Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Board Ponders Millage, Future

Speculation abounded at the Gurdon School Board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The board first discussed the proposed millage issue on the ballot for the election the same night, and the fate of the board members being challenged.

Bobby Smithson, Gurdon superintendent, said a lot of work had been done to push the 3 mill increase, which did pass, though barely.

He said the people of Gurdon knew what the district is trying to do and why the millage was needed.

Preliminary work has been done on a design for the physical education building, which will include two classrooms: one for choir and one for the gifted and talented program.

Gravel for the PE building, he informed the board, can start being hauled almost immediately. The estimated cost of building this facility will be about $200,000. There will be no bleachers in this PE building, he said, though there will be basketball goals installed.

The PE area, he said, will be 70 feet by 50 feet.

The building will be constructed on a post tension concrete slab to help prevent the foundation from cracking. "It shouldn't take a lot of fill to level the ground," he said. "It will be on the same elevation as the Cabe Middle School."

Additionally, he said, when the GT room isn't being used by the gifted and talented students, Health can be taught there.

Smithson was given permission by the board to go ahead with the sale of bonds for the facility. This is because of proposed Amendment 4 which will be voted on at the Nov. 3 General Election.

Most commonly called the property tax repeal amendment, if it passes, all property taxes will be removed from the books and those not yet paid will be forgiven.

The loss of funds from property tax, Smithson said, could cost the Gurdon district 4847,049.

He talked with representatives of Stephen's Inc., who handle the district's bond sales, and was told if the millage passed and the bonds were sold before Nov. 3, the outcome of Amendment 4 will have no bearing on the district's construction plans.

Otherwise, the plans could be in limbo with the district having to wait until the issue is challenged in court (if it passes) to see what would happen.

At this time, he said, the district may be able to sell its bonds for 51/2 percent interest.

"I don't think the legislature will led districts go belly up," he said. "This could force consolidation, but it won't be any cheaper. We'll still need transportation and facilities."

The board passed a resolution opposing Amendment 4 as well.

Turning to the former Gurdon Middle School, which was also the old Gurdon High School, nothing has been done yet to dispose of the structure.

Doris Hodges, with the Clark County Youth Development Council (CCYDC), has shown some interest in purchasing the old building.

But, Smithson, instead of advertising for bids waited until the school election to see what would happen. He told the board this was because the district still needs Gus Brown Stadium and the parking lot for the 1998 football season.

Meantime, he said, the building has been vandalized, with most of the lower level windows getting broken out. A wall was also kicked in with several water fountains being ripped out.

With the exception of some of the outlying buildings, where band, agriculture and home economics classes were held, the district may consider pushing the old GHS down.

Smithson said parts of the old high school are worse than the old GMS the students originally moved from.

He said the issue could be addressed next month, but it is likely the building will need to be demolished. But, Smithson added, there is a lot of good lumber in the structure, which would be salvageable for someone with time to take it apart. "It may not be worth much except as salvage," he said.

Board member Tommy Overbee suggested trying to sell the facility in parcels.

At this time, the district is installing a canopy from CMS to the GHS cafetorium to give the students some protection from inclement weather.

Smithson has asked Wadley Sign Co. for information on a sister sign for CMS to go with the one at GHS. Such a sign will cost about $1,700, he said, with this one being shorter than the one at GHS.

When members of the Cabe Foundation visit the school in October, he said, they will be shown plans for the sign and see if they have any suggestions on how it can be purchased.

Heading to Gurdon Primary School, Smithson said the shell PE building is up on campus, with the electricity in place and working. Overhead lights are up, with the exhaust fan installed as well.

Work on the interior will begin shortly, with the hardwood floor being put in with the bleachers then added. However, it will be November before the bleachers arrive.

As the meeting drew to a close, GHS Principal Leonard Gills brought two matters before the board.

Special education students now total 42 at GHS, with the district only having one special ed teacher. This is a violation of compliance, as special ed teachers are only allowed to have classes of 25.

He asked the special ed aide be made a full time teacher to help cover the load and remain in compliance.

This was done, with the board asking to have all special ed students but the seniors retested to see if they truly belong in the program.

The other item he had concerned a student wanting to take French by correspondence and get two high school credits for it.

There is little in the GHS handbook concerning this matter, he pointed out, as correspondence courses in it deal primarily with core curriculum a student must have in order to graduate.

The student in question wants to take French from a Missouri university and have the credit count toward his diploma.

Gurdon offers Spanish as the only foreign language. This student doesn't want to take Spanish, as it doesn't help his future plans.

Gills said the student is not doing himself any favors as correspondence courses are hard.

The board agreed to allow the student to take these courses and get credit for them, and will address future issues on a case-by-case basis. The handbook will not be changed on the issue of correspondence courses.