— Press Release
At their regularly scheduled meeting on February 1, 2021, the Granville County Board of Education voted (6-0 with one member absent) for students to return to Plan B, or in-person learning on a modified schedule, beginning March 1, 2021. The approved motion directed staff to prepare for students to return to their schools under the same Plan B schedule that was in place prior to December 16, 2020. Students will be assigned to the same 2 cohorts (A or B), each physically reporting to school two days a week. Group A will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays, and group B will attend schools on Thursdays and Fridays. Both groups would attend school virtually for the other three days they are not physically in school. All families who previously chose to have their students remain on full virtual learning will do so for the remainder of the school year. When students return on March 1, they will begin their Plan B schedule immediately and will not follow the staggered entry that was previously shared.
Superintendent McLean offered her perspective, stating, “We stand ready to serve our students and look forward to them returning. We will be vigilant in making sure that all screening and safety protocols are followed meticulously. It is imperative that we put the health and safety of our students and staff as a priority as we shift back to Plan B. We ask our families and community to support us in this effort and to please follow the guidelines and directives provided by our health experts.”
During a presentation shared at the meeting, Lisa Harrison, MPH, Health Director of GVPH and Dr. Shauna Guthrie, MD, MPH, and Medical Director of GVHP, provided data on the spread of COVID in our community. In addition, they provided updates on the progress of the efforts to vaccinate the public. Progress continues to move forward in this effort yet is limited by the amount of vaccine doses made available by the state. Discussions are already underway to plan mass vaccination events in the community, some of which could be targeted to educators, who are considered “frontline essential workers” and part of phase 3 of the state’s vaccination plan.
Throughout the pandemic action report, Dr. McLean, Board members and senior staff urged community members to join the ranks of substitute teaching to help the district maintain safe levels of staffing. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne explains, “If you love children, are 18 years or older, have a GED or high school diploma and can pass a full background check, then please consider becoming a substitute teacher. We need you and will train you prior to entering the classroom.” The need for substitutes varies by school, with elementary schools typically experiencing higher demand. All schools currently need additional substitutes. Starting pay is $82 a day for those with minimal experience. Compensation can be as high as $105 a day for those with teaching experience and credentials. Interested candidates must complete an application which can be found on our district website. Questions can be directed to Kathy Bradley, HR Specialist at bradleyk@gcs.k12.nc.us.
Chairman Richardson offered his thoughts on the shift to Plan B, saying, “It is my hope that we can meet the needs of the students, educators and families while keeping safety a top priority. We are thankful for the support of Granville County Public Schools and its students as we continue to finish out this year successfully. The Board remains committed to hearing feedback from all points of view of our stakeholders and encourages our citizens of all ages to stay engaged with us. ”