Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Board member could promote JROTC program

The possibility of a JROTC being active as early as next fall is looking better, Superintendent Bobby Smithson told members of the Gurdon School Board Tuesday night.

Smithson said an application for JROTC to start in the Gurdon schools has been made. LTC Tommie Campbell has assisted in the application and remains optimistic that Gurdon will be funded for the program.

Smithson said, "I think our best facility for this program, if funded, will be the vocational building. We need to eliminate the second alternative learning classroom by merging with ALE #1, move or discontinue ISS, and place JROTC in one of our classrooms that we renovated last spring."

By doing this shuffle, Smithson said it creates an area for storage and office space. The down side would be transporting students back and forth from the high school. However, the school already has vans available.

In other business, the Board approved Col. Charles Bullard as a board member appointee from Zone 12. Bullard was appointed to serve until September of this year.

Smithson said, "It is my understanding that Col. Bullard has agreed to help us set up the JROTC program, if funding is approved. I believe he will be a big asset to the School Board."

Moreover, Smithson reported progress on the primary school pavilion project. The concrete slab and walk have been poured. The remaining storage room should be completed soon. The playground equipment is being set up by school personnel.

In regard to surplus equipment, the older working bus has been retained for possible future sale. The Board rejected the bids for a working bus and a bus body at the last meeting, pending a decision by the transportation director. The director said sell the bus body. Board members approved his recommendation.

Smithson said the selection committee of the Athletic Hall of Fame will meet on March 28 to pick new members for the Hall of Fame. A banquet will be held on a date to be announced.

Smithson told the board about school related legislation being discussed in the current state session. With more than 3,000 new bills being proposed, Smithson said the big issue seems to be improving school campus facilities. The session has gone 60 days over the planned meeting and continues.

Smithson said if Gurdon gets any facility improvement money, it would be 44 percent by the state and the rest out of the school budget. It would be mostly spent on safety items. The legislation is also looking at health insurance contributions. One proposal would increase the current $131 by creating a new line item of $61 per month for participating employees.

Moreover, public school funding may increase to $5,501 per student. This is a per student increase of $101 for the upcoming school year. With 850 student, the new money collected will help with the salary schedule cost of living raise for certified staff. This action, when approved will increase starting salaries by $500, resulting in a minimum annual salary of $28,000.

Smithson said Act45 continues the requirements of 40 minutes of visual art and music for students in grades one through six. This must be taught by a certified teacher in both areas.

"We'll need to be appreciative of those certified to teach art and music," he said. "Also, work done on our calendar may be in vain because there is a proposal to start school in August. This is being opposed by tourism people though. The longer the legislature meets, the longer we are on hold as to plans for next year," he said.

Staff evaluations were gone over in executive session. Any certified staff member whose contract is not extended will be notified before May 1. Evaluations were also scheduled on the assistant high school principal, curriculum director and the special education supervisor.