Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Pace says athletes punished by rule

Pam Runyan reported numerous things happening at Gurdon Primary School during the October meeting of the Gurdon School Board.

"We had an outstanding cookie dough sale with the winner receiving a scooter, the winner was Jase Anderson," she said.

"We had two young ladies placing in the county safety poster contest, they were Hannah Jones and Melanie Clark.

"Parents have been involved with all of the student activities. The PTO is holding a chili supper the night of Parent Teacher Conferences. The money raised will go to the PTO for their many projects.

"The book fair is taking place this week in the library. The theme is "Hats Off to Reading". On Tuesday students and teachers wore hats to show support. Brian Hittenrauch was the winner of the hat contest."

Pat Talley, Gurdon Education Association president, reported the group receiving an award for being the most active group in Arkansas.

"Other than that we have just recently elected new officers, with me remaining as president and Vicki Lynn being Vice-president," said Talley.

The first topic on the school boards agenda was Coach John Pace wanting to discuss the "No Pass No Play Policy".

The policy states that no student may participate in any school activity, if they have a failing grade in any subject, during anytime, if the activity is away from home.

When the topic was called out, Pace was not present. The school board asked Gurdon High School Principal Leonard Gills if he had any comments on the subject.

Gills approached the board and told them he would rather discuss it after hearing what Pace had to say.

"I feel confident that Pace will show up before the meeting is over. I am sure he has just been held up somewhere," said Gills.

The board decided to wait and see if Gills was right.

Shortly after moving on, Pace entered the room and was asked if he would like to address the school board.

"Yes I would. I am not here to complain about the policy. I believe it is a good policy that has helped our students tremendously. I have abided by it and I think it is a good thing. However, everything has flaws and can be fixed.

"This season I have ran into quiet a problem. We have had six road games this season. I have had at least eight or more players out at a time due to injury. I lost a couple of players one week because they had to attend the fair in order to show livestock and I don't have a problem with that.

"I do run into a problem when I am short of players for these reasons, and then I can't use backups because they aren't making the grades. Now I don't want to do away with the policy, but I think there might be some things we can do to make it better.

"I would like to see a Saturday school or something like that. I don't really know what kind of solution we need, but I have a problem with punishing a kid who may not be making the best grades in world, but is trying and is involved in extracurricular activities. What happens to the kid who just doesn't care and isn't making the grades, but we don't punish them, because they aren't involved in anything, so they just flunk. I think there is a problem there," said Pace.

Gills spoke up and said he agreed with Pace and didn't know how to solve the problem, but knew it wasn't fair to punish one kid and then there not be a way to punish another who just basically isn't trying to do anything.

The board decided to appoint a committee to decide on some possible solutions and suspended the policy until the next board meeting.

New Cabe Middle School Principal Libby White expressed some concerns over the middle school's retention policy.

White will have a new policy to propose to the board at the next board meeting in November.

White said some of the students do not put forth an effort to pass, and they know they are going to be passed on regardless and some of their parents appear to feel the same way.

The state auditors recently requested the board approve the current index salaries.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson said, "This is just a matter of documentation. We have had the index for a number of years, excluding new personnel that have been added."