Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Construction program at Prescott High could begin in the summer

By the summer, hopefully, construction can begin on projects on the Prescott High School campus.

Jerry Hollensworth, with the architect firm of Trull and Hollensworth of Camden, talked to the Prescott School Board Tuesday, Feb. 24, about the construction projects.

He said there were some small changes made in the building program for the field house, but these were interior changes and will not affect the overall size of the structure.

Plans are, he said, to go underground with the electric lines then come up to the existing transformer by the back of the auditorium. There has been no discussion about replacing the aerial transformers.

Additionally, there are existing intercom and data lines underground where the complex is to be built, he said. These lines will have to be relocated.

According to Hollensworth, the area of the sidewalks has been increased and the Wolf Den will be razed. Coaches, he said, asked for a concrete walk to prevent asphalt from being tracked into the new field house.

"Otherwise, it's like we discussed," he said. "The entrance will be off Martin Street and there will be access for emergency vehicles."

Plans are at the design/development stage at this time, he said, asking for approval so the project could move forward. "We're hoping to go to bid in the late Spring or early summer and get started when the student's aren't here."

The structure will be painted concrete block, using a modified bitumen low sloping roof. There will be 30-40 tons of heating and air conditioning units for the complex, but none on the roof. This, he said, is being done to protect the roof's integrity and help make it last longer.

"We'd like to get all the wires underground," Hollensworth said, "but haven't been able to do it with power. We can't promise everything will be underground. It would make it more attractive if we did."

The exterior, he said, will be brick veneer with cast stone and white brick accent. He proposed covering the entrances to help identify them, and suggested putting aluminum letters over the doors to show what's there. At this time, he said, the plans are getting loaded with detail.

The project, he said, will cost less than $1 million.

The second phase of construction will be the pavilion. In this phase, he said, the Prescott Sports Arena will get a covered canopy. When the second phase is completed, the next issue will be to deal with the existing FCCLA building, as decisions will have to be made on what to do with it.

The board acknowledged the Personnel Policy Committee, thanking it for the work the members do on personnel issues. Pat Roberts, PPC chairman, said she was glad a bill was passed in the special session giving the classified personnel an opportunity to address policy and improve their working conditions.

David Maxwell, athletic director, updated the board on what was going on with athletics. He noted the Wolves and Wolverettes qualified for the Region IV tournament in Dumas. The Wolves ended the year second in the 7AAA district tourney, while the Wolverettes finished third.

Discussing the track renovations, Maxwell said the surface has been applied, but now the crews have to wait on the weather so the lanes can be striped.

He said the cheerleaders finished third in the state championships Feb. 14 in Hot Springs, tying with Hamburg.

Willie Wilson, Dean of Students, talked about the end of course exams, with the literacy test on tap for March 31 and April 1, the Iowa Test of basic skills (which replaced the Stanford 9 test), being sometime in April, Algebra tests scheduled for April 27, and Geometry set for April 28.

CAPS meetings have been held to help students prepare their schedules for next year, he said. "This is a cutting-edge situation other districts are just now instituting."

Under the CAPS plan, students meet with their advisor and discuss career opportunities. This begins in the ninth grade, with the teacher-advisor following the student through their academic career.

Wilson lauded the Therapeutic Family Services Center of Gurdon for the job it has been doing with students in the district. He said the Center is affiliated with Rivendell and makes sure its people are visible, though discreet.

There will be nine graduating with highest honors this year, and 11 honor graduates. The majority of these students, he said, had grade point averages to match their ACT scores and match up well on a national basis.

Superintendent Hyacinth Deon talked about the Oracle Internet Academy. This is for students age 16-19, who could earn Advanced Placement credit by taking it.

The district, she said, would receive $110,000 in software next year and could access the Oracle server instead of using the district's. Jason Himes will be going to California to be trained on the Oracle system.

"This is for upper end students," she said. "They will be able to get certified through Oracle and get AP credit. We'll try to pair it with EAST Lab and not have to buy any equipment."

The board approved out of state travel for coaches to attend a football camp in Dallas, Texas, and a trip for James Cannon to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Policy Seminar for Vocational Agriculture.

Pearl Bailey, president of the Prescott District Education Association (PDEA), handed out information about Read Across America.

Local plans are to celebrate Dr. Suess's birthday.

At the end of each day there will be a drawing for books. Each staff member will donate books appropriate to the grade level where they work.

High school students will select a Dr. Suess book and visit an elementary classroom to read it.

During the week, there will be a "drop everything and read" period, where everyone reads for 30 minutes.