Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ross promoted, board examines policy concerning physics class

Bonnie Ross, Gurdon School District's new Curriculum Coordinator, was on hand at the Tuesday, September 18, meeting of the Gurdon School Board.

Ross reported on the progress the school is making and what could possibly benefit the schools.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson said, "I believe we are on the right track."

Smithson also requested the board consider relieving Ross of her duties as keyboarding teacher in order to place direct attention on being curriculum coordinator. Smithson said it may be next year before they can find someone to replace Ross in the keyboarding classes.

At last month's meeting, Cheryl Reeves, was present to request her son be able to take Physics this school year in order for him to graduate early.

Reeve's told the board her son would still graduate as an honor student with his own class, but he was wanting to take Physics this year and Spanish II this summer in order to graduate early.

However, the problem was in the course description book were it specifically states Physics is for seniors only.

Reeves wanted to know if the board would waive the requirement for her son. The board moved to table the topic until more information could be found in order to make a fair decision.

The board was hoping to find out why the statement senior's only was in the course description.

Billy Tarpley said, "It must be in there for a reason, and until we know why I myself can't make a proper decision."

No action was taken on the topic at Tuesday night's meeting. The reason possibly being lack of information.

Several parents have contacted Smithson about the safety of their children who are transported from the old high school building each morning to the new schools.

Each day three bus loads of students are picked up at the old high school, which is now owned by Mike McKenzie and houses M&M Enterprises.

The parents's concerns led from all the new traffic in the area by all the trucks loading and unloading at M&M.

Smithson said, "This is a legitimate concern."However, the children have been asked to enter the fenced area at the bus garage when they arrive in the mornings. Jimmy Martin, bus superintendent, keeps an eye on the children until the busses arrive.

The board took no action on the topic, however Smithson said he would do whatever he had to in order to protect the children.

School Nurse, Carlita Escalante, drafted a new Medical Administration Policy which the school board approved.

The policy states the procedures were established in order to provide safe and effective method's for allowing students to take medications that must be taken during school hours. Medications that can be administered at other times will not be administered at school.

The principal and the school nurse will determine who will be responsible for administering medication during the absence of the nurse.

Along with several other guidelines the policy appeared to be thorough and expressed the safety of the children.

The final step the school board took on Tuesday night was the hiring of a new seventh and eighth grade English teacher.

Jason Hughes, a 1991 graduate of Gurdon High School, was given the position.