Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

District Won't Be In Red

Gurdon's school district will not deficit spend this academic year, according to Bobby Smithson, superintendent.

He said the new fiscal year began July 1, but the contingency fund will be smaller than hoped for. "We'll know where we stand for sure in July," he said.

The district spends quite a bit of money during the summer for maintenance, Smithson told the school board during its monthly meeting Tuesday, June, 24. "We'll do as much as we can," he said.

There were some areas which showed deficits, but Smithson said much of this is because the final funds have not came in yet. These should all be cleared up in July.

Smithson told the board the athletic programs, primarily football, boys basketball and spring sports, went a little over budget, but will be taken care of this month. "Athletics did much better," he said. "It's quite an improvement over previous years."

Wet weather cost about a week and a half work on construction of the new Gurdon Middle School.

Smithson said each lift placed in the ground must be tested to make sure it meets specifications and will hold the building's weight.

Everything, though, is going well, he informed the panel, and the dirtwork and lifts should be completed soon.

The architect told Smithson everything is going according to plan, though bids were not let during June as the district had hoped. However, he said the bids will be let later this month, with construction starting sometime in August.

The district, Smithson said, will act as its own general contractor, as it did for the high school project. The board, however, voted to hire a job superintendent to oversee the day to day operation of the construction and make sure the contractor is building the facility according to plans and specifications.

"It will be an easy job," Smithson said. "We need someone (on site) to represent our interests." The board agreed to advertise for a job superintendent.

As required by law, the board approved a tentative budget for the 1998-99 school year. This, Smithson said, had to be approved by July 11 and submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education.

However, he explained, this budget doesn't necessarily mean anything because the expenditures can't be determined two years in advance.

Smithson increased all areas 10 percent, 5 percent each year, for the proposed budget. He said no millage increase is being asked for in this budget, which is based on the 33 mills the district currently receives.

The board was also informed about pullback money the district will receive. Smithson said the increase is drastic this year, with the figures being based on regulations requiring 25 mills for maintenance and operation. He told the panel the district should receive $200,000 more than was originally budgeted for this year.

But, this money won't be available until taxes are paid by area residents in October. Some districts, he said, call this "phantom money" because they will receive it, but don't have it in hand until October.

The tax monies are based on a calendar year, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. School districts operate on fiscal years, running from July 1 through June 30.

Smithson said the board could possibly add two more classrooms to the new GMS for about $80,000, and may be able to build a practice gym for $125,000. An architect said it would take about $250,000 to construct a practice gymnasium, but Smithson said the district should be able to build one for about half of the quoted price.

Or, he said, the district could borrow funds from the revolving loan program. Currently, Gurdon's school district owes about $250,000 to the program, but can borrow up to $500,000.

"This is all good news," Smithson said. "We don't have to decide to borrow any money now. We can wait until next year. I don't expect GMS to be finished until then."

The board also added a 15th step to the salary schedule to remain in compliance with state law. Each step, Smithson said, gives teachers $447 more. State requirements are for $400 per step increase.

After a lengthy executive session, the board returned and named Rita Rowe the new principal of Gurdon Primary School. Linda Gail Hogue was hired as the GMS secretary, while Bonnie Bills will be the seventh and eighth grade English teacher.

However, there are still positions remaining open with the district. A science teacher for GMS, along with an alternative education director are needed, as is a social studies/English teacher and a second grade instructor at GPS. The final opening is a one-year slot as assistant coach to replace Randy Kizer, who had a second stroke recently.