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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County
The May 4, 2020, meeting of the Granville County Board of Commissioners has been canceled.
The next meeting will be held on May 18, 2020, at 7 p.m. as previously scheduled. The format of the meeting will be determined at a later date.
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-Information courtesy Families Living Violence Free
Families Living Violence Free is proud to partner with Legal Aid of North Carolina to offer free self-help clinics to Granville County residents and surrounding communities.
Legal Aid provides free self-help clinics to help you learn how to handle certain basic legal issues without hiring an attorney.
During the self-help clinics, you will receive all the guidance and paperwork necessary to walk out of the clinic and into the courthouse. The clinics will provide you with general legal information and guidance only.
Families Living Violence Free will provide the location for you to come and join the free self-help clinics. You will also be provided the necessary paperwork for each clinic. You may register online at www.legalaidnc.org or call our office at 919-693-5700.
Families Living Violence Free invites you to join us for the following free self-help clinics hosted by Legal Aid of North Carolina:
| May 2020 Self-Help Clinic Schedule | ||
| Clinic | Date | Time |
| Criminal Record Expunction | Tuesday, May 5 | 2:30 pm |
| Social Security Disability | Thursday, May 7 | 2:30 pm |
| Child Custody and Visitation | Tuesday, May 12 | 2:30 pm |
| Employee Rights | Thursday, May 14 | 2:30 pm |
| Simple Divorce | Thursday, May 21 | 2:30 pm |
| Tenant Rights | Thursday, May 28 | 2:30 pm |
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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Going out to see a play may be impossible due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the Drama program at Vance-Granville Community College is trying an innovative approach to bring the theatre to the community.
VGCC, like all community colleges across North Carolina, has temporarily shifted all classes online. Betsy Henderson, the college’s Department Chair/Instructor of Humanities and Fine Arts, and her Drama students decided they wanted to somehow put on a play online, as well. After consulting with VGCC’s Information Technology department, plans were made to use the online video-conferencing service, Zoom (available at zoom.us), to both rehearse and present the production.
“We are not physically able to tell the play in the traditional way,” Henderson explained. “This way will allow the students to tell the story and keep everyone safe. It will also provide the community with a much-needed outlet during this time of quarantine.”
The college will present two performances, via Zoom “meetings,” of the play “26 Pebbles” by Eric Ulloa, on May 7 and May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
This documentary-style drama is set at a town hall meeting in Newtown, Connecticut, six months after December 14, 2012, when a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 people (including 20 children) before taking his own life. The play likens these 26 deaths to “pebbles thrown into a pond,” which created ripples and vibrations that were felt far beyond the initial impacts.
The playwright conducted interviews with members of the community in Newtown and crafted them into an exploration of gun violence and a small town shaken by a horrific event. “26 Pebbles” premiered in Dayton, Ohio, in 2017, and has since been performed around the country.
“It is a very powerful story,” Henderson said. “It paints a picture of what the community was like before that terrible day, the confusion and frenzy on the day of that attack, and the chaos of the aftermath.”
The cast includes students Miranda Brown as “Georgia,” Ashley Ayscue as “Julie,” Rose O’Malley as “Yolie,” Brian Johnson as “Rabbi Praver” and “Mike,” Daniel Thorpe as “Joe” and “Chris,” Cheyenne Guerrant as “Jeriann,” Blake Lee as “Michael” and “Darren,” Kelli Baker as “Carrie,” Matthew Varker as “Father Weiss” and “Bill,” Amanda Cease as “Carole,” Kathleen Zoldos as “Jenn,” Eiley Cook as “Starr,” Mary Parish as “Sally,” and Chelsea Benjamin as “Carla.”
Kelli Baker and Chris Nicholson serve as the “virtual” stage managers, while Kristen Ham is a crew member and will serve as a pianist.
All these students will be in their own homes on their own computers during the performance. With the Zoom service, when a particular actor begins talking, the image automatically switches to an enlarged video of that actor, making it easy for the audience to follow the dialogue.
Henderson thinks that giving students this opportunity to present the play to the community is important. “I think we need the arts and artists at a time like this,” she said. “Entertainment, happiness and joy are important. The arts touch you in ways you may not realize at first. The Arts, and theatre especially, have a way to elevate the everyday and bring light to our world. In times like this, we need connection. We need meaning, and we need artists to help us all feel.”
Anyone interested in experiencing either performance should contact Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu. She will provide each “attendee” with the Zoom meeting ID.
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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health
As of April 27, 2020, Granville Vance Public Health reports 130 known cases of COVID-19 in Granville County, 79 cases in Vance County and 9,142 confirmed cases in North Carolina.
There are two outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC and one at Pelican Health Nursing Home in Henderson, NC. Of the total positive cases in each county, 85 in Granville County are associated with the prison and 33 in Vance County are associated with the nursing home.
Of the 45 community-based cases in Granville County, 21 have been released from isolation and 46 of the 85 cases at the prisons have been released from isolation.
Of the 79 cases in Vance, 10 have been released from isolation* and 6 are hospitalized. There have been a total of 8 deaths in the health district – 3 in Vance County and 5 with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.
*Granville Vance Public Health (GVPH) does not have official guidance at this time to determine whether someone is ‘recovered’ since many details about this virus and its effects are still being discovered. GVPH shares the number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ as determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.
GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.
What does the Health Department do when there is a positive case in our community?
Once a positive test result is received, the health department reaches out to the affected person to ensure they are isolating in their home. Families of individuals who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 are given information about isolation and quarantine and asked to monitor symptoms.
Local public health officials then conduct an interview with the patient to begin contact tracing – investigating any known contacts from the previous two weeks. GVPH determines any potential at-risk contacts and notifies them individually of that contact and that risk.
GVPH’s commitment to the public is to announce all positive cases as soon as the results are confirmed. Therefore, announcements may be made before contact tracing is fully completed. GVPH will share more information as it is appropriate.
To protect privacy, no additional information about the individuals will be shared by the health department.
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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College has a new Buy One, Get One Free summer enrollment initiative for in-state credit and non-credit students who want to take summer online classes online.
Current students will need to register now to take advantage of this opportunity. Prospective students will need to apply and then register for summer online classes. You are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
The students will pay for one three-credit-hour online course and then have the ability to add an additional course for free.
We recognize that VGCC has a number of students and prospective students who want to work towards completing their certificate, diploma or degree in an expedited manner. Or, they are seeking to retool and retrain amidst the pandemic. VGCC is being creative when thinking about the current and future needs of its students.
This incentivized enrollment is limited to one additional course per credit or non-credit student and covers tuition and fees. Those who are interested must take the course during the Summer of 2020.
Summer is just underway at VGCC and it is not too later to register. Come grow with us!! You may visit www.vgcc.edu to find course offerings for this summer. The summer credit term begins on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, and the non-credit registration is ongoing.
“This is a unique time for our students, their families and our communities at large. Many people are considering their next steps during and after this pandemic. VGCC is here to help and is working to remove barriers for prospective and current students who are seeking a high-quality education. The Buy One, Get One approach is another way to support our communities as they are being financially impacted by COVID-19. We are looking forward to new and current students taking advantage of this special opportunity to better prepare for successful careers in our service area,” said President Rachel Desmarais.
“We understand that people are seeking opportunities to learn and grow during this time. It is our sincere goal that this type of innovative idea will assist our communities in pursuing an outstanding community college education. The faculty and staff are absolutely excited about providing excellent teaching and learning coupled with outstanding support services for online students this summer,” said Dr. Levy Brown, vice president of Learning, Student Engagement & Success.
“We are excited to offer this unique opportunity to both new and current students. We believe in lifelong learning, and it is a great time to access higher education to earn a credential, advance your skills, or continue your studies toward graduation,“ said Kali Brown, dean of Student Access and Support.
For more information, new credit students should contact the Admissions Office at (252) 738-3327. Current students, please contact your advisor directly. For non-credit students, contact Workforce Development at (252) 738-3300.
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-Press Release, NC DPI
Responding to continuing challenges caused by the COVID-19 school closure, the State Board of Education recently approved measures addressing student grading for the remainder of the school year, incomplete teacher evaluations and $380 million in additional emergency funding from the state.
Under a temporary grading policy approved by the board, elementary and middle school students will not receive traditional grades for the year, and high school students in grades 9-11 will have the option of choosing between a grade of pass/no credit or a numeric grade for their spring semester courses this year.
The grading policy for the current year will allow high school students in grades 9-11 and non-graduating seniors to choose which option is in their best interest under remote instruction since schools were closed March 13 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students also will have the option of receiving a grade of pass for the semester, based on their course grade as of March 13. Students who were not passing as of that date will be able to raise their grade to a pass or a passing numeric grade. Otherwise, the course will not appear on their high school record.
Board Chairman Eric Davis said the grading policy is intended to support all the state’s students facing many differing circumstances since mid-March, when schools were closed and students began remote learning.
“No grading policy will completely address equity issues that exist across our state during these challenging times,” Davis said, “especially when our educators cannot be physically present with their students each day and while many students struggle to access remote learning opportunities.
“We are making every effort to mitigate any potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on student grading while also trying to validate the efforts of students, families, teachers, and support staff during this period of remote learning.”
Sneha Shah-Coltrane, director of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education and who helped lead the development of the grading policy, told the board that it is intended to positively impact as many students as possible, to lessen potential negative impacts of remote learning on student grading and to be responsive to the concerns of students and parents.
“We do want to validate the efforts of students, families, teachers, and support staff during remote learning,” Shah-Coltrane said, “and to ensure that we are doing the best for North Carolina students and also addressing issues of equity and excellence.”
Elementary and middle school students will not receive traditional grades for this year.
Instead of final grades in elementary schools, teachers will provide year-end feedback for students regarding learning from the full academic school year, using a format determined locally.
In middle schools, students will receive a grade of pass or “withdraw” for the final course grades for all courses. A student’s grade will be held harmless for learning after March 13, and a grade of pass will be assigned to any student who was meeting expectations and passing the course as of March 13 or who worked to improve to the point of passing after March 13 through remote learning.
Under the policy, a “withdraw” does not equate to a failing grade, nor does it indicate that a student should be retained or that the course must be repeated. The grade WC19 simply indicates a lack of evidence of mastery of standards addressed in the particular content area.
For elementary and middle school students, teachers will document individual student strengths and needs from both an academic and social/emotional perspective to ensure an effective transition from this spring’s remote learning to the 2020-21 academic year. Middle school students taking high school level courses such as Math I or Math II will have the same grading options as high school students.
For high school students, the grading policy means they will be held harmless for their remote learning since March 13 and that they can only improve their numeric grade if they choose that option. Students will be able to choose how each final course grade will appear on their transcript at the end of the semester after consulting with their teacher and school and also in consultation with their parent or guardian. For students who choose a grade of “pass” or no credit, there will be no impact on their GPA, either for spring semester or yearlong courses.
Under a separate policy that the board adopted March 27, graduating seniors will receive for their spring semester courses a designation of pass or withdraw, if they were failing, as of their performance on March 13. For students who had a failing grade, districts and schools have been directed to provide remote learning opportunities to help them to pass.
The board also acted to suspend annual evaluations for those teachers for whom the required number of classroom observations had not been completed this year. As part of teacher evaluations, administrators complete a set number of observations for each teacher during the year. Some teachers may have had those observations completed before March 13, but others may not have.
Tom Tomberlin, director of Educator Recruitment and Support, told the board that evaluations based on remote teaching would not be considered valid, and that many teachers are still mastering the skills of remote instruction.
“We can’t guarantee the validity of the results,” Tomberlin said. “Many teachers are in the midst of the learning process themselves. It would be inappropriate to evaluate them.”
On other issues related to COVID-19 school closures, the board approved a joint request from the board and the Department of Public Instruction for a $380 million request to the General Assembly for emergency funding for a list of needs, including school nutrition, remote learning, support for exceptional children’s programs and funding for a Summer Bridge/Jump Start program for rising first through rising fourth graders needing extra support.
State Superintendent Mark Johnson told the board that the joint funding request represents an important milestone in the state’s efforts to get students and schools back on track for the next school year.
“We are moving from a reactive phase to a proactive phase to ensure we return strong to school in the fall,” Johnson said.
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-Update from Lisa Harrison, director of Granville Vance Public Health
Vance County has 68 known cases of COVID-19 as of April 26, 2020.
10 of those 68 have been released from isolation;
7 of those 68 are inpatient (in the hospital);
28 of those 68 are associated with the Pelican Health Nursing Home outbreak.
There have been 3 deaths in Vance County related to COVID-19. A 72-year old male from Vance County died Sunday, April 12, 2020. He was hospitalized at the time and had multiple pre-existing health conditions that worsened as a result of COVID-19. An 82-year old male from Vance County died Thursday, April 23, 2020. He was in Hospice Care. An 81-year old female from Vance County died Saturday, April 25, 2020. She was in the hospital at the time of death and was the initial positive case identified at the Pelican Health Nursing Home on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
——————————–
Granville County has 130 positive test results for COVID-19 in the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System or NCEDSS as of April 26, 2020.
44 of those 130 are community-spread cases located across Granville County.
21 of those 44 have been released from isolation – enough time has passed since initial symptoms appeared and since test results came in. 21 individuals who were positive for COVID-19 in Granville County a few weeks ago report they are feeling better. GVPH does not have official guidance for ‘recovered’ at this time.
86 of those 130 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Butner, NC. More about their response can be found online at https://www.bop.gov/coronavirus/. GVPH numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data and NC county map: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-case-count-nc
46 of those 86 have been released from isolation.
There have been a total of 5 deaths reported by the Bureau of Prisons associated with the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC:
April 11, 2020, an 81-year-old male died,
April 12, 2020, a 57-year-old male and a 78-year-old male died,
April 13, 2020, a 46-year-old male died, and
April 16, 2020, a 67-year-old male died.
All inmates died from complications related to COVID-19. All individuals were also hospitalized and experienced underlying health conditions.
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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper
Governor Roy Cooper today announced that North Carolina K-12 public schools will continue remote learning through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Cooper was joined by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson and the Chair of the State Board of Education Eric Davis for the announcement.
“School buildings will stay closed to students for this school year, but school isn’t over,” said Governor Cooper. “The decision to finish the year by remote learning was not made lightly, but it is the right thing to do to protect our students, teachers and communities. This is a difficult time for many children and parents, and I am grateful for all the educators, administrators, support staff and parents who have gone the extra mile to keep children learning.”
Cooper underscored the needs for schools to continue to provide school nutrition programs now and into the summer, and to be looking ahead and planning for when it is safe to re-convene schools in person. This includes how to get students back on track, especially those who have not been able to access remote learning or were already behind when schools closed to in-person instruction.
To help students without home internet access online learning opportunities, Cooper today announced a partnership to equip more school buses with Wi-Fi. School buses with Wi-Fi will travel to areas that lack internet so students can turn in assignments, download materials, and connect with teachers. AT&T is providing 100 hot spots, Duke Energy Foundation is providing 80, and additional partners are expected to join the effort.
State public health officials are developing safety guidelines for schools to follow when classes are able to convene in person, as well as guidance for summer camps and other groups that use school facilities.
BUDGET
Cooper also released a recommended budget plan to invest $1.4 billion in emergency funds to help North Carolina respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding for this proposal would come predominantly from the state’s share of the federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) and would be appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly in its upcoming session.
The budget package is intended to fund immediate needs in three main areas:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every North Carolinian. This emergency funding proposal makes strong investments in public health, schools, local governments and small businesses to respond to this unprecedented crisis,” said Cooper.
Governor Cooper and State Budget Director Charlie Perusse worked with state agencies, local governments, and other stakeholders to identify what immediate COVID-related needs were unmet by existing federal and commercial assistance to build a budget proposal that is responsive and responsible.
Key investments from this proposal include:
“We know that people are hurting, businesses are struggling, and local governments are facing severe shortages. That’s why we have to act now to get resources in the hands of people and organizations that provide vital support,” said Cooper.
Governor Cooper and State Budget Director Charlie Perusse have been in discussions with leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly for several weeks to develop a consensus COVID-19 budget package that can be approved swiftly when the legislature returns next week. Elements of this package have already been announced as having consensus support, including a significant investment in an already operating bridge loan program for small businesses through the Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation.
“This plan is a first step, and while it may not have all that North Carolina needs moving forward, I present it in the spirit of compromise and consensus so that we can get relief to families fast,” said Cooper.
Find a slideshow summary of the budget recommendation.
Read more about the full budget recommendation money report and provision list
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-Information courtesy NCHSAA
North Carolina High School Athletic Association Commissioner (NCHSAA) Que Tucker offered the following statement on the NCHSAA website:
In keeping with Governor Roy Cooper’s announcement today that the public schools of North Carolina will be closed to in-person learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has canceled all remaining winter championships and spring sports.
“Today’s decision is difficult for the NCHSAA Board of Directors and Staff. We empathize with the thousands of student-athletes, especially graduating seniors, coaching staff, officials and family members affected by this decision,” said NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker. “However, this decision reflects a commitment to keeping our student-athletes, officials and member schools’ staffs and their communities safe, while following the guidelines provided by the Governor and his team, along with the Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education.”
“We had maintained hope for a conclusion to our State Basketball Championships and a modified spring sports season to help return a sense of normalcy to our communities,” continued Tucker. “Now, as we continue to deal with this difficult time, we must do so by applying the lessons that education-based athletics teaches us: cooperation, patience, sacrifice, responsibility, perseverance and resilience. Together, we will be able to put a “W” in the win column!”
The NCHSAA Board of Directors, in its meeting next week, will discuss finalizing the state basketball playoffs, policies for summer activities, as well as address academic eligibility concerns for Fall 2020.
For more information, please visit the NCHSAA site at www.nchsaa.org.
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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools
Granville County Public Schools is reaching out to provide updates about our drive-thru meal service program for children.
First, we’d like to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone in the community who stepped up to help feed our children during the spring break. Volunteers from across the county stepped up and made an enormous difference with their generosity and love. Be sure to check out the video HERE celebrating their actions.
Since Spring Break ended, our meal service program has shifted to three days a week, with service occurring at the same sites across the county on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On these days, two breakfasts and two lunches will be provided for each child.
Beginning on Tuesday, May 5, we will then shift our services to ONE day a week. This will occur each Tuesday at all of the same sites through the end of the school year.
On each Tuesday, starting May 5, meal packs with menu directions will be provided for seven breakfasts and seven lunches – a full weeks’ worth of food! This shift will reduce the risk to our staff during this pandemic, and it will also increase the number of meals provided to students each week.
So, please mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 5, the start of our ONE DAY a week meal service. We will send out additional reminders, but you can also find this information on the GCPS’s district website.
