Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Crowd backs Burson

The crowd of an estimated 40 students, parents and faculty addressed the Gurdon School Board members for the first 30 minutes or so of it's regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, May 21 at the Cabe Student Center on the Gurdon High School campus.

The majority of the students were band members who came to show their support for Bruce Burson, assistant band director.

Burson's contract, along with four others were not going to be picked up by the district in the 2002-2003 school year. According to the board members and superintendent, Bobby Smithson, it was a decision based on lack of funds.

Four students spoke about the countless achievements, awards, first for Gurdon, sweepstakes, scholarships, and rankings. Benefits, the students and others, directly related to the accessibility provided by two directors verses one.

Three of the four students speaking were Amanda Branson, Hayli Coon, and Sydney Foshee.

Six points for consideration were presented to the board by Hayli Coon and Sydney Foshee. They were:

(1) The physical and mental strain of instructing and seeing to the needs of three bands of various age groups.

(2) A permanent secondary school employee for all trips and functions.

(3) Class loads for band and fine art classes are more demanding.

(4) Ability to continue with scheduled curriculum and events in absence of one personnel without the need of a substitute.

(5) Ability to allow students access, despite multiple events occurring simultaneously.

(6) Greater ability to discipline students with presence of two sponsors.

Representing the band boosters were Cheryl Reed, and Dill and Linda Hulan.

Reed provided a list of recent band accomplishments to reference the unique and widespread success of the Gurdon band program, as it stands.

All three adults had nothing but praise about the attributes of Burson's teaching skills.

The whole of the group requested the board to reconsider and find a way to pick up Burson's contract.

One band booster was able to present 189 signatures in support of Burson and the position he fills, during one Saturday afternoon within a three-hour span.

Allen Wimberly, GHS band director, assured the board of this group's own interest in the issue without any prodding from the faculty.

He continued, expressing the indispensable nature of Burson's position, his dedication and conviction when working with the students, and the many extra efforts which enhance the band program.

Wimberly said, "Gurdon has been a model for small schools in Arkansas, and you (the school board) should be applauded for supporting this, years ago. I have band directors from all over the state call and asking me to list what we've done to build this program. Gurdon is looked up to for its band program."

Burson spoke in gratitude for the comments on his behalf and conveyed his interest in continued participation with this program and the wonderful students.

When questioned about the board making a decision during the meeting, they were informed by School Board President, Jesse Runyan, "I support the band 100 percent . . . no decisions can be made until we know what our 03 budget is."

Bonnie Ross, GSD's curriculum director, gave her report with recently returned statistics from a variety of test. "We're really proud of our test scores," Ross said.

"Aside from refocusing on the basics . . . a lot of hard work and effort by the teachers are what has brought these moved these grades forward. We can look at these test scores and hope they will be similar to the Benchmarks, which will come back in August."

Smithson said, "You are to be commended and the staff is to be commended."

She was positive about improvements by the middle school. Smithson reflected the sentiment.

Jean Smithey, Prime Time director, said "You know what it is . . . you get after school programs and the grades go up." The entire group laughed.

Smithey said the ending of the after school programs and commented on the current plans for community involved activities during the summer.

Prime Time will be encouraging students toward community service, especially juniors and seniors, who after working 100 volunteer hours, will be awarded a certificate signed by the President of the United States and a gold pin. Two $1,000 scholarships may be achieved through this program.

Pat Talley, fourth grade teacher at Gurdon Primary School, reported on the decisions made by the Gurdon Educational Association. She spoke on personnel committee issues.

During the financial report, Smithson presented the board members with copies of the computer printouts from the State of Arkansas revenue amounts.

After the band group had left, Smithson said, "Let's be optimistic... let's wait until we get the print out July 1, from the state. Then we can see just how much revenue we've got. If it's there, then we can rehire these teachers... they'll have priority. We let them go because we had to beat the deadline of May 1. After May 1 we would have them on our staff.

"But if we hadn't cut the assistant band director, we might have to cut other things. We might only have seven months of school, now how would that go over, not very well."

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Gurdon School District board will be Tuesday, June 18. The public is welcome to attend.