Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

School Budget Approved;

Smithson Favors Annexation By JOHN MILLER A budget for 1996-97 was the main topic for the Gurdon School Board at its regular meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 20. The district had $210,889 in its coffers to start the school year with, and is expecting to receive about $4 million to help make it through the academic year. According to Bobby Smithson, superintendent, the district is expected to receive $1.2 million from local revenue, based on 90 percent collection rate, and more than $2.8 million from the state. However, the $4 million budget is misleading. Of this, $1,939,141 is allotted for teacher's salaries, the single largest expenditure. Another $280,705 will go to retire debt service, while $1,478,449 has been set aside for the operating fund. The district is expecting $236,026 in federal grants. Under the state's new funding formula, while the district will get more money, it will also be responsible for more debts. Out of the $2.8 million expected from the state, the district will have to pay teacher's salaries, insurance, benefits, transportation costs, alternative learning services, vocational education, summer school and retirement. Smithson said if the numbers given are accurate, the district will have an ending balance next year of $365,000. At this time, he informed the four board members on hand, the district is in good shape on teacher's salaries for those with Bachelor's degrees. However, it is off $861 for those with Master's degrees. He suggested, with the board's approval, to go ahead and raise salaries to meet the state minimums. Smithson said the district should be able to make the 90 percent collection of local tax revenue, which is estimated to be $1,236,937. However, he said the district will be paying out $588,000 for those items it is now responsible for under the new funding formula. There are a couple of things different in this year's budget. The band and athletic programs will have to be self-supporting. Smithson said the district spent $18,000 to bail these programs out of their deficit situation at the end of last year, so they could begin this year with a clean slate. He said $3,000 has been placed in the athletic budget to cover this season. It will pay for the program's insurance premium, he told the board. According to a budget submitted by athletic director John Pace, the football program should make enough money this season to pay for itself, baseball, track and tennis. Basketball, though, will be on its own, depending on gate receipts and concession sales to keep its four teams afloat. Smithson said the district has bailed the athletic program out twice the past five years. "They need to be self- supporting," he said. "If not, we'll have to keep bailing them out." He said Pace's estimated gate receipts for this season don't reflect any "rain" dates. Last year, the Go-Devils benefitted from an entire season with no rain falling on Friday night until they went to Pocahontas for the first round of playoffs. In addition, Gurdon hosted Prescott last season, and this game resulted in $6,000 in gate receipts. This year, the Devils make the trip south on Highway 67 to visit the Curley Wolves in their back yard. "We need to tell them to live within their means," Smithson said. "I think we can have a good program, but there's nothing in the budget for them. There was no further discussion of the band budget, though the board agreed to make the athletic program live within its means. The district's governing body also approved the proposed 1996-97 budget as well. Smithson said the first few days of school were smooth because the district's personnel did a good job getting ready. There were a few minor problems, he said, but nothing of any significance. The board agreed to allow the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope to conduct a college-level English course at Gurdon High School. This course needs at least 10 students and will cost $110. Smithson said this is a good opportunity for GHS, and is something needing to be done. Should this course be successful, he told the board, the district may be able to pick up other classes from UAH as well. Smithson said suit has been filed against the company that did the parking lot. He said the company offered a one year warranty on the workmanship, but the lot is already falling apart in places. He said it will cost about $13,000 for the needed repairs. In fact, Smithson informed the board the company has changed names since pouring the lot. He said he expects the company to file a third party suit against the subcontractor as well. An order has been placed with the R.J. Love Co. for basketball goals for the new gymnasium. These should be installed soon, Smithson said. However, the bleachers are a different matter altogether. He said the district needs to get a verbal commitment from the revolving loan program before these can be ordered. The district has applied for $150,000 from this program to purchase purple and gold plastic laminant mechanical bleachers. Once the order is placed, Smithson said, it will take about 60 days to get the bleachers in and installed. Prior to the start of the meeting, Smithson and board president Charles Ledbetter were asked their opinion on the annexation issue. Smithson said he wouldn't mind seeing GHS inside the city limits because it would mean quicker response time from law enforcement authorities. "It would give GHS Gurdon Police Department protection," he said. "The Clark County Sheriff's Office does a good job, and always respond, but the GPD would be able to get here quicker." Ledbetter, who signed the petition opposing the annexation, made no comment.