Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

School budget cut by $225,000

Gurdon's School Board passed its 2005-06 annual budget on Tuesday at $5,507,445 for budget totals.

This included: teacher salary, $2,855,360; debt service, $427,172; and an operating fund of $2,224,913.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson told Board members, "We will have to get along on an operating fund that is $225,000 less than last year."

Smithson said his goal is to not deficit spend because of the tight budget.

According to Smithson, this year will be different. If a department overspends, "we just can't bail them out like we did in the past."

The revenue and expenditure statements released at the meeting are: beginning balance, $513,917; state revenue, $3,701,679; local revenue, $1,751,925, with a total revenue and beginning balance of $5,967,521.

After expenditures, the estimated ending balance is $460,076.

Moreover, Bonnie Ross, federal programs director, said some of the state test results are in.

"From what I can tell, 48 percent of our high school students are proficient in Algebra," she said.

"Our literacy scores are 30 percent, which is better than it was but still not where we need to be."

Getting away from high school to look at middle school scores, Ross said 50 percent of the eighth graders scored in the proficiency for literacy, while literacy at fifth grade was 48 percent.

Ross said, "I think we will be off of school alert after two years  that is really good to be back on zero, and that is where we want to be."

Computerization is being modernized this year at Gurdon Primary School. Ross said parents can now access a child's grade, "and we will add attendance and tardies this year."

In other business, the Board heard a report on the renovated art room at GPS. It is finished. The cost was between $4,000 and $5,000.

Adult lunches went up from $2 to $2.10 because of federal regulations.

The school received a migrant education grant for $15,000, which is the budget to employ two bilingual teacher aides. The remaining portion of their salaries is paid from NSLA funds.

The Board approved an as needed agreement with Dunston Adolescent Center of Mt. Ida.

Smithson said the Arkansas Department of Education placed Gurdon on accredited probation for the coming year, but the reason has already been solved.

In 2003-04, Rusty Ross was not certified in teaching areas of assignment, and one class of American history had too many students.

In 2004-05, Cindy Escalante did not have her Praxis II Test Exam scores by May 15, 2005.

Schools cited for two consecutive years are placed on accredited probation.

Smithson said, "Rusty moved out of the district at the end of 200304, and Cindy has passed Praxis II and had a three-year-certificate, valid until July 29, 2008.

"We also resolved our 29-member history class. I will try and get this ruling reversed, as we have solved the problems they cited."