Tuesday, May 2, 2017
For Immediate Release
On Thursday, April 27, the Granville County Board of Education approved the budget for the 2017-2018 school year. This year’s budget process was particularly difficult as the Board faced both increased costs and projected decreased revenues, which made necessary substantial cuts in personnel and program expenditures. As a result, this budget includes more than $2.78 million dollars in total cuts from the previous year’s budget.
Specific areas where these cuts have been made include a reduction of the leadership positions in Central Services, including the elimination of two director positions and that of the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations, which will be made vacant by the retirement of Dr. Gillespie after July 1, 2017. The following positions and job duties will be reorganized as a result of these changes:
| Staff Member | Current Position Title | New Position Title and Responsibilities Effective July 1, 2017 |
| Betty Crute | Pre-K Coordinator | Retired |
| Nancy Russell | Principal, Creedmoor Elementary School | Pre-K Coordinator |
| Ann Grey Newcomb | Director of Professional Development | Principal, Creedmoor Elementary School |
| Helen Lindsey | Principal, CIL | School Guidance Counselor |
| Calvin Timberlake | Director of Innovative Services | Principal, CIL
District Athletic Director Driver’s Education Coordinator
|
| Dr. Tonya Thomas | Director of Middle Schools & AIG | Director of Professional Development,
Student Services, & AIG Services |
| Beth Cook | Director of Testing & Accountability, The Arts | Director of Testing & Accountability,
The Arts & Community & Volunteer Coordinator
|
| Dr. Lela Baldwin | Director of Elementary Education,
Federal Programs & Afterschool Programs |
Director of Elementary Education,
Federal Programs, Afterschool Programs & McKinney-Vento Coordinator
|
| Dr. Stan Winborne | Director of High Schools, CTE & Public Information Officer | Director of Secondary Schools (6-12),
Career and Technical Education & Public Information Officer |
| Dr. Vanessa Wrenn | Director of Instructional Technology | Director of Instructional Technology &
District Webmaster |
| Russell Dixon | Student Information Coordinator &
District Webmaster |
Student Information Coordinator &
Student Transfer Coordinator
|
Additional cuts will be made in funding for Technology, Granville Online, teacher substitutes, and Central Services general expense items. Projected reductions in student enrollment will also result in an accompanying reduction of the allotment for teacher assistants, teachers, custodians, guidance counselors, clerical positions and assistant principals. No specific positions have been identified as the department of Human Resources will seek to accommodate these cuts through attrition first.
Superintendent Howard and Board Chair Dr. Tom Houlihan issued a joint statement, saying “This budget proposal is the result of conscientious steps taken by the Board and administration to provide human and material resources needed while at the same time reducing our dependence on fund balance. For four years the school district has made significant budget cuts in an effort to be financially responsible, particularly with declining student enrollment and the fiscal limitations that are brought on by negative state and national budget changes.”