Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

GHS Opens New Doors

It took longer than expected, but students were able to begin the 1996 segment of their school year in new facilities.

The new Gurdon High School being opened made it one of the top stories in Gurdon for 1996.

School was let out on Jan. 12 and 15 for GHS students so teachers would have time to move into their new rooms at GHS's new location on Highway 67.

The first official day of school for the new facility was Jan 16, which thrilled, students, teachers and administrators.

The move, they said, went smoother than expected as students pitched in to help get things from the old GHS to the new one.

However, physical education classes had to be held in the gym at the former GHS, which became the new Gurdon Middle School.

Once the move to the new GHS was complete, the middle school closed as teachers and administrators moved from the old GMS to the old GHS.

One of the reasons it took longer than expected to move into the new GHS was getting water to the structure.

It had been hoped by school officials to make the move in August and start the 1995-96 academic year in the new school. However, this wasn't possible as the first phase of the rural water project was still under construction in August, finishing up during the fall of '95.

Tests also had to be ran on the water system to make sure there were no leaks and the water was potable.

However, the structure was dedicated before students were transferred to it.

Once the new GHS was operational and students had learned their schedules and where their classes were, the Gurdon School Board pondered the need for a new middle school and what to do with the old GMS property.

The panel agreed to lease the property to the Clark County Youth Development Council and discuss the facility's future at later meetings.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson convinced the board a new GMS is needed on the property where the new GHS is located.

The district's governing body agreed and asked voters to approve a 3 mill increase in their taxes to construct a $1 million structure for middle school students.

However, the electorate disagreed and defeated the issue in the Sept. 17 school election.

Smithson, though, said there may be other alternatives to get a new GMS built. All, however, require a second lien.

He informed the board in its Sept. meeting the overall assessments will increase by four mill next year, which will give the district more available funds.

Smithson also said the district didn't work hard enough to sell the public on the idea of a new middle school.

In the board's October meeting, the superintendent further explained how a new GMS may be built.

He said Stephens, Inc. had been contacted and examined the possibility of second lien bonds. Smithson said because of the increased assessments, the district should be able to secure $650,000 in bonds.

The problem, he said, is in coming up with the other $350,000. However, the district has applied for a grant from the Horace Cabe Foundation for the difference, and is awaiting its decision.

Should the funding problems be worked out, Smithson said the new GMS would be nothing but classrooms. No new equipment would be purchased for this school.

He said the structure could be constructed for about $50 per square foot.

As 1996 drew to a close, no decision had been formally made as to how a new GMS could be built.