Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Project near finish

Jerry Hollensworth, with the architectural firm of Trull and Hollensworth updated the Prescott School Board on the progress of construction.

For the most part, he said, the new complex is almost done on the exterior. Toilet partitions will soon be installed, and construction crews will have to put the covered sidewalks up and add sidewalk hand rails.

The facility, he said, should be ready for occupation by the Family and Consumer Science class fairly soon.

From there it will be on to phase II, which begins with the removal of the current FCS, or home economics, building. This will be where a new pavilion is built.

Hollensworth told the Board the pavilion will be painted with oversized tubular steel used. Weve done this at other schools and it turned out nice. Well try to eliminate places where birds can build nests.

The pavilion, he said, will be lighted underneath with a standing seam roof. The structure will be on a concrete slab with a raised pad. It will meet regulations for handicap accessibility.

From the new gym, he said, the covered sidewalk will descend to the pavilion. In fact, the pavilion will be connected to classrooms as well the gym.

There shouldnt be any problem with high winds, he said. Well cover the sidewalks to the new building, including the walks to the pavilion. Were considering enclosing part of the lobby (at Prescott High School) for administrative space.

According to Hollensworth, the new office would be built like current offices at PHS, but would have its own air conditioning. The office would be carpeted with a built-in desk and shelving with all new lighting.

The Board approved the only request for out-of-state travel. Debra Culpepper will go to Silverthorne, Colo., this summer to attend the Keystone Institute. Hyacinth Deon, superintendent, said the trip will be minimal expense to the district and will be done on Culpeppers own time.

The districts audit turned up clean, with one regular exception  segregation of duties. The auditors again found more people need to be involved with the cash transactions. This is not a major problem, as small schools across the state cant hire enough personnel to comply with the auditors.

Because everyone wants to get out of school by the first of June next year, Deon said the calendar needs to be amended. The Board agreed to have school remain in session when parent-teacher conferences are held in October and February to make up the difference in days.

The Board also amended the districts personal policy leave so as not to exclude administrators. The panel also approved going ahead with phase II of construction.

Prescotts Wolverettes will have a new head coach next year, as Jody Cowarts resignation was accepted by the Board. Cowart accepted the head coaching job at De Queen.