Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Projects approved for school district

Several projects will be completed around the Gurdon School District campuses throughout the next school year in an effort to keep the schools facilities in top shape.

The projects were approved by the Gurdon School Board during its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

The projects to be completed include the addition of lights under the canopy of a sidewalk that leads from Gurdon High School to Cabe Middle School. The district has received bids on the project that average just under $19,000. Asphalt will be repaired at the high school parking lot for about $4,000; and the parking lot at Gurdon Primary School will be extended for an additional $14,000.

The parking lot at Go-Devil Stadium will also be repaired and sealed at a cost of $8,100.

The final project approved was the air conditioning of the primary school gymnasium. The cost of the project will be more than $20,000.

All of these things need to be done, Superintendent Bobby Smithson told the board.

Smithson said all of the parking lot work needed to be done because asphalt must be maintained or it will break up and the parking lot would be ruined.

The air conditioning is being added to the primary school gym because the building is used for many activities including school assemblies and kindergarten graduation.

Also during the meeting, the board heard an update on the construction of a new auditorium at Gurdon High School. Smithson told the board that even though the district would be receiving funds from the state to supplement district funds in the construction of the auditorium, state funds could not be confirmed for the construction of the choral and band rooms and a superintendents suite that the board had hoped to build at the complex.

Smithson went over several dollar figures with the board and said that even if the district submits the superintendents suite to the state for funding, it will not be approved because the states partnership program will not fund the construction of administrative offices. The band and choral rooms could possibly be funded, but those funds could not be received for two years.

With funds on hand  an assuming current construction estimates for the auditorium are correct  Smithson said the district should have enough funds on hand to build the auditorium and superintendents suite. He said it is his recommendation to submit the band and choral rooms to the state for funding in the next funding cycle.

The district is hoping to accept bids on the construction of the facility by the end of September in an effort to get it out of the ground by winter, Smithson said, however the deadline may not be met.

In other business, the board:

 heard ex-officio reports from the districts campuses;

 approved the districts 2007-2008 budget that includes a three percent pay increase for faculty; and

 hired personnel for the 2007-2008 school year.

The board meeting was held one week early to allow for last minute business to be transacted before the school year began.