Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet Finalizes Expansion Plans

Plans were formally adopted for a new building for the Emmet School District.

The Emmet School Board, during its regular monthly meeting, heard from Jerry Simmons, with Twin River Architects of Arkadelphia, who brought plans for the building.

The plans were for three new classrooms with space at one end for the district to use as it sees fit.

According to the plans, the new addition will be northwest of the office wing facing Highway 299. The rooms will be a total of 3,384 square feet.

With the exception of the roof, the specs call for the building to match the existing structure. The roof, though, will be a 3:12 pitch and covered with shingles.

This, Simmons said, will be more economical than a flat roof, and more cost efficient with the budget the district has to work with.

A metal awning will be erected as a covered walkway between the buildings.

Each room will have a restroom and closets where the heating and air conditioning units will be located. The heat will be gas, while the cooling will be done electrically.

The rooms interior will match the current rooms, as they will be painted concrete block.

Simmons said the plans will utilize drop ceilings with recessed lighting. All three rooms will be carpeted as well.

According to Simmons, this should be a simple job and pose no problem to the contractor.

Emmet Superintendent Dr. Gene Ross informed the board it needed to hire Simmons as the architect and go forward with the advertising of bids.

It will take about four months, Simmons said, to complete the project once the contractor is hired and begins.

In other business, primary Principal Floyd Pollock said enrollment is holding steady at 188.

He told the board the attendance at a recent parent-teacher conference saw 79 percent of the parents show up to see how their children are doing in school.

The enrollment numbers for Emmet High School, according to Frank Henson, is 113.

He said Career Day has been set for Friday, March 26, for the first four periods of the day.

The board also approved of changing from a six week grading period to a nine week period.

Progress reports will be sent to every student's parents every four-and-a-half weeks to keep them abreast of how their children are doing in class.

It also gives the students more time to bring grades up in any subject they may be having problems in.

Three bids were received for a bus shop, with the board going with McLelland Construction of Prescott.

McLelland's bid was $22,522.65, and offered more footing for the pilings and two 12-foot doors.

Red River Heating and Air Conditioning was awarded the bid for a new heating and air conditioning system to replace the current one. Red River's bid was $27,900.

Kelvin McLelland, sponsor of the Emmet Pee Wee Basketball League, got permission from the board to hold an old timer's game on April 10.

There will be one game between two teams, with every player assured of getting into the game this year. Entertainment will be provided as well.

Proceeds from this charity game will be used to help purchase new lockers for the gymnasium and any other school needs.

He also brought up starting a baseball team for EHS students and is looking into the possibility of getting a grant to help with the costs.

This topic will be discussed again at the April meeting.