Tag Archive for: #GCPSchools

Bring Your Mask: GCPS Students, Staff Must Wear Face Coverings To Begin School Year

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All Granville County Public Schools students and staff will be required to wear face coverings on all school property when school starts later this month, following a board of education decision made during its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 2.

The decision came following a presentation from Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison and GVHD Medical Director Dr. Shauna Guthrie about the COVID-19 Delta variant.

The new variant is more contagious and has caused a spike in hospitalizations – 97 percent of those hospitalized are unvaccinated. Citing guidance from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the health department officials recommended that GCPS follow the mask requirement while students, staff and visitors are indoors.

Masks must be worn except when students or staff are eating or drinking.

Masks will be provided free of charge to all students and staff as needed. The district has an ample supply of additional PPE, including gloves, gowns and face shields for staff which also are available upon request.

Individuals may apply for a mask exemption based on a medical condition or physical disability, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS associate superintendent and public information officer. Applications are available at each school and Winborne added that documentation verifying the condition must accompany the application.

Adults should remain six feet apart from others when possible, and students should maintain three feet of physical distancing and school staffs will continue regular and thorough cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces and common areas will continue, Winborne said.

The board will revisit the topic at future meetings to determine if adjustments are needed, and the board will consider at its September meeting policies for visitors, volunteers and indoor facility rentals and indoor events or performances. Right now, none of these are allowed. The board is set to review each topic and adjust policies as needed, Winborne said.

School Board To Review, Discuss Survey Results July 22

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a special called meeting Thursday afternoon at the Mary Potter Center of Education to receive and discuss results of a community survey in its continuing discussion about school consolidation.

The July 22 meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and will be open to the public, but face coverings, health screenings and social distancing will be in required, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS associate superintendent and public information officer.

The meeting also will be livestreamed, Winborne said in a statement issued Monday, July 19. Join the meeting at https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

Granville Board Of Education Seeks Community Input Through Survey About Consolidation Next-Steps

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The Granville County Board of Education is seeking input from the community as it continues to make decisions about how to most efficiently operate its schools in the wake of declining enrollment and budget shortfalls.

Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent and public information officer for GCPS, said the board wants to hear from the families it serves and invites them to complete a survey to share their opinions.

The link to the survey is: https://gcsk12.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_26uiHcScrE7ke58

“Our board has created a short informational video linked HERE explaining the challenges our school district faces with regards to declining enrollment and the resulting inefficiencies that impact our operations,” Winborne said in a statement.  Currently, the Board needs to find $1.7 million in annual savings to balance the budget, Winborne said.

The school board is currently looking at reorganization and consolidation of school. In the past three years, three schools have been closed, and one campus and other auxiliary properties have been sold.

Surveys may be completed online, or hard copies may be picked up from any GCPS school or public library beginning today (Tuesday, July 6). The survey closes at midnight on Sunday, July 11, 2021, Winborne noted.

Granville Schools Announce More Leadership Changes As Streamlining, Consolidation Efforts Continue

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The Granville County Board of Education approved more leadership changes at a called meeting on Tuesday, June 29, further consolidating programs and services at the district level as it continues to focus on efficiency and making best use of resources.

The board also announced that Kevin Ferrell will be the new principal at South Granville High School. Ferrell began his education career at the Creedmoor school in 1994 as a social studies teacher. He returns to the district after serving nine years as an assistant principal in Wake County.

Two assistant principals also were named at the meeting. Shana Harris will serve at Butner-Stem Elementary and Sophelia McMannen will be at SGHS, according to information from Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent for the district and public information officer.

In addition to these school-based changes, the board also approved staffing changes to the district’s leadership structure. “The changes made represent significant reduction in staff and reassignment of duties which will increase efficiencies, reduce costs and better strategically position the district for the future,” Winborne stated.

The board approved the changes, which includes elimination of one assistant superintendent position, as well as reducing from 16 to 12 director-level positions, all based at the district offices. The curriculum & instructions and student services departments underwent a restructure as part of the process and additional district-based positions were shifted to school-based positions, Winborne stated. The district will use grant funding to pay for school-based positions, he added.

The following changes in personnel and roles were approved:

  • Lauren Curtis – Senior Director of Student Services (Central Services)
  • Anikko Gorham – Senior Director of Exceptional Children’s Program (Central Services)
  • Shelby Hunt – Grants Manager and Special Projects Manager (Central Services)
  • Michele Robinson – Northern Regional Lead (based at CG Credle ES)
  • Tonya Thomas – Southern Regional Lead (based at SGHS)
  • Pauletta Thompson – Senior Director of Federal Programs and Strategic innovation (Central Services)
  • Felisha Whitaker – Director of Elementary Education (Central Services)
  • Angie Salisbury – Director of Career and Technical Education and Secondary Education

In the press release, Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean stated, “Just as our board is taking on the difficult task of school reorganization, so too must we streamline staffing in our central services.  These changes will also eliminate our reliance on state and local dollars. We must capture efficiencies and reduce staffing while maintaining quality support and excellent services for our students and staff.”

GCPS Announces Staff Changes, Shifts To Streamline Central Services

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The Granville County Board of Education approved numerous staff changes, from Central Services to individual schools across the district at its meeting Monday, June 7.

Dr. Stan Winborne was named associate superintendent of curriculum & instruction and student services. He will continue to be the public information officer, according to a press release announcing the changes.

Winborne replaces Dr. Michael Myrick, who leaves GCPS to become the superintendent of Weldon City Schools in Halifax County.

Winborne has worked with GCPS for almost 25 years, beginning his career as an English as a Second Language and Spanish teacher. He has held numerous administrative positions in Central Services.

“The new staffing assignments were designed to place highly qualified staff in key positions in order to move the district forward in the coming academic year,” the press release stated.   Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean said the changes reflect a need to be more streamlined in district operations. “Just as our board is working toward school reorganization and efforts to become more efficient, so too will our leadership team.,” McLean said. “Now is the time to downsize our staffing at Central Services and streamline the way we support our schools. We will continue to make improvements to our organization by reducing and reorganizing the number of positions in central services that are paid for out of local or state funds, better positioning the district financially and strategically,” McLean said.

Other staff changes include:

  • Courtney Currin, principal at Tar River Elementary, was named director of federal compliance & personnel. Currin will also have marketing duties for the district.
  • Tar River Assistant Principal Timothy Bobay was named principal at TRES.
  • Jamar Perry was named executive director of human resources. He is beginning his third year with GCPS.
  • Bill Graham was named Interim executive director of operations.  Graham is a former GCPS high school principal and has worked for more than 35 years in education.
  • Mary Warehime was named interim principal of Granville Academy. She has been dean of instruction there for the past two years.

Additional staff were named as assistant principals at the following schools:

  • Kristin Wilson – Tar River Elementary School
  • Ashley Lloyd – Granville Central High School
  • Anthony Herndon – Butner-Stem Middle School
  • Kelly Helner – Creedmoor Elementary School
  • Emily Makay – Northern Granville Middle School
  • Pam Davis (Intern) – Northern Granville Middle School
  • Kellie Walton (Intern) – Butner-Stem Middle School

“It is a new day in GCPS, and as such we need to be positioned to not just respond to the needs of our students, but anticipate solutions and possibilities for the future,” McLean said. “These individuals will assist with this work and build upon the strengths we already celebrate.”

J.F. Webb Students Complete Art Project For Display At “Bonnie’s House”

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Two J.F. Webb High School art students recently completed a special project commissioned by Families Living Violence Free (FLVF). The artwork has been completed and will be displayed in the FLVF safe house for domestic violence victims.

Sofia Serba-Davis and Brim Royster each received a $100 gift card in appreciation for their efforts, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer and assistant superintendent of operations & human resources.

FLVF board member Jackie Harris worked with JFW’s art teacher Ophelia Staton to commission the work. Staton received a $50 gift card for her assistance and support of the project, Winborne said.

Both pieces of art depict Bonnie Hawley, a Granville County resident who was killed in a domestic violence incident. The safe house is known simply as “Bonnie’s House.”

L to R: Brim Royster, Mrs. Staton, Sofia Serba-Davis

“Their artwork is phenomenal,” Harris said. “The FLVF board and I are extremely honored to hang their artwork in this special location.  It speaks volumes of the students and their teacher.”

Families Living Violence Free is Granville County’s domestic violence and rape crisis center. All services are free and confidential. Learn more at  https://flvf.org/

GCPS Considers School Closings at May 17 Work Session

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The fate of a couple of school campuses may become clearer during a work session of the Granville County Board of Education next week.

The work session will be held Monday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center of Education. The purpose of the meeting is to hear a first draft of staff presentations on studies regarding the reorganization of schools, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, assistant superintendent of operations & human resources and public information officer for GCPS. Members of the public are invited to view via livestream. Join at https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The school board is considering several different options that include closing schools and consolidating campuses in the southern end of the county. Wilton Elementary and Creedmoor Elementary are being looked at for possible closure. Also being studied is closing Granville Central High School in Stem and repurposing the campus to house either South Granville High School or G.C. Hawley Middle School.

Seating at the work session is limited for those who attend, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings, undergo health screenings before entering the building, and follow social distancing protocols.

Mary Potter Center of Education is located at 200 Taylor St., Oxford, NC.

GCPS Announces Teacher, Principal of the Year

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The Granville County Board of Education announced winners of the Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year at its May meeting. Samala Dawson-Robinson, a teacher at G.C. Hawley Middle School in Creedmoor, and Courtney Currin, principal at Tar River Elementary are this year’s honorees.

GCPS Human Resources Director Jamar Perry announced the winners during a virtual presentation. Each school puts forth the name of one teacher to vie for the honor of teacher of the year. District principals nominate their colleagues to be considered for the award.

Dawson-Robinson, a Career Technical Education (CTE) teacher, received a trophy and flowers from Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean the day after the announcement, in addition to $1,000 from the Granville Ed Foundation. Two runners-up each receive a trophy, as well as a $500 check from the Granville Ed Foundation.

McLean commended Dawson-Robinson for her accomplishments. “We are sure that Samala Dawson-Robinson will be a shining star among the others recognized across the country for this top honor.  We are proud of her and all she represents,” McLean stated.

Board Chair David Richardson  “I am so proud of all of these teachers and the dedication and love they have for their students.  I know that Ms. Dawson-Robinson will represent our district well in this coming year as a true ambassador for our county and the profession itself.”

Currin has been a principal since 2015. She graduated from the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program at Meredith College in 2004 and taught English for eight years at J.F. Webb High School and got a master’s degree in school administration in 2012. She was an assistant principal at Northern Granville Middle School before being named principal at Butner-Stem Elementary in 2015. At Tar River, she is leading the school’s transition to project-based learning in a competency-based education framework.

School districts from across the state choose a principal of the year (POY). District winners compete for state-level honors, and the state winner goes on to the national competition.

McLean congratulated Currin for being selected. “We are proud of you and thank you for your service to our students and leadership at Tar River Elementary School,” she said.

Granville Board of Education To Consider School Closures, Announces Principal Changes

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The Granville County Board of Education is a step closer to determining whether to close one or more school campuses in the southern end of the county as it continues to define its school reorganization plan. During its May 3 meeting, the board voted unanimously to begin a study to close Granville Central High School and repurpose the campus.

Dr. Stan Winborne, district public information officer and assistant superintendent of operations & human resources, said in a press release that the campus, located off Sanders Road in Stem could possibly be used to house students from G.C. Hawley Middle School or South Granville High School.

In other action at the meeting on Monday, the board announced some district leadership changes. Lisa Tusa, currently principal at South Granville High School in Creedmoor, will become the new principal at Northern Granville Middle School in Oxford. She replaces Dr. Brenda Williamson, who will take over as principal at C.G. Credle Elementary in Oxford. Sherrie Burns, current principal at Credle, recently announced her resignation for the upcoming school year.

Tusa has been principal at SGHS for 13 of the 22 years she has been an educator. Williamson was principal at Mary Potter Middle School in Oxford and moved to NGM when the two campuses merged a few years ago.

The board also voted to direct district staff to review and update the possible closing of two elementary schools – Wilton and Creedmoor – those studies were paused back in the fall pending additional input from a strategic task force.

Board Chair David Richardson formed the task force, which presented findings to the board in April. “Their findings were presented to the board in April, which helped inform the Board’s current course of action,” Winborne stated.

Next steps of the school reorganizations may be determined at an upcoming board work session on May 17. “The goal of the is to finalize any possible reorganization decisions prior to July 1, 2021,” according to Winborne, but the actual closing or mergers likely would take effect for the 2022-23 school year.

Granville School Board Moves Closer to Closing More Schools

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The Granville County Board of Education is a step closer to determining whether to close one or more school campuses in the southern end of the county as it continues to define its school reorganization plan. During its May 3 meeting, the board voted unanimously to begin a study to close Granville Central High School and repurpose the campus.

Dr. Stan Winborne, district public information officer and assistant superintendent of operations & human resources, said in a press release that the campus, located off Sanders Road in Stem could possibly be used to house students from G.C. Hawley Middle School or South Granville High School.

The board also voted to direct district staff to review and update the possible closing of two elementary schools – Wilton and Creedmoor – those studies were paused back in the fall pending additional input from a strategic task force.

Board Chair David Richardson formed the task force, which presented findings to the board in April. “Their findings were presented to the board in April, which helped inform the Board’s current course of action,” Winborne stated.

Next steps of the school reorganizations may be determined at an upcoming board work session on May 17. “The goal of the is to finalize any possible reorganization decisions prior to July 1, 2021,” according to Winborne, but the actual closing or mergers likely would take effect for the 2022-23 school year.