Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Outgoing board members honored, grade policy questioned

Plaques were presented to Gurdon School Board members who would not be returning after Tuesday, September 17 meeting of the Gurdon School Board.

Board President Jesse Runyan presented the plaques to Tommy Overbey, who has served on the board since 1991, Jim Otwell who has served since 1998, Stan Escalante who has served since 1996 and Charles Hatley, who was unable to attend; however his plaque was given to his father. Hatley has served on the board three different times, 1983-1985, 1988-1990, and 1991-2002.

Runyan thanked each of the men for their time and dedication.

The main topic on hand however, was the new No Pass, No Play Policy adopted by the school board recently.

The policy was adopted during the summer in order to print it in this year's school handbook. The policy states: (1) All students must have at least a grade of "D" in all subjects at any given time to go on off campus trips. This includes, but not limited to band, choir, athletics, judging teams, etc.

Gurdon Head Coach and Athletic Director John Pace had been experiencing difficulty keeping his football players with this "D" average. He requested to be on the school board agenda to express his concerns about the new policy.

Pace said, " I am not totally against the rule, however, I think we need to look at certain factors of it. Activities are an important factor to our school and we need to put our best foot forward. Some kids can't make the grade, but are good at athletics, band, choir, agri, etc. This is how they express themselves and how they excel even if they aren't academically ahead. A lot of kids have been affected positively by these different activities I have listed.

"I am not against this rule at all. I believe without an education, what you have. I do however feel as if the policy could be more like the one adopted in Texas. It is a six- to a nine-week policy. This would give the kids more time to improve. The policy we have doesn't allow them much time."

Pace informed the board band director Al Wimberly and choir leader Sandra Hitt both wished to address the board. Pace was told neither of them were on the agenda and they would be allowed to speak after the board recognized them if they would make their presentations brief.

Wimberly said, "This policy causes dissension in the band itself. On young man didn't get to march last Friday night. You must understand me when I tell you, my classroom isn't just what I have down by the cafetorium, it is wherever me and my band members are. Friday night on the field, I am having class with my members. I am up in the press box watching them and critiquing them. I video them and we watch the tapes in class the next week to see where our weak points are.

"If one of my members is not on the field on Friday night, to me they are not in my class. It is very important that everyone be there. Everybody relies on everyone else. If someone is gone, then the blend just isn't there.

"Contests are also highly important to us, especially me. Everyone knows a coach is hired and fired by his ability to win and lead his team. It is the same for the band director. If I do not win competitions them I probably won't have a job. I may not be able to compete if I don't have all my kids at my competitions.

"I have assigned tutors to my kids who are having trouble in certain classes and I have done some tutoring at my own house."

Hitt was recognized stating basically the same thoughts as Wimberly.

Hitt said, "My choir is an application course and my classroom is wherever me and my students are."

Gurdon High School Principal Leonard Gills was asked by Runyan if he had a rebuttal to the comments made.

Gills said, "The policy was written in the summer and the board adopted it. The first three days of school were spent going over the handbooks making sure the faculty and students understood the hand book. No one had a problem then. The way I look at it with kids is if you expect nothing from them, you get nothing. It is really getting tight on students to be able to graduate. If they flunk a class now, they have no time to make it up.

"I am willing to work with everyone the best I can."

Gurdon High School teacher Lois Jackson and a few parents in the audience asked to speak. Runyan told them they needed to have placed on the agenda since the board was pushed for time due to the public school board meeting to be held in the same night.

Runyan then made the suggestion to form a committee consisting of Smithson, Gills, Cabe Middle School Principal Jeff Alexander and Pace.

Runyan said the teachers would have to abide by the original rule for the next four weeks until the next school board meeting.

Jackson was recognized by Runyan. She said she would like to see a teacher on the committee to be able to voice their feelings. Runyan had no problem with that, and appointed her.

In other business, Lane Chancellor was hired as the part-time middle school physical education and high school off season program coach.

Linda Dickerson was hired as a teacher's aide at the primary school and school nurse Carlita Escalante was placed on the teacher's salary schedule due to the fact she is a Registered Nurse.

The board approved renting a room from Delores Hodge at the old Gurdon Middle School to use as a classroom for the Therapeutic Family Services Center children. Rent on the room will be $300 a month. The board suggested hiring a male figure to be at the building with Linda Hulan.

The board also approved buying the materials for the three overhead barriers to go at the entrances to the high school parking lot. These total expenses should be anywhere from $8,000-$10,000.