Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

CMS on academic probation for second year

The Gurdon Middle School is on academic alert for the second year in a row, Superintendent Bobby Smithson told Rotarians on Thursday.

The superintendent, who said progress has been made to overcome the Middle School academic warning, admitted getting off the list was not an easy task.

"We have switched to the modified block system at middle school so the kids are spending 90 minutes in math and 90 minutes in fine arts (reading and writing)," he said. "The longer classes are taking place first thing in the morning while students are at their most alert for concentration. I believe the middle school will not be on the list again next year. Our primary school and high school are not on the alert list."

Smithson said the school system needs a special education teacher.

"This person must be gifted, with lots of love and patience to teach. They must be certified and we really need someone by the end of the semester," he said.

Smithson invited all concerned parents or citizens to attend the annual public meeting, where teachers and board members will be present to answer questions. That meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Cabe Center at the high school.

The public forum will be followed at 7 p.m. by the regular monthly school board meeting. Smithson said Ed Reece is now on the board.

"He ran unopposed. We are having a hard time getting people to stay with a school board position. Since they did not run for four-year terms, four of our members will probably remain on the board on a year-to-year basis," he said.

Smithson said current school board members have done a good job over the past few years, approving spending nearly $8 million. Much of that was on new school facilities.

He said the old facilities were built in the 1920s and the new ones were really needed and appreciated.

Smithson commented that the Pre-K program is going well, with 20 out of 25 students currently being served.

"We are looking into leasing a portable building for $700 a month to have a second class by the end of the semester," he said. "I am hoping to have 35 students interested and eligible by then so we can break even."

Smithson said the purpose of Pre-K is to help children on the lower end of the economic scale to catch up.

"I believe the program will be mandated for four-year-olds soon," he said. "There is more money now available to spend on education than ever before, so accountability is here to stay. And the consolidation issue is not dead."

Smithson said school population dropped 28 students, to approximately 850, K-12. Those lost students had been generating the district more than $100,000.

"We may have picked back up a few, 10 or so, but most of them were special education students," he said. "Overall, we have had good weather and we are off to a good start for the school year."

As to the future of Gurdon graduates, Smithson said 50 percent attempt college, but not all finish.

"I personally believe if our seniors worked a couple of years before going to college, they would probably do much better," he said.