Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Board needs to replace member; district's future still in question

Gurdon School Board members are looking through voter registration for a possible new member for Zone 13.

The position was previously filled by Cheryl Reed.

Reed recently moved out of the school district and could no longer fill the position.

Arkansas State Law states:

A) If a vacancy occurs on the school district board of directors, the vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors.

B) If, as a result of several vacancies on the board, only a minority of the directors remain or if the remaining directors fail to fill vacancies within thirty (30) days, the vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the county quorum court.

C) All appointed directors shall serve only to the next annual school election at which time the electors shall select in the usual manner directors to serve the unexpired terms of the vacating directors.

No one was appointed at Tuesday night's meeting, the board decided to table the decision until the January meeting.

However, the board voted on its officers for the following year. Jesse Runyan will remain as president, Billy Tarpley as Vice President and David Williams as secretary.

Gurdon school personnel received a $300 bonus. Smithson told the board. "We have reviewed our budget in order to determine the revenue available for salary increases for all of our employees. I have met with the personnel policy committee (PPC) and given them information on the financial status of our school district," said Gurdon School District Superintendent Bobby Smithson.

After a review of the financial information and the results of a vote given by the PPC, the board decided to give the bonus.

Another item on the board's agenda was to renovate the vocational building over at the bus garage. Smithson said, "You are aware of the need to renovate this building. I think it was built in 1975. There has been no major maintenance on this building since then."

Smithson reminded the board, they should keep in mind:

Whether Gurdon would have a high school for the 2003-2004 school year? Whether or not there would be a need for a classroom for the ALE #2 after the current year. Could the school justify an expenditure of $30,000 to $35,000 for this project? And ALE #1 and ISS will continue to be housed in the building, unless they have other facilities available for those programs.

After some discussion among members, the board voted to go ahead with the renovations and plan on most of it being done through the schools maintenance workers.

Smithson said the estimated cost of the renovations could be a little high.

Smithson also informed the board it was time to get insurance on the schools property and vehicles.

"We have received two proposals for property and vehicle insurance (ASBA and Arkansas Department of Education). Henry Hoffman had not submitted a proposal as of this date.

We have increased our total insurance coverage from $10, 493,630 to $15,123,221. This substantial increase will increase our premium cost. Our premium for last year was $33,827," said Smithson.

The board decided on the ASBA offer. It covers a period from December 31, 2003 until June 30, 2005. The premium cost is $42,208.