Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Assistant coaches to receive more money

Assistant coaches in the Gurdon School District will receive an increase in pay after the Gurdon School Board approved a new method of calculating the coaches salary. Meanwhile, the board rejected a call for a $1,000 annual stipend for math, literacy and science teachers.

The issue of additional pay for coaches was first discussed last month when the assistant coaches requested to be paid for an additional 10 days of work. At that time, the board asked Gurdon Athletic Director John Pace to justify the extra expense.

At the Tuesday, June 19 board meeting, Pace provided written information to the board members regarding how coaches extra time would be spent.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson recommended that the board approve the extra time and change the formula by which the assistant coaches are paid. Under the new formula, an assistant coachs base salary will be divided by the number of days in his current contract. That dollar amount will then be multiplied by the number of extra days to determine the amount of additional pay.

This is the same method currently used to pay the head football and basketball coaches and the band director.

Using the actual salary of one of the assistant coaches, Smithson said that employee would see an increase in pay of $3,690.

The board approved adopting this method of pay for assistant coaches as well as their request for extra days.

Also during the meeting, the board approved a recommendation from the personnel policy committee to adopt changes to the districts personnel policy handbook. The board was presented with the changes during its May meeting.

Most of the changes were made due to new laws that have been enacted during recent years.

One of the policies that was developed locally, however, was not approved by the board. That policy stated that the district would pay a stipend of $1,000 to certified personnel who teach math, literacy or science. The purpose would be to attract more applicants for these positions.

"That has merit," Smithson said. "But I dont think thats in our best interest at this time."

The board took Smithsons advice and approved all of the PPCs recommendations except for the stipend.

While discussing other old business, Smithson told the board that the new classrooms constructed at Gurdon Primary School are almost complete. The only work lacking on the project is the canopy that covers a sidewalk from the new addition to the main building.

Teachers have already moved into the classrooms, Smithson said. District maintenance workers are preparing shelving. Four of the new classrooms will house kindergarten classes, and the other will house the gifted and talented program.

"Theyre huge rooms," Smithson said. "I think these classrooms are going to be a good addition to us."

The former kindergarten classrooms will be used for pre-kindergarten and art.

Other action taken by the board during the meeting included:

- approval of a resolution dealing with the auditorium bond issue;

- approval of bids for property and student health insurance for the upcoming school year;

- approval of student handbooks; and

- approval of bids on surplus property.