Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rotarians hear school update

Bobby Smithson, superintendent of Gurdon Schools, told Rotarians Thursday, June 8, that his latest information indicates there will be a resource officer on the districts campuses this fall.

The individual will be a sheriffs deputy and the Clark County Sheriffs Department will provide him with a vehicle.

"We talked about this in Texas back in the 1970s, but I never really thought I would see the day when a police officer was necessary at school," he said. "I do believe he will be of great benefit if a crisis occurs and helpful at after school activities."

Smithson said the resource officer will be armed and also have handcuffs.

"Some of our kids will not listen unless there is a threat that the police will be called," he said.

"This is a five-year plan, with the Horace Cabe Foundation paying about $35,000 for the first year."

Smithson updated Rotarians on other changes coming up this next school year.

He said grant money will allow Carla Jester, teacher at Gurdon Primary School, to be employed as a literacy coach and for 24 new computers to be purchased.

"We are in a world where computers are nearly obsolete on the day when you turn them on," Smithson said. "We also understand that were getting $13,000 in new software."

Cosmetology

Smithson said efforts continue to expand the GHS vocational offering to include cosmetology school.

"We have been working with Arkansas Beauty College out of Arkadelphia," Smithson said. "I am for this program because right now we are not offering anything to our non-college bound girls. We need to teach them something where they can make a living. Of course boys could take this too. I realize we would have to pay for cosmetology now, but the state meets in January. I believe they will pay for this eventually."

Smithson said a bus is already being sent to Arkadelphia so that student can take vocational classes through Ouachita Techs Arkadelphia branch.

"I will continue to push for cosmetology classes for our students," he said.

Smithson said a state financial partnership program should make possible the construction of four classrooms at Gurdon Primary School and a high school auditorium.

He said the four classrooms are estimated to cost $650,000, with the state tentatively agreeing to pay 43 percent.

If that agreement is solidified, the school district will have to pay $357,000.

"I believed the classroom projects had a good chance, but I doubted if our auditorium would be seriously considered right now," Smithson said. "But the state said the auditorium looks like a go too."

Smithson said several years ago, when the auditorium for GHS was first proposed, the cost estimate was $700,000. Then that was revised to $3.5 million.

The current figure is $2 million, with the districts part being $1.14 million.

A special fund through Anita Cabe and the Chamber of Commerce has been saving for the project. With approximately $500,000 already earmarked for an auditorium because of the Cabe effort, the balance the district must come up with, if the project is solidly approved by the state, is $640,000, according to Smithson.

Smithson said operating expenses at the school for 2006-07 will go up. For example, money allocated to pay for gasoline is $33, 161, which is an increase of 51 percent.

"This is based on an estimated $3.40 a gallon for the price of gas next year," he said. "This year we went $1,900 over budget and I was surprised it was not more than that.

"We had a 26 percent increase in the cost of fuel during the school year we did not expect."

Smithson said gas prices effect the school considerably because of the size of the district.

The Gurdon School District has 351 square miles, which is the 16th largest out of 200 districts left in the state of Arkansas.

The superintendent said next years budget is $5,800,000, with 51 percent going to teachers salaries.

"Weve got a $2,400,000 operating fund, which is 42 percent of our budget just to run the school," he said.

"We are already predicting that we will go in the hole $19,852 next year."

Smithson noted three vacancies at the high school. One is in special education.

"If a special education teacher can not be hired, we can hire a substitute full-time for one year while we search," Smithson said.

The other two openings are in physics, chemistry and advanced biology and biology on the high school level.

"We are working with an applicant in each of those positions," Smithson said. "And we are optimistic on those two. The special education one may be hardest to fill."

Smithson warned Rotarians the one superintendent per county plan would be coming before the legislature again next year.

"I know I keep mentioning this, but it would mean the end of local control for our school system," he said. "I encourage all of you to contact the House of Representatives. They are our only hope to avoid it."

Smithson said there is too much pressure being put on teachers by the state.

"We are being regulated to death," he said. "Even volunteers must go to school if they want to help coach a baseball team."