THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Vance County Schools, along with every other school district in the state, was instructed to develop three plans in preparation for the 2020-2021 school year. Plan A, with minimal social distancing, Plan B, with moderate social distancing and Plan C, as complete remote learning. Our district plans were developed with input from parents and staff through online surveys and on-going discussions with district leaders and principals at each of our schools.
Having already established Plan A and Plan C, Vance County Schools has worked diligently on developing a framework for Plan B in preparation for the governor’s announcement regarding schools. The Vance County Board of Education reviewed each of the plans, along with the survey data from both staff and our families, approving the district moving forward with the framework planning.
Plan A permits all students to return to the building, but large group settings would be avoided. Social distancing and face coverings are still required.
Plan B is the blended instructional model, consisting of two groups. Group 1 includes students in grades K-3 and 9-12, meeting for face-to-face instruction every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with remote instruction on Thursday and Friday. Group 2 includes students in grades 4-8 who will have remote instruction on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with face-to-face instruction on Thursday and Friday. Classrooms would have fewer students in each room and face coverings are required.
Plan C has all students engaging in remote instruction, five days a week.
Our district is committed to ensuring that all students receive instruction Monday through Friday, facilities are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, wellness checks take place daily, face coverings are worn and students receive meals. We are committed to meeting the needs of our students, regardless of the plan our district pursues.
One school that will not need to await the state’s decision is Vance Virtual Village Academy (V3), our newest Innovative School in Vance County. V3 is a K-12 virtual school, allowing students to complete their education online with a personalized plan developed for each. Innovative instruction, enrichment and athletic opportunities will be available. V3 requires a one-year commitment from those accepted into the school. The design is set to outlast the COVID pandemic and provide another option for our community, meeting the needs of our families.
Governor Cooper’s announcement will guide the schools as a whole, indicating the least restrictive plan that districts may use; however, individual districts, with board approval, can activate a more restrictive plan based on local health data. Once that information is released, our Board of Education will reconvene to make the final action on what plan Vance County Schools will begin for the 2020-2021 school year.
Understanding the Plans
Plan A – Minimal Social Distance
Plan B – Moderate Social Distance
Plan C – Remote Instruction
Transportation
Plan A: Bus transportation provided for all students. Required face coverings on the bus.
Plan B: Bus transportation provided at 50% density. One student per seat. Required face coverings on the bus.
Plan C: Remote Instruction – student transportation not needed.
Instruction
Plan A: Large group interactions reduced. Student movement reduced significantly.
Plan B: No large group interactions. Face-to-face instruction and remote instruction provided on a rotating basis with low-density classrooms.
Group 1: Grades K-3, 9-12
M-Tu-W: Face-to-Face Instruction
Th – F: Remote Instruction
Group 2: Grades 4-8
M-Tu-W: Remote Instruction
Th – F: Face-to-Face Instruction
Plan C: Remote Instruction 5 days a week for all students PK-12th grade.
Meals
Plan A: Meals will be provided to all students daily. Students will eat in their classrooms.
Plan B: Meals will be provided to all students daily. Students will eat in their classrooms. Meal packs will
go home with students for remote instruction days.
Plan C: Grab and Go meal service will be provided to eligible families.
Visitors
All Plans: Outside visitors not allowed in buildings.
Facilities
All Plans: Disinfecting will occur frequently each day in classrooms, on buses and high touch areas.
Face Coverings
Plan A: Staff and students will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings
Plan B: Staff and students will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings
Plan C: Staff will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings.
Athletics & Activities
All Plans: Activities and athletics will be allowed or prohibited, per guidance from DHHS.
Wellness Checks
All Plans: Wellness checks will be conducted at the entrances of each school daily (and throughout the building during the day as needed).
School Hours
Plan A: Grades K-5: 8:30-2:30 ~ Grades 6-12: 9:00-3:30
Plan B: Grades K-5: 8:30-2:30 ~ Grades 6-12: 9:00-3:30
Plan C: Remote Instruction
Staff Availability
All Plans: Staff will be in the school buildings, providing instruction to students Monday – Friday.
Dept. of Justice Issues Warning on Fraudulent Mask Exemption Documents
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. advised the public today that cards and other documents bearing the U.S. Department of Justice seal and claiming that individuals are exempt from mask requirements are fraudulent.
There have been reports of individuals in North Carolina and other parts of the country creating cards or other documents claiming that the bearer of the card is exempt from mask requirements. Some versions of these cards threaten businesses or organizations with fines if they take steps to require patrons to wear masks.
In an effort to make the cards or documents appear legitimate, fraudsters may include the U.S. Department of Justice’s seal or include other threatening language. The Department of Justice is also aware of efforts by some to sell these fake cards to members of the public.
The public should take note that the Department did not issue these documents, and the Department does not endorse them. Furthermore, the Department has not granted permission for the use of its seal for this purpose, and misusing the Department seal is a federal crime.
“During this pandemic, false information—and fake cards like these—do a grave disservice to us all as we try to understand and follow the public-health measures our governments have ordered,” said U.S. Attorney Higdon. “The public should be aware that these cards are fake and rest assured that we will investigate those who are knowingly creating or peddling these fraudulent cards to the unsuspecting public.”
Home and Garden Show 07/07/20
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com on Tuesday at 4:30 PM.
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 07/08/20
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 2 PM Monday – Thursday.
Wellness on Wheels, Local Organizations Providing Free Meals Through Summer
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Information courtesy Chalis Henderson, Turning Point CDC
Wellness on Wheels, a program of the Green Rural Redevelopment Organization, is partnering with Vance County organizations to offer free healthy meals for local children every Tuesday – Friday through August 31, 2020.
Grab-and-Go meals will be available at the following locations:
Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity ~ 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ~ Location: 180 S. Beckford Drive, Henderson
Oasis of Hope Ministries ~ 12 – 1 p.m. ~ Location: 2495 US Hwy 1/158, Henderson
Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church ~ 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ~ Location: 511 N. Chestnut St., Henderson
Knoll Terrace Mobile Home Park ~ 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ~ 1261 Americal Rd., Henderson
GVPH: Local COVID-19 Update as of 7/7/20
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health
The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of July 7, 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 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:
863 positive test results for COVID-19. Of those 863 results, 448 are community-spread cases located across Granville County, Of those 448, 323 have been released from isolation, and seven are hospitalized.
Of those 863 cases, 407 are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County and 92 of those 407 have been released from isolation.
Five of those 863 are associated with an outbreak at the Murdoch Development Center, all five of whom have been released from isolation.
Two of those 863 are associated with an outbreak at Central Regional Hospital.
One resident has tested positive for COVID-19 at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center. Three staff members have also tested positive.
There have been a total of 23 deaths in Granville County: one in the community, one at Central Regional Hospital, and 21 of whom were associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.
Unfortunately, two more recent deaths have been reported associated with the outbreak at the prison: a 62-year-old male passed away on July 3 and a 61-year-old male passed away on July 4.
Vance County:
537 positive test results for COVID-19. Of those 537, 415 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 415, 210 have been released from isolation.
Of those 537, 122 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 47 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and 17 associated with Senior Citizens Home. The outbreak at Pelican Health nursing home is no longer active. Of the 122 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 44 have been released from isolation.
Ten individuals in Vance County are hospitalized
There have been a total of 40 deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 11 of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, and two of whom were associated with Senior Citizens Home.
Unfortunately, another recent death has been reported associated with the outbreak at Senior Citizens Home – a 63-year-old female passed away on July 6.
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.
North Carolina has a prevention and detection-focused approach to testing for COVID-19 in long term care facilities. Because people are living in close proximity, these are settings that many states monitor for the spread of COVID-19. NC DHHS considers long term care facilities to be experiencing an “outbreak” if at least two individuals who are staff and/or residents have tested positive. An outbreak is considered over after 28 consecutive days with no new positive test results.
All long term care facilities in the district are testing staff and residents regularly and participate in a weekly call with Dr. Shauna Guthrie at Granville Vance Public Health. For schools, businesses, and other settings that are not congregate living facilities, the state considers multiple cases to be a “cluster.” A cluster is defined as both a minimum of five cases in the same facility within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiological linkage between cases.
Some additional cases being reported currently out of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) are related to a building on the Durham County side, and those cases will be reported to the Durham County Health Department for data entry into the NCEDSS system.
The Bureau of Prisons is doing its own testing on-site. For more about the response from the Bureau of Prisons, please see the prison’s website.
Granville Vance Public Health Information:
GVPH updates its website daily at approximately 5 p.m. with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.
GVPH also emails updates about COVID-19 in Granville and Vance counties each evening. You can sign up to receive these emails at www.gvph.org/covid-19.
Town Talk 07/08/20: Vance County Schools’ Reopening Plans
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
To hear today’s Town Talk segment in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk or click the play button below.
Listen live to Town Talk every Monday – Friday at 11 a.m. at 100.1 FM, 1450 AM or online at www.wizs.com.
To read Vance County Schools’ recent press release for a framework of current reopening plans, click here.
WIZS Local News 07/08/20 Noon
/by John C. RoseWIZS Local News 07/08/20 Noon
Your Community Voice
Reminder: H-V Chamber of Commerce Collecting Items for New Teacher Bags
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce
The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is preparing to welcome new teachers to the Vance County area. The schools include Vance County Public Schools, Henderson Collegiate, Crossroads Christian School, Kerr-Vance Academy, and Vance Charter School.
The H-V Chamber is looking for donations from local business owners to pack into bags for these teachers. Needed items include pens, pencils, pads, hand sanitizer, coupons/discount cards, key chains, etc. The Chamber is also in need of a business to donate the actual bags.
Approximately 140 new teachers will be welcomed to the area. If your business would be able to donate an item for each teacher, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations are requested by July 14.
If your business would be able to donate an item for each teacher, or with any questions, please contact the Chamber at (252) 438-8414.
Vance County Schools Unveils Framework of Re-Opening Plans
/by WIZS StaffTHIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Vance County Schools, along with every other school district in the state, was instructed to develop three plans in preparation for the 2020-2021 school year. Plan A, with minimal social distancing, Plan B, with moderate social distancing and Plan C, as complete remote learning. Our district plans were developed with input from parents and staff through online surveys and on-going discussions with district leaders and principals at each of our schools.
Having already established Plan A and Plan C, Vance County Schools has worked diligently on developing a framework for Plan B in preparation for the governor’s announcement regarding schools. The Vance County Board of Education reviewed each of the plans, along with the survey data from both staff and our families, approving the district moving forward with the framework planning.
Plan A permits all students to return to the building, but large group settings would be avoided. Social distancing and face coverings are still required.
Plan B is the blended instructional model, consisting of two groups. Group 1 includes students in grades K-3 and 9-12, meeting for face-to-face instruction every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with remote instruction on Thursday and Friday. Group 2 includes students in grades 4-8 who will have remote instruction on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with face-to-face instruction on Thursday and Friday. Classrooms would have fewer students in each room and face coverings are required.
Plan C has all students engaging in remote instruction, five days a week.
Our district is committed to ensuring that all students receive instruction Monday through Friday, facilities are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, wellness checks take place daily, face coverings are worn and students receive meals. We are committed to meeting the needs of our students, regardless of the plan our district pursues.
One school that will not need to await the state’s decision is Vance Virtual Village Academy (V3), our newest Innovative School in Vance County. V3 is a K-12 virtual school, allowing students to complete their education online with a personalized plan developed for each. Innovative instruction, enrichment and athletic opportunities will be available. V3 requires a one-year commitment from those accepted into the school. The design is set to outlast the COVID pandemic and provide another option for our community, meeting the needs of our families.
Governor Cooper’s announcement will guide the schools as a whole, indicating the least restrictive plan that districts may use; however, individual districts, with board approval, can activate a more restrictive plan based on local health data. Once that information is released, our Board of Education will reconvene to make the final action on what plan Vance County Schools will begin for the 2020-2021 school year.
Understanding the Plans
Plan A – Minimal Social Distance
Plan B – Moderate Social Distance
Plan C – Remote Instruction
Transportation
Plan A: Bus transportation provided for all students. Required face coverings on the bus.
Plan B: Bus transportation provided at 50% density. One student per seat. Required face coverings on the bus.
Plan C: Remote Instruction – student transportation not needed.
Instruction
Plan A: Large group interactions reduced. Student movement reduced significantly.
Plan B: No large group interactions. Face-to-face instruction and remote instruction provided on a rotating basis with low-density classrooms.
Group 1: Grades K-3, 9-12
M-Tu-W: Face-to-Face Instruction
Th – F: Remote Instruction
Group 2: Grades 4-8
M-Tu-W: Remote Instruction
Th – F: Face-to-Face Instruction
Plan C: Remote Instruction 5 days a week for all students PK-12th grade.
Meals
Plan A: Meals will be provided to all students daily. Students will eat in their classrooms.
Plan B: Meals will be provided to all students daily. Students will eat in their classrooms. Meal packs will
go home with students for remote instruction days.
Plan C: Grab and Go meal service will be provided to eligible families.
Visitors
All Plans: Outside visitors not allowed in buildings.
Facilities
All Plans: Disinfecting will occur frequently each day in classrooms, on buses and high touch areas.
Face Coverings
Plan A: Staff and students will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings
Plan B: Staff and students will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings
Plan C: Staff will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings.
Athletics & Activities
All Plans: Activities and athletics will be allowed or prohibited, per guidance from DHHS.
Wellness Checks
All Plans: Wellness checks will be conducted at the entrances of each school daily (and throughout the building during the day as needed).
School Hours
Plan A: Grades K-5: 8:30-2:30 ~ Grades 6-12: 9:00-3:30
Plan B: Grades K-5: 8:30-2:30 ~ Grades 6-12: 9:00-3:30
Plan C: Remote Instruction
Staff Availability
All Plans: Staff will be in the school buildings, providing instruction to students Monday – Friday.
Tree Seedlings Available Through N.C. Forest Service
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release, NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
The North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) is now accepting tree seedling orders from the public, as well as from private entities and landowners. Each year, the NCFS Nursery Program produces millions of quality seedlings for nearly 50 species of conifers, hardwoods and native understory plants, including eastern and Carolina hemlock seedlings, as well as an expanded selection of genetically improved third cycle loblolly pine seedlings.
Genetically improved stock is also available in longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, white pine and other species. These seedlings offer better volume growth, form, disease resistance, straightness, and other characteristics needed to produce quality forest products.
“Trees are one of our greatest renewable resources, and these tree seedlings help keep North Carolina beautiful and economically viable,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Demand for tree seedlings is up, so anyone interested in buying trees is encouraged to order early.”
Tree seedlings can be ordered from the online seedling store at www.buynctrees.com or by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (1-888-628-7337). In addition, a user-friendly catalog is available at the “Tree Seedlings & Nursery Program” link located at www.ncforestservice.gov or through NCFS offices located in all 100 North Carolina counties. Completed order forms from the catalog may be mailed to: Seedling Coordinator, 762 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro NC 27530.
Each catalog also includes information about the types of tree species, quantities and costs to order. Tree descriptions provide information about ideal planting locations and whether a species is typically used to benefit wildlife, restore habitats or as marketable timber.
Hardwoods are sold in quantities as low as ten and conifers in quantities as low as 50. Larger orders are also accepted by the hundreds and thousands. Accepted methods of payment include check, money order, MasterCard and Visa.
Distribution of tree seedlings is set for December through mid-April, depending on weather conditions. Seedling orders can be shipped to one of 12 distribution centers statewide for a small fee or via UPS for an additional charge. Orders are also available for pickup from the NCFS Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro or the Linville River Nursery near Crossnore.
For information on planting trees or to obtain a current catalog, please contact Granville County Ranger Rob Montague at 919-693-3154 or at granville.ncfs@ncagr.gov.