Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott board accepts resignation

Early in the meeting, the Prescott School Board went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.

The session lasted more than an hour, with members of the audience gathered in the Prescott Elementary School cafeteria called in to speak to the board.

In the end, the panel, in its regular monthly meeting, agreed to accept the resignation of Gerald McLelland, a bus driver for the district. No further mention was made of what went on in the session.

Otherwise, it was business as usual for the group.

Ron Wright, Prescott superintendent, told the board enrollment was up by six from October, with the student population standing at 1,011. This, he said, is on track with last year's figures.

On the topic of the new gymnasium, Wright said the board may have to make a decision on what to do about the floor in the near future.

It seems there are "ripples" in the floor's finish. However, Wright said, the problems will have no effect on how basketball games are played, as the "ripples" are more cosmetic than anything.

Still, he said, the district paid for a professional job and this is what it expects in return for the people's money.

The scoreboard has yet to be installed, but will be once the floor has cured. This should be done before the first of the year.

Wright said the building fund has a balance of $214,293, with $100,000 being pledged for reimbursing district funds. The other $114,293 will be used for parking lots and other finishing touches for the gym.

The board also agreed to have the district apply for a credit card. This card will be used to book rooms for travel and other staff development purposes, primarily out of town meetings.

Debra McGough will be the only person with the authority to use the card, which will remain in the district's administrative offices.

All purchases will be itemized and appear on the board's monthly financial report.

Pearl Bailey, with the Prescott District Education Association, informed the board American Education Week was underway. It was kicked off with a community coffee Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Family and Community Services Building (formerly the Home Economics building) at Prescott High School.

Representatives of the National Education Association and the American Legion met in 1919 to seek ways of generating public support for education in the country.

The end result, she said, was the two groups adopting resolutions supporting a national effort to raise public awareness of the importance of education.

American Education Week was first observed on Dec. 4-10, 1921, with the NEA and American Legion acting as co-sponsors. Now, though, the event is observed the week before Thanksgiving.

She also pointed out President George W. Bush has proclaimed the week of Thanksgiving as Veteran Awareness Week.

The board approved pay raises of $1,500 this year for certified personnel, with non-certified personnel to be given a percentage-based raise.

However, the raises are contingent on the figures from the state on tax returns. Should the funds be there, Wright said, the raises will go into effect by the Christmas holidays.

Deon Hyacinth is applying for a $120,000 grant for staff development. The grant deals primarily with the Benchmark exams and helping students in grades 4-8 do better on these tests.