Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Nevada Board tables uniform policy

Though a uniform policy was presented to the Nevada School Board, no action was taken to implement it.

At the board's regular monthly meeting, held Thursday, April 15, Superintendent Rick McAfee said the uniform committee had unanimously decided on a policy, though all agreed it isn't perfect. He suggested the board go with the committee's recommendation, with the exception of limiting the number of colors of shirts students could wear.

Some of the committee said, thought this was more of a uniform dress code and not a policy, but the Arkansas School Board Association's attorney, Christian Gould, said it was.

McAfee suggested getting color palettes and letting the students vote on which colors they wanted for their shirts.

Leo Holleman, a member of the Nevada County Quorum Court, said the voters voted on a uniform policy and what was presented didn't seem like one. "This is not what I voted for."

Linda Beard, said uniform means the same, and the policy the committee accepted isn't the same. "We don't need a uniform policy, we need to enforce the policy we have."

Mack Bridges, board president, said you can't satisfy 100 percent of the people no matter what's done.

The question was raised whether the uniform policy would include teachers. McAfee said the district has a contractual agreement with teachers, who have policies concerning their dress.

Bridges reminded those in the audience the majority of people voted for school uniforms and it's the law. The board, he said, is responsible for upholding this law, even though there are rumors going around about having another election.

McAfee said he had been presented a petition with 60 signatures to get the uniform issue on the ballot, but this can't be done for a year. By law, the same issue can't be voted on twice in the same year.

He agreed the existing policy would be fine if it were enforced, and it will be the same with the new policy. "It's up to the teachers and administrators to enforce the rule, and it needs to be uniformly applied."

In talking about the committee meetings, McAfee said he acted as facilitator and did not vote, but tried to keep the proceedings going in an orderly manner. Everyone on the panel had the opportunity to voice their opinion, though some opted not to for whatever reason. "This isn't a perfect policy. The board can change anything on the policy it thinks is appropriate. Parents worked hard on this, but they didn't think it was perfect either."

The board, he said, can vote to keep the policy the district has, but whatever is done will go to the handbook committee, then be referred back to the board for approval and be placed in the handbook. "There's no need to be hasty, but we must have a policy and it will be in effect a minimum of one year."

The board initially tabled the issue till all other business was concluded, then opted to table the uniform policy until the May board meeting, which was moved to May 27, as the regular meeting date coincided with graduation.

The board approved a salary schedule using the state minimums based on a 190-day contract. McAfee said the district has the funds to pay these contracts.

However, he called the state's schedule an "upside down pyramid" as teachers just out of college with no experience get larger raises than those with more than 20 years experience.

The state, he said, gives the district $180,000 a month for salaries with the rest supplemented by taxes from the county. These taxes, he continued, amount to about $800,000 a year, and of this $600,000 is used to pay teacher salaries. This leaves the district about $200,000 to pay utilities, maintain the building and purchase fuel for the bus fleet.

The federal program funds will be cut about $6,000 next year, he said, but the district will retain the same employees, even though Nevada has lost 26 students since October 2003.

Continuing on the topic of fuel costs, McAfee said a tank of diesel cost about $5,000 in September, but the last one purchased cost the district more than $10,000, and the district can purchase it's diesel at the tax free price, which is less than retail cost. The price, he added, keeps going up.

"This hits the budget hard and makes it difficult to make plans," he said, "but it's a sign of the times and there's no way around it. I hope we have enough to make it through the end of the year."

Sandra Browning, Nevada Elementary School principal, said the students worked hard on the standardized tests and everyone is glad the testing is over with.

Students in grades 3-5, she said, will be participating in the Body Walk at Prescott as part of Children's Week activities, and the fire house will be at Nevada during the week as well. While the students are in Prescott, she added, they will tour the new library and the Depot Museum.

On April 27, she said, the electric cooperative will put on a safety magic show for the students, and there will be a "Play it Safe" assembly on April 29.

"It's a busy time of the year," McAfee said. "I can't believe we're winding up another year."

Blake Epperson, Nevada High School principal, said the juniors took their end of course literacy tests. The end of course tests must be passed in order for the students to be promoted and graduate. "They all seemed to do well."

Grades five and nine were given the Iowa Basic Skills test, which replaced the SAT-9 test. The Iowa test focuses on reading and math primarily.

The board accepted the resignation of Tina Downs, who taught high school math, and is advertising the position. It hired Kathleen Wuhl as vocal music teacher. The certified and classified staffs were all hired for the 2004-2005 school year.