

There were only two changes to the CMS handbook. The first was to add five minutes to the school day, and the second was to not allow spiral notebooks of any kind this coming year.

Gurdon High School had several of changes to its handbook. Football now counts as a P.E. credit, under proper supervision.

Transcripts and diplomas must now come with seals on them.

Students are now allowed to take college courses and count them for high school credit.

Anyone attending the Close-Up program will have to maintain a C average in all courses.

Repeated violation of the dress code will now lead to ISS.

Every time a student has an un-excused tardy they will receive detention. Fourth time un-excused tardies will result in ISS.

A school calender will now be included in the back of the handbook.