Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

New board members sworn in

Four new Gurdon School Board members were sworn in at Tuesday, October 15 meeting of the board.

David Lee Hunter was sworn in after he was appointed by the board to fill the position recently held by Charles Hatley. Hatley resigned from the position due to his job that keeps him away from home a lot.

Cheryl Reed was sworn in to fill the position left vacant by Jim Otwell who recently resigned.

Mark Sanford was sworn in after Jesse Runyan took back over his spot in his zone. Runyan had been appointed to Zone 11 by the board a few years ago due to a vacancy.

Brad Clark was also a new face on the board. He is replacing Stan Escalante, who resigned at the end of last school year.

Clark County Clerk, Rhonda Williams was on hand at the meeting to swear the new members in.

Bonnie Ross showed a slide presentation of the improved Benchmark exam scores.

Several grades in the Gurdon School District improved testes scores by 49 percent and above.

Ross is the district's curriculum coordinator and works with the teachers at each school to make sure the students are being taught on the right level. Ross checks with the teachers on weekly to daily basis.

"I am proud of our students and our teachers. They have worked hard and deserve a pat on the back," said Ross.

Prime Time director, Jean Smithey, reported having around 150 children attending the after school tutoring programs at the primary, middle and high school.

Seventy of this total is primary school students.

Smithey said, "Two different programs are being held at the primary school this year. The first programs offers tutoring until 4 p.m., and the second offers the tutoring and then provides and enrichment component until 5 p.m. for those parents who have to work late."

There are 41 students enrolled in the middle school tutoring program. At this time they have a waiting list of students trying to get in tutoring.

High school tutoring sessions are open to any student needing help with homework. Students at the high school level are not required to attend the program everyday.

The board discussed and approved several items such as: the paving of the access road to the school, the cover for the middle school sidewalk so the children do not get wet, the replacement of the gas tanks that were declared unsafe by the EPA and the fabrication of two gates at the new overhead barriers located at the entrance of the high school parking lot and the Cabe Middle school parking lot.

Hunter asked Smithson if they were going to put of signs telling the height requirement on the barriers.

Smithson said, "We had not planned on it, but it may be a good idea. We will do that."

No action was taken on the gate building at this time. Smithson said he would have definite figures for the board at the next meeting in November.