GCPS Receives Yet ANOTHER “Clean” Financial Audit Report

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021, the Granville County Board of Education received the official financial audit for the 2019-2020 fiscal year from the firm of Anderson, Smith and Wike, PLLC.  Partner Dale Smith, CPA, summarized the 72 page report to the Board, commenting, “these reports are the cleanest reports that a governmental entity can receive in an audit of its financial statement”.  Board Chairman David Richardson responded to the audit results, stating, “The Board is very pleased with the results of this year’s audit.  In striving to be transparent and accountable for the funds entrusted to us, this process affirms, yet again as in past years, that our finance staff and financial procedures are highly effective.”

Mr. Smith walked Board members through various highlights of the report, including an overview of the budget, as well as the status of fund balance, or the district’s savings or ‘rainy day’ fund.  The total budget of governmental activities for the district during the 2019-2020 fiscal year was $92,121,104 and $4,528,733 for the enterprise funds.  Regarding fund balance, Mr. Smith explained, “The total unassigned fund balance at June 30, 2020 was $5,887,425, which as a percentage of total governmental expenditures represents 7.12%.”  Mr. Smith further explained the importance of the Board to continue monitoring the amount of fund balance budgeted to ensure the district remained in sound financial standing.  He had previously noted that while there is no required threshold for the percentage of fund balance that a school district should maintain, other governmental entities such as towns, cities and municipalities use 8% as a general target for their fund balance.

Mr. Smith concluded his presentation by stating, “We audit over 50 districts across the state, and I wish all of our audits could be this clean.”

The Board uses a third party independent auditing firm to review financial records as a measure of accountability and certification as required by state law.  This helps ensure that the district remains a good steward of taxpayer dollars.  Superintendent McLean also commented on the audit, saying, “I am very proud to see the high quality work of our finance team and staff from across the district confirmed by this independent report.  This is fundamental to our primary goal of educating students and I commend them for a job well done.”

Assistant Superintendent of Finance, Beth Day, commented, “I am very pleased with both the financial results and the testament to the hard work that so many people do throughout our district to maintain such a high level of financial management and integrity.  This is a lot of hard work by a lot of people.  I am very thankful and proud of that work.”

—

Dr. Stan Winborne

Assistant Superintendent of Operations & Human Resources
Public Information Officer

Tar River Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Meeting Jan 28th

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There will be a public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 28 to discuss updates to the Tar River Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which covers Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties. The virtual meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. and will discuss next steps to update the hazard mitigation plan. The plan outlines steps to prepare, respond and reduce losses in the event of floods, severe storms, wildfires, extreme winter weather and other natural hazards.

Local governments are required to develop a hazard mitigation plan as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for hazard mitigation projects, which stems from passage of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.

The upcoming meeting is the part of the first of six steps that will be addressed in the update, according to information from area emergency management officials. In addition to public outreach is risk assessment, capability assessment, mitigation strategy development, plan maintenance and plan adoption. The updated plan is expected to be ready for review by the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency by June 2021.

In addition to two open public meetings, residents of the four counties are invited to complete a survey. Find the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MPWRNC2 and to visit the Tar River Hazard Mitigation Planning website click on https://gis.aecomonline.net/irisk2/NCHMP.aspx?region=30.

If you would like to attend the meeting, use the following links and information:

Join on your computer or mobile app by CLICKING HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING or use this link BY CLICKING HERE.  Or call in (audio only) (877) 286-5733,,456918094#  (Toll-free) Phone Conference ID: 456 918 094#

Updates and draft documents will be available on the website during the planning process, which began in September 2020.

Granville County Emergency Management is leading this regional effort. The planning committee is made up of local officials, representatives, and key stakeholders.

To learn more about the project, contact any of the emergency management coordinators below:

Robin Edwards, Granville County

919.603.1310 / robin.edwards@granvillecounty.org

Brian Short, Vance County

252.438.8264 / bshort@vancecounty.org

Dennis Paschall, Warren County

252.257.1191 / dennispaschall@warrentcountync.gov

Christy Shearin, Franklin County

919.291.9420 / chearin@franklincountync.us

IRS Warns About New Wave of Covid Scams

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— press release

IRS Criminal Investigation warns North Carolina taxpayers about new wave of COVID-19 scams as second round of Economic Impact Payments are delivered

The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) is warning North Carolina taxpayers about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments.

In the last several months, IRS-CI has seen a variety of Economic Impact Payment (EIP) scams and other financial schemes designed to steal money and personal information from taxpayers. Criminals are taking advantage of the second round of Economic Impact Payments – as well as the approaching filing season – to trick honest taxpayers out of their hard-earned money.

“As this second round of Economic Impact Payments are being issued and as we approach tax filing season, I’d like to remind taxpayers to remain vigilant.  Fraudsters continue to exploit this pandemic to victimize the American public by seeking ways to gain access to taxpayer’s personal and financial information in an effort to line their own pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line.

Some common COVID-19 scams include:

  • Text messages asking taxpayers to disclose bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payments.
  • Phishing schemes using email, letters and social media messages with key words such as “Coronavirus,” “COVID-19,” and “stimulus” in varying ways. These communications are blasted to large numbers of people and aim to access personally identifying information and financial account information (including account numbers and passwords).
  • The organized and unofficial sale of fake at-home COVID-19 test kits (as well as offers to sell fake cures, vaccines, pills, and professional medical advice regarding unproven COVID-19 treatments).
  • Fake donation requests for individuals, groups and areas heavily affected by the disease
  • Bogus opportunities to invest in companies developing COVID-19 vaccines while promising that the “company” will dramatically increase in value as a result.

Although criminals are constantly changing their tactics, taxpayers can help protect themselves by acting as the first line of defense. The best way to avoid falling victim to a scam is knowing how the IRS communicates with taxpayers. The IRS does not send unsolicited texts or emails. The IRS does not call people with threats of jail or lawsuits, nor does it demand tax payments on gift cards.

IRS-CI continues investigating hundreds of COVID-19-related cases with law enforcement agencies domestically and abroad and educating taxpayers about scams.

COVID-19 scams should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or submitted through the NCDF Web Complaint Form. The NCDF is a national coordinating agency within the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division dedicated to improving the detection, prevention, investigation and prosecution of criminal conduct related to natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies.

Taxpayers can also report fraud or theft of their Economic Impact Payments to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Reports can be made online at TIPS.TIGTA.GOV.

Taxpayers who receive unsolicited emails or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, should forward the message to phishing@irs.gov. Taxpayers are encouraged not to engage potential scammers online or on the phone.

To learn more about COVID-19 scams and other financial schemes visit IRS.gov. Official IRS information about COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments can be found on the Coronavirus Tax Relief page, which is updated frequently.

GCPS Board of Education: Schools to Remain in Plan C

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— GCPS Press Release

At their regularly scheduled meeting on January 11, 2021, the Granville County Board of Education voted 5-2 for students to remain in remote learning status, or Plan C.  Board members LeBreque and Houlihan voted against the motion.  The approved motion directed staff to continue providing updates on the readiness indicators and would require the Board to reconsider a change to the plan at their March 1, 2021 Board Meeting.  The motion also stated that, if possible, families should be given at least two weeks notice prior to a change in the district’s learning plan.  Under this plan, the earliest students could return to school would be on March 15, 2021, and would do so under a staggered schedule with PK and students in separate self-contained classrooms returning to school first.

Superintendent McLean offered her perspective, stating, “Our heart’s desire is to have children return to school as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, the indicators are simply going in the wrong direction.  Quality instruction is critically important at all times, and administrators and teachers are working hard to ensure our students are engaged and actively learning while under Plan C.  We want all of our families to know that we are here for you, so please reach out if there are needs that are not being met and we will do our very best to support you.”

During a presentation shared at the meeting, Dr. Shauna Guthrie, MD, MPH, and Medical Director of the Granville Vance Department of Health, provided data on the spread of COVID in our community.  Each of the key metrics presented show a rise in the spread of the virus in and around the Granville Community.  In addition, staff also shared data regarding staff shortages at schools.  Since December, the number of staff required to quarantine has risen by more than 20%.  Nearly a third of all 855 full-time employees have been forced to isolate at home at some point since the pandemic began.  In the month of December alone, there were more than 7 days with more than 25 teachers out on quarantine.  The number of available substitutes remains less than half of what it was pre-pandemic.  Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Human Resources, Dr. Stan Winborne, explained, “Our ability to maintain sufficient staff in our buildings to safely supervise children continues to decline as the pandemic drags on.  It is not just our teachers who are being impacted, but the countless others who play critical support roles in serving our children and making sure our operations run smoothly and safely.”

Chairman Richardson also noted, “This is definitely not the preferred mode of learning.  We absolutely want our children back in school as soon as it is safe to do so.  With the vaccines ramping up, it is my hope we can begin to turn the corner on this soon.  In the meantime, we must do all we can to ensure the quality of our instruction and services to our children while on remote learning.”

GCPS would like to extend an apology for the technical issues with the digital production of the January 11 meeting.  We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.  The next regular Board of Education meeting is February 1, 2021.

NCDHHS

Anyone 65 and Older Eligible to Sign Up for Covid Vaccine

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— news release courtesy of ncdhhs.gov

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today that vaccine providers that are ready to expand may vaccinate all health care workers and anyone 65 years and older.

“Doctors, hospitals and local health departments are working hard to get people vaccinated. There may be a wait, but when it’s your spot, take your shot to stay healthy and help us get back to being with family and friends,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.

Because vaccine supplies are currently limited, states must make vaccine available in phases.  To save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19, independent state and federal public health advisory committees recommend first protecting health care workers, people who are at the highest risk of being hospitalized or dying, and those at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.

North Carolina moves through vaccination phases by aligning to federal priorities while giving local health departments and hospitals the flexibility to move to the next priority group as they complete the previous one and have vaccines available. With today’s announcement, vaccine providers who are ready may vaccinate adults 65 years and older and health care workers, which will be followed by frontline essential workers, then adults with high risk of exposure and increased risk of serious illness, then everyone. It is the responsibility of all vaccine providers to ensure equitable access to vaccines. This will mean taking intentional actions to reach and engage historically marginalized communities.

“We know that people are doing all that they can to learn about the vaccines so they can make the best decision for themselves and their families. It can be hard to know what is true and what can be trusted. We are here to provide you with honest, factual information,” said Secretary Cohen.

As part of the ongoing effort to educate North Carolinians about the safety, benefits and importance of receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, NCDHHS launched You have a spot. Take your shot. to provide all North Carolinians with information about COVID-19 vaccine development, testing, safety, side-effects and reactions.

A searchable list of health departments and hospitals administering the vaccination is available on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination website, yourspotyourshot.nc.gov. There is a wait time in many areas. Counties are in various stages as they deal with new COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. To support communities, NCDHHS is partnering with health systems, local health departments and community health centers across the state to host large community vaccine events for people currently eligible to be vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccinations are free of charge, regardless of whether or not people have insurance. However, most doctors cannot provide COVID-19 vaccines in their office at this time. Individuals who are currently eligible and would like to receive the vaccine must make an appointment with their local health department or hospital.

In collaboration with local and statewide media outlets, pooled video footage and photos from recent vaccination clinics, PSAs produced by NCDHHS and other resources are available for publication and broadcast use, and can be downloaded from bit.ly/3rTOcS2. 

For more information, visit yourspotyourshot.nc.gov.

Charissa Puryear, NC COOP Ext Dir for Granville County, Excited to Continue Serving

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The view from Charissa Puryear’s new office provides her with a completely new perspective of the agency that she has been a part of for 16 years. Literally. Puryear has just logged one week as the newest N.C. Cooperative Extension Director for Granville County. She officially began the new job on Jan. 4, 2021, and she said she is excited to have the opportunity to serve the community.

“I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to partnering with the community to dialogue on how Cooperative Extension can best serve the Granville County community,” Puryear said in a written release announcing her new position.

“It’s a challenge but something I’m really excited about,” Puryear said of the new job in an interview Tuesday. She has spent much of her first week on the job in becoming oriented about what it truly means to lead the Granville County cooperative extension office. She has learned a lot about what other staff members do on a day-to-day basis, a luxury that she and her co-workers didn’t necessarily have in her previous role with the cooperative extension service.

“We tend to operate in our individual silos,” Puryear said of herself and the other agents that work in the building. An “aha” moment for her has been gaining a better understanding of what the other agents are working on. “And they’re doing some great things!” she added. Puryear said almost every one of the agents has between 15 and 20 years of experience in their respective fields and really enjoy what they are doing. “Just talking to them and hearing the passion for what they do,” she said, is something that she wants to make sure she shares with the community. That passion, she said, “is what I want everyone else to see.”

Puryear joined the cooperative extension staff in 2004 as a community service coordinator. Over the years, her role has evolved. She established the successful Teen Court program and is proud of how the program has grown over the years. Puryear succeeds Paul Westfall, as CED. Westfall recently retired after serving the county as CED and livestock agent since 2008.

One of her priorities is to create a community assessment, with an eye on increasing community engagement and volunteer recruitment. “I want to work with staff to determine what our needs are,” she added “Our main goal is to serve. I want us to understand where we are, especially in this time of COVID (restrictions).”

Service to the community entails understanding just what it is that the community wants and needs, Puryear said. Expanding services and increasing visibility within the community are on her radar as well. People may know the extension service because it’s where they bring their soil samples to be sent for analysis, she said. Or they may have taken a nutrition class that they enjoyed. But Puryear would like the community to have a clearer understanding of the comprehensive services that cooperative extension can provide. “I am passionate about locating resources, motivating change and empowering people. Community outreach and engagement are important in both my professional and personal life,” she stated.

“I want to create a vision with the community,” she said. But “we want it to be purposeful…and we have to change with the times.” What worked 10 years ago, or for that matter, 10 months ago, Puryear said, with a nod to pre-pandemic times, may not be what works now.

Next steps for Puryear include sending out letters of introduction to key stakeholders and to begin meeting to create a vision for cooperative extension, as well as a strategic plan. Gathering input from the community will help the agency make sure that Granville County residents are getting what they need from the agents, she said.

Except for the position that she vacated when she took over as CED, Puryear said the agency is fully staffed. Four agents split their time between Granville and Person counties, but the 4-H agent, the Teen Court coordinator and an administrative assistant are full-time at the Granville office. Puryear expects the Teen Court position to be filled in February 2021.

Kim Woods is the livestock agent, Gary Cross is the crops agent, Johnny Coley is the horticulture agent and Jennifer Brown is the Family and Consumer Sciences agent. Puryear said although the pandemic restrictions have greatly affected how the agents function, one benefit of providing services remotely is that residents from both counties can join in on one Zoom meeting without having to travel. She commended the agents on working through the challenges brought ab out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I feel like I’ve been put in the most interesting class ever,” she said, reflecting on her new position. She has spent some time just sorting through paperwork and documents that pertain to the extension service. So far, she has four categories to sort by: “Priority, Urgent, Interesting and ‘I don’t even know what to do with this,’” she said with a chuckle.

Puryear is a graduate of Shaw University with a degree in Social Work and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration.

The N.C. Cooperative Extension Office for Granville County is located at 125 Oxford Loop Road in Oxford. Puryear can be reached by phone or by email at (919) 603-1350 or charissa_puryear@ncsu.edu.

Granville County Logo

Granville County Human Relations Commission to Host Dr. MLK Jr. Fellowship Celebration

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The Granville County Human Relations Commission (HRC) will host its annual event to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., just as it has in years past. But this year’s event will be virtual. The Granville HRC traditionally organizes and hosts a fellowship breakfast as a way to brings community members together to celebrate diversity, as well as the legacy of the late Civil Rights leader, who advocated for peace.

“For 2021, we wanted to ensure that the message of fellowship and unity was carried forward, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” HRC Chair Rev. John Gooch said in a press release from Granville County Public Information Officer Lynn Allred. “Although the means of conveying that message is different, the spirit of the event remains the same. We thank everyone who helped make this possible,” Gooch continued.

The event will be videotaped and will be available for viewing on Monday, Jan. 18, which is the federal holiday honoring the slain Civil Rights leader. Viewer can tune in to Granville County’s local government channel, Spectrum Channel 17. Video segments will also be posted to the Granville County Government website and social media (Facebook) platform, according to the press release.

First-place winners of the essay contest will read their essays aloud during the program. Karissa Birdine of Butner Stem Middle School and Haley Erexson of Granville Central High School were this year’s essay contest winners.

This year’s keynote speaker is Jeannette Paschal, senior pastor of the United Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Oxford. In addition, members of the Mary Potter Community Choir will perform musical selections. Members of the Human Relations Commission are also a part of the program and will give remarks.

Spectrum cable television subscribers can tune in to Channel 17 (Community Calendar in the program guide) from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 18. The video will be aired throughout the day. Visit www.granvillecounty.org to view segments of the video online, or visit the Granville County Government Facebook page.

Segments of the event were recorded at the George C. Shaw Museum and the Granville County Historical Society Museum, both located in Oxford.

For more information about this project, please contact the County Manager’s Office at 919-693-5240.

Vance-Granville Community College continues to “cultivate” new Agri-Tech program

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— press release

Vance-Granville Community College continues to “cultivate” new programs for the Spring semester.  The Sustainable Agri-Tech program will grow one’s knowledge in the agricultural field and prepare students for occupations in a wide variety of jobs in agriculture (both production and value-added) with a range of skills and knowledge.

The program addresses agricultural concepts, skills, and techniques that are required by the agriculture industry. Upon completion, students would have explored sustainable and organic methods, plant, soil and animal science, field management, equipment maintenance and basic computer skills and marketing techniques.

Class begins on February 22, 2021 at 6:00 PM.  Kelly Dixon will be leading this hybrid class at our Warren Campus.  The 96-hour program is made up of only 30 hours in the classroom and 66 hours online.  Cost is $188.25.  Tuition assistance is available to those who meet eligibility guidelines.  Space is limited.

For more information, please visit our webpage:   https://www.vgcc.edu/coned/agritech/

(This is not sponsored content.)

Covid Vaccine Things to Know in Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin Counties

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Area health departments continue to update the public on progress with administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Please see below for updates from the Granville Vance Public Health, the Warren County Health Department and Franklin County Health Department. Although some details differ, all health department officials stress that residents’ patience and continued vigilance in the use of the 3 W’s – Wear, Wait, Wash – are vital components to combating the pandemic.

Three counties remain in Phase 1a, but are scheduled to open up Phase 1b, Group 1 soon. Franklin County began vaccinating eligible residents in Phase 1b last week.

Granville and Vance counties

Granville and Vance counties remain in Phase 1a distribution and plan to move to Phase 1b, Group 1 (only those aged 75 and over), on Thursday, Jan. 14. Health Director Lisa Harrison hopes to complete vaccinating groups 1a and 1b by March.

Phase 1a is only for eligible health care organizations and individuals with additional instructions to sign up for the vaccination. Harrison urges all others to wait to ask for an appointment until news outlets announce or publish that the phase for which you’re eligible to receive the vaccination is underway. Residents can also visit the GVPH COVID-19 website https://gvph.org/covidvaccines/ to find updated information. More information is forthcoming about how to register in the mandatory statewide COVID Vaccine Management System (CVMS). There is a survey everyone must fill out as part of registration and the system is not accessible to individuals at this time, Harrison added.

Individuals 75 years and older may call the health department now to schedule an appointment. Phase 1b, Group 1 vaccinations are scheduled to begin Thursday, Jan. 14. Any other instructions that may help make your vaccine appointment move faster (such as forms you need to fill out ahead of your appointment) will be posted on our website.

If you are not in Phase 1a or Phase 1b Group 1, but want more information, please call the COVID Vaccine Information Hotline at 252-295-1503.

Only hospitals and health departments have the vaccine at this moment, but in the coming weeks and months, primary care offices, pharmacies, and federally qualified health centers will receive vaccine and be able to vaccinate community members as well. The health department is working with Granville Health System and Maria Parham Health to make sure that the vaccination process is working as efficiently as possible.

Warren County

The Warren County Health Department is giving COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment to all healthcare workers in Phase 1a, which includes:

  • Healthcare workers caring for and working directly with patients with COVID-19, including staff responsible for cleaning and maintenance in those areas
  • Long-term care staff and residents – people in skilled nursing facilities and in adult, family, and group homes
  • Healthcare workers administering the vaccine
  • Healthcare workers handling people who have died from COVID-19

Individuals who fall in the category of Phase 1b can begin getting the vaccine the week of January 19, 2021.

Anyone 75 years and older, regardless of health status or living situation, is eligible to get the vaccine. Call the health department at (252) 257-1185 to make an appointment.

Franklin County

Franklin County began Phase 1b, Group 1 (residents 75 and older) on Jan. 7, 2021 in a drive-through event and delivered 323 vaccinations.

Franklin County residents who think they are eligible to get the vaccine should email covidvax@franklincountync.us and will receive an automated reply with instructions about how to register for the vaccine. You may also phone the health department’s dedicated COVID-19 phone line at 919–729-0654. If you leave a message, please leave a phone number and your call will be returned.

County Health Director Scott Lavigne said that although the line was long at times during the Jan. 7 drive-through vaccination event, everyone who had signed up got their shot.

NC Tobacco Trust Fund Grants Available For Agricultural Projects

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— press release

The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is accepting applications for the 2021 grant cycle. The key objectives for 2021 are supporting the agricultural industry, impacting rural communities and stimulating economic development. Funds will be awarded in the fall of 2021 for selected innovative projects.

Applications information is now online at www.tobaccotrustfund.org for qualifying organizations. “Creating opportunities for North Carolina producers and creating jobs in current or former tobacco-dependent regions are our 2021 priorities,” said William H. “Bill” Teague, NCTTFC Chairman. “Applications will be accepted online for innovative projects within North Carolina. Selected projects should expect to start in November of 2021.”

The NCTTFC was established in 2000 by the N.C. General Assembly to help members of the tobacco community including farmers, tobacco workers and related businesses. Its original funding was established through tobacco industry annual payments as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement. Funding is now appropriated to the NCTTFC which then reviews, selects and disperses the funds to grant projects.

Past NCTTFC projects includes fair and farmers market improvements, cost-share grant programs for farmers, commodity marketing, researching alternative crops and support of agricultural education programs.

More information can be found at the NCTTFC’s website (www.tobaccotrustfund.org), or by calling Jeff Camden at 919-397-6766. The deadline for applications submission is Friday March 5, 2021.