Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rosston Baseball Association Members Meet With Board

Youngsters in the Rosston area may be able to take to the diamonds this summer if everything goes well.

Marty Potts, addressing the Nevada School Board in its regular meeting Thursday, March 21, said the Rosston Baseball Association is working to rebuild the league.

At one time, the Rosston area had a strong baseball program for its young people. However, it went downhill after a while.

But Potts, and other interested citizens, want to rebuild the baseball field for those youngsters who play Little League baseball and girl's softball.

Potts said the RBA is working to get money to put up lights and a scoreboard.

Rick McAfee, Nevada School District Superintendent, said the district would have no problem with the RBA working on the field or getting lighting and a new scoreboard.

However, he said everything done must meet federal guidelines.

The RBA, McAfee said, will have to install the underground wiring for the scoreboard, and pay to have its own electric meter for the lighting.

He suggested the RBA work with him and Jim Cross, district maintenance and transportation supervisor, to make sure the work meets federal specs.

Cross said new seating may be needed for the field, and if the RBA wanted to build it there could be problems.

He said new federal playground regulations are extremely strenuous, and any equipment cannot catch something as small as a child's coat string.

Cross suggested if the RBA wants new seating, the association looks into purchasing pre-made bleachers.

Potts, when asked where the RBA was getting its money, said stores in Rosston, Cale and Willisville have made donations, as have private individuals.

The Nevada board agreed to support the RBA in its efforts.

McAfee suggested the board send express its gratitude to State Representative Percy Malone for his efforts in getting the school a grant for new air conditioning for the gym.

Malone, who is a member of the Joint Energy Commission, worked to help the district get a grant for $31,867 to air condition the gymnasium.

The board agreed.

Cross said the district got its new bus, but almost couldn't get it home as it experienced transmission problems.

However, those problems were corrected and the bus has been assigned to the Bodcaw route.

In addition, the district has its new pickup and driver's education car in hand.

McAfee said the district could experience some serious financial problems if the funding formula is changed. He said there have been reports which show a drop of $227 per student in state aid.

However, he said until he can get a printout little is actually known. But, before the district can begin working on a budget for the 1996-97 school year, it needs accurate figures.

Summer school will be offered for students in kindergarten through the fifth grade this year.

McAfee said the district is working on getting grants for breakfast and lunch programs along with transportation for the students.

The board gave McAfee permission to advertise for bids on two copy machines.

He said the current copiers run 100,000 copies per month and are in bad shape.

Actually, McAfee will be advertising for bids for two copiers and for four 15-ton air conditioning units for the gym at the same time.

He told the board he had originally planned to wait until the district had the money in hand to advertise for bids on air conditioning, but because the grant has already been approved, there's no reason to wait.

Hardy Herrington and Natalie Sherwood had their contracts renewed as principals at Nevada for another year as well.

With the exception of two teachers, whose contracts will be discussed at the April meeting, all other certified personnel had their contracts approved for another year.

Two students had requested transfers out of the Nevada district.

One student wanted to transfer to Prescott so he could play football next year.

However, the board denied this request.

The other request concerned a discipline problem. The board heard the parent's arguments in closed session.

When the board reconvened, board president Beverly Curtis said no action had been taken during the executive session and the request had been withdrawn.

The board will begin meeting at 7 p.m. in April, and will not revert to its 6 p.m. meetings in October when daylight savings time returns.