Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Local students enjoying summer school

Summer school.

The very words have been known to send shivers down the back of school children.

Except in the case of the Prescott School District's summer program. Students in this district actually look forward to attending summer school, according to Pearl Bailey, president of the Prescott District Education Association (PDEA). Bailey discussed the summer program during the regular meeting of the Prescott School Board Tuesday, June 26.

Bailey said the average daily attendance in the summer program is more than 60 students, with 12 Prescott High School students working as tutors and mentors with the younger children.

The program serves students in kindergarten through the 11th grade, focusing on reading and math.

Those parents who know about the summer program have cooperated, but Bailey said, many parents don't know about it.

To help spread the word, parents are being called to see if they would be interested in having their child or children involved.

Parents can either bring their child or have them ride the bus, as buses are running for the program.

However, she said, anyone wanting to get their child or children involved in summer school needs to hurry and do so, as it ends July 19 for students.

With construction picking up on the new PHS gymnasium, installing a sound system became a priority.

Ron Wright, superintendent, said two bids for a sound system had been solicited, with one being local and the other from Benton.

The board went with the Benton company, Team Audio, because this is its specialty  installing sound systems.

Wright said the conduit work for the sound system needs to be installed before any interior painting is done.

The main controls for the system will be in the media room, with two microphone jacks at the scorers table, which will be in front of the home stands.

Other mike jacks will be installed near the agri building, should the gym need to be used for graduation ceremonies, or other functions involving large numbers of people.

There will be three speakers mounted on each side, pointed toward the people in the stands.

Two more speakers could be added on floor level to make sure anyone on the court could hear what's happening during non-athletic functions.

The cost for the system is $14,653.74. With the additional mike jacks and speakers, it will be $17,286.70.

In other business, the board approved a budget for the 2002-2003 school year.

In essence, the budget has no meaning, but is required by law. No district in the state is held to the two-year budget.

Prescott's board increased the current budget by 10 percent to come up with its two-year plan.

Rezoning was also discussed at the meeting.

Two zones will be involved, districts 1 and 2, held by Patricia Blake and George Odom. The change will move three blocks in the area of Hazel, Laurel and Gee streets.

Blake is in zone 1, with Odom in zone 2. Blake will lose the three blocks, which will be moved into Odom's district.

A policy was changed for staff members on day trips. The per diem meal fee was raised to $35, but the staffers must keep all receipts to be reimbursed.

Following an executive session, the board accepted four resignations and hired three teachers.

The four who resigned were Gaywyn Golden, an elementary teacher, Jane Purtle, Spanish teacher, Tate Gordon, assistant coach, and Cindy Escalante, who had signed a contract last month to teach math at PHS.

Those hired were Kelly Hines as an elementary teacher, Karen Johnson for English and oral communications and Miki Findley for Spanish.