Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

School board talks money, enrollment

The Prescott School Board is hoping to garner support for a plan to refinance bonds. The measure is included on the Sept. 18 school election ballot and was among the items discussed by the board during the regular August meeting. There is no increase in millage requested, but voter approval is required in order to refinance the districts existing bonds.

According to Prescott Superintendent Hyacinth Deon, voter approval is a must.

The state is going to require that our community go to the polls until we pass it, Deon told board members.

The refinancing will generate some immediate money for repairs and maintenance within the district. The ballot is written so that a voter who approves the refinancing will vote for tax. A vote against tax will mean that the district cannot refinance the existing debt. The millage doesnt change either way, meaning an individual tax bill wont be impacted.

Early voting begins Sept. 11 at the Nevada County Courthouse. Regular voting will be Sept. 18 at the Prescott High School lobby. A board meeting is also slated for Sept. 18.

In other business, Deon said enrollment has been fluctuating but normally levels out within a week or so of school. At the Prescott Elementary School, Janet Gordon said last years enrollment was 399 and the 2007 numbers have ranged from 412 to 422. McRae Middle School Principal Kathie Janes said the seventh and eighth grade is up by about seven students. Prescott High School Assistant Principal Willie Wilson said the high school numbers appear to be up by about 15 students. At least some of those students have come from surrounding districts.