Granville County Public Schools

Creedmoor, Wilton Elem. School Consolidation Topic of Board of Ed. Meeting

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a work session at Butner-Stem Middle School on Monday, October 26, 2020, at 6 p.m. The Board will receive and deliberate on two school consolidation studies pertaining to Creedmoor and Wilton Elementary Schools.

Members of the public are invited to view the meeting via livestream. To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings and undergo health screenings before entering the building.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education Finance Committee to Meet Oct. 23

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education Finance Committee will meet on Friday, October 23, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. at 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, NC 27565 to discuss the 2020-2021 Budget Resolution.

For more information or a link to the meeting, please contact Mrs. Beth Day, Assistant Superintendent of Finance at dayb@gcs.k12.nc.us or Ms. Lisa Preddy at preddyl@gcs.k12.nc.us.

GCPS Instructional Tech Grant

GCPS Receives $680,000 Grant to Support Instructional Technology

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, representatives from the USDA presented Granville County Public Schools with a grant of $680,000 to assist the school district with instructional technology.

Specifically, the grant which is titled, “Leading the Path to a Collaborative Future Via Virtual Conferencing,” will fund efforts to provide students with cutting-edge technology in video conferencing, distance learning and work-based learning opportunities through partnerships with local business and industry.

The grant will be used to purchase hardware, software and provide professional development for staff which will open up new learning and career development opportunities for students in grades K-12.

Left to Right: Gwen Loftin, Director of Technology GCPS, Robert Hosford, State Director of Rural Development, USDA, Dr. Alisa McLean, Superintendent GCPS. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

Superintendent Alisa McLean accepted the award on behalf of the school district along with the Director of Instructional Technology, Gwen Loftin, who led the grant application process.

“This grant will improve the quality education Granville County students receive on a daily basis,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Robert Hosford. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural North Carolina in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

In rural North Carolina, Granville County Schools will use a $679,000 grant to provide video endpoints within schools to create opportunities for video conferencing. This will allow for career exploration, teacher share of STEM courses, and professional development.

In receiving the award, Dr. McLean noted, “Granville County Public Schools continues to make huge strides in providing our students with high-quality learning opportunities. Our forward-thinking approach and eye on the future will place our students in the driver’s seat when it comes to their post-secondary education plans. I am proud to accept this grant award on behalf of the children and families for which it will serve.”

Also on hand to receive the award were Board Chairman David Richardson and Board member Dr. Greg McKnight. Mr. Richardson commented, “We are pleased to receive this grant as it will help promote and expand many of the exciting efforts to support our students already underway in our school district.”

Granville County Public Schools

Granville BOE to Interview Candidate, Discuss Remote Learning Centers

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a work session on Monday, October 19, 2020, at 4 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is (1) to interview a candidate for a vacant Board seat; (2) to receive information from staff regarding School Improvement Plans; (3) to discuss Remote Learning Centers;
(4) to receive information concerning the sign request for South Granville High School.

In addition, the Board will meet in closed session pursuant to G.C. 143-318.11(a)(1) and (3) to consult with the Board attorney.

Members of the public are invited to view the meeting via livestream. To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings, undergo health screenings before entering the building and cooperate with social distancing requirements.

GEER

VGCC Awarded Funds for Continuing Education Scholarships

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently received just over $188,000 from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund to help local residents obtain job training. 

The GEER Fund, created as part of the federal CARES Act, will provide scholarships for eligible VGCC continuing education students pursuing short-term workforce training programs within certain pathways that will lead to state or industry-recognized credentials. Students can receive up to $750 in assistance per course. Scholarships can potentially help cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, or childcare. 

At VGCC, the eligible pathways include the following programs: 

  • Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), 
  • BioWork Process Technician,
  • Electronic Health Records,
  • EMT-Basic,
  • EMT-Paramedic,
  • Heavy Equipment Operator,
  • Healthcare Billing and Coding,
  • HVAC – Cooling,
  • HVAC – Refrigeration,
  • Introduction to Welding,
  • Nurse Aide, Levels 1 and 2,
  • Phlebotomy,
  • Production Tech, and
  • Truck Driver Training.

VGCC officials may add more programs to the list, based on local workforce needs.

“We are excited about the opportunities that the GEER Fund will open up for many students, especially those who have lost their jobs and suffered financially due to the pandemic,” said Dr. Jerry Edmonds, vice president of Workforce Development and Community Engagement for VGCC. “There are jobs available and many employers need talented workers, so now is a great time to retrain and gain new skills, so that you can prepare for a new career or advance in your chosen field.”

Governor Roy Cooper announced the initial allocations of North Carolina’s GEER Fund in August. At that time, Bill Carver, the interim President of the North Carolina Community College System, said, “North Carolina Community Colleges are uniquely positioned to offer short term workforce preparation to assist in the State’s economic recovery. This funding will be used for targeted programs providing cost-effective, high-quality opportunities for North Carolinians wanting credentials leading to career advancement.” 

For more information, contact Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Continuing Education & College + Career Readiness, at (252) 738-3288 or tuckerd@vgcc.edu. 

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools Moves Toward Plan A Reentry

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 5, 2020, the Granville County Board of Education approved a new timetable for the gradual, staggered shift for students to return to school.

Currently, the district is in the process of welcoming students back to school under Plan B. Plan B allows for different groups of students to physically return to school on different days of the week. Under this plan, strict social distancing is required along with other safety protocols mandated by the state. COVID symptom screening and the use of face masks are mandatory for all persons entering school grounds.

The Board also approved a shift to Plan A for elementary students, as allowed under the Governor’s recent executive order, which allows these grade levels of students to return to school in one single group, with relaxed restrictions on social distancing.

The Board approved this new plan with input from a wide range of stakeholders, including our local health care professionals, parents, teachers, administrators and students. The chart below references the specific dates for transitions for different grade levels as the district gradually shifts toward more students attending school in person.

***BASED ON READINESS INDICATORS***

Plan B Staggered

(1 Day F2F)

Full Plan B

(2 Days F2F)

Plan A

(4 Days F2F)

PK, K, & Self Contained EC

September 28, 2020

October 19, 2020

January 6, 2021

Grades 1 – 5

October 12, 2020

October 26, 2020

January 6, 2021

Grades 6-12

October 12, 2020

October 26, 2020

Remain on Plan B

*EC Self-Contained maintain current schedule

Virtual at the base school remains an option

It was also shared at the meeting that families should remain flexible, as schools could potentially shift back to full remote learning in the event there was a shift in the readiness indicators. This could include a sudden rise in COVID cases, clusters within schools, or issues related to school staffing availability or operational readiness.

GCPS will report suspected, presumptive, or positive cases of COVID-19 to the Granville-Vance Health Department and work with them for follow-up and conduct contact tracing. If a person with COVID-19 was in a GCPS facility while infectious, staff will coordinate with local health officials to notify affected employees and families.

Because of the district’s obligation to protect the privacy of students and employees as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) federal laws, the district cannot release specific information about a confirmed case. The names of the people affected and other personally identifiable information will be provided to public health officials in accordance with reporting requirements; however, this information will not be released to the public or the media.

Unless a positive COVID-19 case results in a significant disruption of a campus’ ability to safely operate or deliver instruction, only those identified as close contacts will be notified.

In the event of a reported cluster, it may be necessary for a school to shift to fully remote learning for a certain period of time. Staff and families should be prepared for potential shifts to online instruction if they become necessary. Any changes to a school’s instructional plan will be communicated to families with as much notice as the circumstances allow.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH COVID-19 Update as of 10/5/20

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of October 5, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

1,794 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,794, 1,132 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 1,132, 1,022 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,794, 526 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County and 494 of those 526 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,794, 136 are associated with outbreaks at long-term care facilities including 30 at Murdoch Development Center, two at Central Regional Hospital, one at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center and 95 at Universal Health Care.

The outbreak at Granville House is no longer active. Of the 136 cases in long term care facilities in Granville County, 112 have been released from isolation.

11 individuals in Granville County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 50 deaths in Granville County: five in the community, one associated with Central Regional Hospital, one associated with Murdoch Development Center, 21 associated with Universal Health Care and 22 associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

1,051 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,051, 926 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 926, 804 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,051, 125 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 49 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

The outbreaks at Alliance Rehabilitative Care, Senior Citizens Home and Pelican Health nursing home are no longer active.

Of the 125 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 96 have been released from isolation.

12 individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 45 deaths in Vance County: 14 associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 12 associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, two associated with Senior Citizens Home and 17 in the community. Unfortunately, there has been another death in the community: a 72-year-old male passed away on October 3, 2020.

WIZS Note: There are 122 total known active cases in the Vance County community and 110 in the Granville County community at large at this time (excluding congregate living numbers). One additional COVID-19 related Vance County death and no additional Granville County deaths have been reported in the last seven days,.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit GVPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard (click here) for tables and graphs that are updated daily.

Dr. Michael Myrick

Dr. Michael A. Myrick Receives State Leadership Award

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Jack Hoke, the executive director of the NC School Superintendents Association, presented Dr. Michael Myrick with the Dr. Sam Houston, Jr. Leadership Award.

This prestigious annual award is presented to graduates of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development’s Aspiring Superintendent Program, a program that is designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina’s public schools.

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Jack Hoke (right), the executive director of the NC School Superintendents Association, presented Dr. Michael Myrick (left) with the Dr. Sam Houston, Jr. Leadership Award. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel Houston who is president and chief executive officer of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Dr. Houston served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for ten years where he opened the first year-round school in North Carolina.

Dr. Houston has been a champion for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st-century workforce, skills for the STEM world and building education partnerships. Dr. Houston also served as the first executive director of the University of  North Carolina Center for Leadership Development.

Dr. Myrick has served the students of Granville County Public Schools as the assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and Student Services for the past seven years. He has also held numerous leadership positions at the district level and is a former high school and elementary school principal.

He began his career in education teaching high school English classes in Halifax County. He earned his BA from Elizabeth State University, and his Masters and Doctoral Degrees from Virginia State University. He is also the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Oxford. He is married to his wife of 20 years, Florence, and has two children, Andrew and Jadyn, who both attend Granville County Public Schools.

Upon receiving this honor, he commented, “I was excited to be selected to participate in the Aspiring Superintendents Program, which is one of the premier professional development opportunities for senior-level administrators. Participation in the program was an honor, but I was humbled to be one of only four recipients selected to receive the 2020 Dr. Sam Houston Leadership Award. The distinction is one that I will cherish for years to come.”

Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean also shared her remarks, saying, “Dr. Michael Myrick is deserving of this esteemed award.  Our district is extremely proud of him.”

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet This Evening

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular Board meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 5, 2020, at the Mary Potter Center for Education, 200 Taylor Street in Oxford. Members of the public are invited to view livestream.

To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The Board will also meet in Closed Session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 for Personnel, and Attorney/Client Privilege.

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings, undergo health screenings before entering the building, and cooperate with social distancing requirements. There will be limited seating available.

Individuals wishing to participate in public comment may do so in person. Those wishing to speak must provide their name and topic on a sign-up sheet to be posted in front of the Mary Potter Center for Education from 5-6 p.m. on October 5. Comments will be received by the board in the order of sign up and will be limited to no more than five minutes per person. Board Policy 2310 allows for 30 minutes of public comment.

To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here.

GCPS Return to Learn

GCPS Releases ‘Return to Learn’ Video to Help Ease Classroom Transition

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-Information and video courtesy Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools has released an online “Return to Learn” video to help ease the transition of returning to the classroom under Plan B.

Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and students who receive special education services in a separate setting returned to school on September 28. All other grade levels will return on October 12, 2020.

For the first step, students will report to school divided into FOUR groups, each group attending school one day a week. Then, in as soon as two weeks, these same students will transition and begin to report to school divided into TWO groups, with each group attending school two days a week.

For more details, please click here.

Click the play button below to view the video: