Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

New GMS Still Possible

A new middle school may still be in the works with the Gurdon district.

Gurdon School Superintendent Bobby Smithson outlined a plan to build a new middle school near the new high school during the September meeting of the school board last Tuesday.

The focus of how this would be done in lieu of the fact the 3 mill proposal was soundly defeated leans toward second lien bonds.

Smithson informed the board, with its three new members, he had been in contact with Stephens, Inc. and had examined the possibility of second lien bonds. The assessed value of property in the district increased by $4,488,056 since 1993, giving the district another $136,271 in new money. About $60,000 of this will be received during the next school year.

Using these funds, he said, $650,000 can be secured from second lien bonds, which can be paid for with the $1.9 million increase in assessment next year.

However, second lien bonds must be paid back with current revenue or a projected increase in revenue.

The problem, Smithson said, will be coming up with the other $350,000.

These funds, he said, could be secured from the revolving loan program once the district reduces its current loan debts. The maximum which can be borrowed from the revolving loan fund is $500,000. Gurdon's district will owe $261,716 after this year.

Another option he proposed combines a combination of the assessed property value continuing to increase and the potential of student enrollment increasing as well.

The other alternative Smithson presented was to borrow the $650,000 on a second lien bond and ask voters for a 1 mill increase in Sept. 1997.

The original cost proposal for the new GMS was $1.2 million. Smithson said by doing some of the work with district employees and making some cuts this price can be reduced as was the cost of construction for GHS.

Maintaining the current facility at the former GHS, he said, will be a costly venture. The majority of the building needs a new roof. Additionally, most of the carpeted rooms need the carpet replaced. Windows are another problem at the school, which is also inadequately insulated.

According to Smithson, the cost of a new heating and cooling system would be more than a new building.

"We're not dead yet," he said, "and this will be a challenge to the board. One thing against us is the interest rate is going up. The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be."

He said the new GMS would be nothing but classrooms, with the construction costs based on about $50 per square foot.

In other business, the board elected new officers. Tommy Overbee was nominated for president, but declined due to his work schedule, which takes him out of town.

Charles Ledbetter was then nominated and named president again. Jesse Runyan will be the vice president, with Charles Hatley the secretary.

Smithson informed the new members, David Williams, Billy Tarpley and Stanley Escalante, of how the financial report works, talking about debt service, salary schedules and the operating fund.

The panel was informed there are leaks in the main building at GHS, but these seem to be condensation leaks from the ductwork. Smithson will be getting in touch with Arkansas Industrial, the contractor that installed the ducts, about this problem.

Bleachers for the new gym have been ordered and should be in by Dec. 4. Smithson said the district was originally informed they would be in by Nov. 15, but have been delayed.

This means the 1996-97 Go-Devil basketball season will begin in the old GHS gym.

Suit has been filed against the company that installed the GHS parking lot, which has begun deteriorating already. This company, Smithson told the board, filed a third party suit against the company which did the dirtwork, claiming the foundation wasn't properly prepared.

Bonnie Ross explained grants received for the Title I and Edcore programs from International Paper.

She said a $9,000 grant was received for technology, with another grant for $9,000 being for teaching students to care. JoAnn Shaver will use this grant at the elementary school to help the children deal with conflict management.

The third grant, for $1,000, is for the reading recovery program and helping parents work with their children at home.

Smithson said with the new gym having a large lobby, it would be an ideal location for a hall of fame room.

Such a room would give recognition to those for past accomplishments, as well as providing motivation for the current and future students.

He said an annual dinner could be held for induction ceremonies, which would be good public relations for the district.

This idea was tabled until the Oct. meeting so the board would have time to examine it and possibly come up with names for a committee.

The late-James Cox, former justice of the peace, will be recognized for his efforts with the Gurdon School District. A plaque in his honor will be placed in the bus garage he helped design in 1975.

Staff needs were discussed once again, with the big problem being a physical educational instructor at GPS.

Currently these classes are being taught by the coaching staff, who lose time in transit from GHS to GPS, which cuts into the PE time for students.

John Pace, athletic director, said he could teach PE in the mornings if he only had one driver's education class instead of two. The board was informed one of these classes has only four students.

Discussion revolved around the possibility of terminating this driver's ed class at semester.

Shaver said timing is a problem, but Pace is one of the best coaches at working with the students. PE, she said, is in the schedule and is necessary to help keep the students busy.

Morning, she said, is the best time for academics, with afternoons good for PE. If Pace handles PE in the mornings, the GPS schedule will have to be redone.

Escalante said the coaches should have a teaching plan like other teachers.

Smithson agreed, saying he has no sympathy for coaches as other instructors have full schedules.

GHS Principal Leonard Gills said the driver's ed program is important as it helps students get breaks on their insurance rates. He suggested getting together with Shaver to work something out for the second semester of PE at GPS.

"The problem," Smithson said, "is coordination and people being dedicated to their jobs."

The board also discussed the need of a high school English teacher. Smithson said because of the satellite program coming on line next semester, the district may not need to hire one, and could get away with hiring an aide to watch the students.

The band program, Smithson said, is too much for one person. There is currently no assistant for director Bruce Burson.

Finding a person to fill this need could be a problem at this time o