Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

School Board busy with topics

Several topics were discussed at the Gurdon School Board meeting Tuesday, April 15.

Among the topics were approving the 2008-2009 school year calendar, deleting the retirement bonus, awarding an allowance for teachers who are nationally certified, approving a high school dance group and changing athletic periods.

Lunchroom prices

The price students pay for cafeteria food may have to be increased in the near future, according to Bobby Smithson, Gurdon School District Superintendent. Smithson said this increase is the result of everything going up in price.

Athletic budget

The athletic budget for the Gurdon School District will need to be shortened in the future, Smithson said, because the state is worried about school putting too much money into athletics.

Auditorium Construction

Progress on the Cabe Auditorium has been slowed due to inclement weather the past few weeks, Smithson said .

Most of the rough plumbing for the auditorium has been completed. Footings for the west end has been dug, rebar has been installed and concrete was poured Tuesday, April 8. Underground electrical lines have also been completed.

A committee has chosen the color and fabric of the seats that will be in the auditorium.

Dance Group

The request to initiate a dance group that had been tabled was brought back for discussion. The group, proposed by science teacher Miss Beckett, will consist of around 10 students. One problem Smithson worried would sprout from a dance group was taking away band members.

By the time a student reaches high school, Smithson said, it is too late for them to be in the band anyway.

Board member David Williams made the motion to approve the dance group, and Board member Gina Robbins seconded the motion. The approval passed without further discussion.

The dance program should receive a stipend of $2,000  the same amount paid to cheerleader sponsors.

School calendar

The Board approved the proposed school calendar for the 2008-2009 school year.

Retirement bonus

Smithson recommended the Board delete Policy 3.82 regarding accumulated sick leave because, he said, it is not fair to older faculty.

Under the policy, the Board of Education was entitled to pay a retiring certified teacher with 20 years of service in the district a cash honorarium of $800 or accumulated sick leave; $900 or accumulated sick leave for 25 years of service; or $1,000 or accumulated sick leave for 30 or more years of service.

Smithson said the district is no longer financially able to continue the policy.

Robbins made a motion to delete the policy, followed by a second by Williams. No Board members opposed the deletion.

National Board stipend

Some teachers of the Gurdon School District are working toward becoming nationally certified as school teachers, and one teacher already has the certification.

More than 80 other schools in the state pay these teachers as a reward for becoming certified.

Although Gurdon School District is not required by law to pay any stipend, Smithson said the allowance would encourage other teachers to pursue the advanced degree.

Although there was some discussion about whether or not the certified teachers are required to maintain the certification, the stipend passed without opposition to pay certified teachers an annual $1,000 bonus.

For the teacher who is already certified, the Board passed that she be paid for years since she attained the certification.

Athletic periods

The Board discussed a request made by coaches to change athletic periods from later in the afternoon to another time.

Senior boys currently practice athletics during the last period of the school day; but coaches want to rearrange the schedule to make the athletic schedule more compact and in the morning periods.

Smithson, after reviewing the current schedule, said that coaches have too many free periods as is. He said coaches should be teaching during the periods they have as free time.

Its not fair to taxpayers for (coaches) to be sitting on their rear ends, Smithson said. Im more concerned about coaches not teaching rather than fixing the schedule.

The Board requested coaches to come up with a new schedule for further discussion in next months meeting.