— press release

The Granville County Board of Education Academic Subcommittee will meet virtually on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 1:00 p.m.   The purpose of the meeting is to review the NCDPI 5-year Facility Needs Survey which was completed and submitted on January 8.  For more information or a link to the virtual meeting, please contact Dr. Stan Winborne, Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Human Resources at winborne@gcs.k12.nc.us or Mrs. Alston Shave at shavea@gcs.k12.nc.us to receive a link to the meeting.

— 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.

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular Board meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 6:00pm at the Mary Potter Center of Education, 200 Taylor Street, Oxford, NC 27565. Members of the public are invited to view livestream. To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The Board will also meet in Closed Session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11.

Public comments for this meeting will be accepted in writing by using the link below. Comments entered into this form between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on January 11, 2021, will be distributed to the Board of Education members and the first two minutes of each comment will be read aloud during the meeting. A maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment. https://tinyurl.com/y37evl6z

THIS STORY IS SPONSORED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

— press release courtesy of GCPS by Dr. Stan Winborne, Assistant Superintendent of Operations & Human Resources, Public Information Officer

As we prepare for a new year and newer, brighter future for us all, Granville County Public Schools prepares to shift toward a “New Day” for serving children in our community. While the past year has been fraught with hardships and challenges for families, the pandemic has reminded us that working together, we can overcome any challenge. The team of educators at GCPS is responding by removing obstacles to make sure children get whatever they need in order to be successful learners. This looks different for every child, so staff are focusing on personalized approaches during these difficult times.

“Many things have changed in the past year, but our commitment to children has not and will not”, notes Superintendent McLean. “Our teachers, counselors, social workers, administrators and support staff are doing whatever it takes to reach out and connect with children to make certain they have what they need in order to be successful. We are building on our strengths and making innovative and personalized shifts in our organization to bring about change – it’s a New Day for GCPS, and I am excited about the future.” School districts in North Carolina, like the rest of the nation, are attempting to find creative and viable solutions that balance academics and student needs with safety and resources. Dr. McLean insists that the intentional balance of all is critically important as the district forges ahead during these uncertain times.

While the school district faces dwindling financial resources for the future, many indicators show an organization poised for transformation. The district just received yet another, clean, independent financial audit, showing outstanding stewardship of taxpayer dollars. More than $15M in capital outlay improvements are nearing completion after three years of careful planning and construction, thanks in large part to the support of the County Commissioners. And finally, staff have worked hard to seek new sources of revenue, with competitive grant funding now surpassing all previous records for the district, which now total $5.1 million during Superintendent McLean’s tenure.

While the accountability measures for student academic performance on state testing has been temporarily suspended in some areas because of the pandemic, the district continues to focus on making sure children master the core academic standards. In order to achieve this, the district has invested heavily in professional development for teachers, additional student support services to increase attendance and engagement, and with technology – supplying all students with laptops, tablets, MiFis, community hotspots, and digital learning tools. These efforts help children of all ages during remote and hybrid learning models and will continue as we shift toward the post-pandemic model of education. In addition, the district has worked hard to advocate with local and state elected officials for greater coverage and availability of broadband and cellular services throughout the county. When and where such services are still sparse or unavailable, the district has been stepping up efforts to provide alternative methods for ‘remote’ instructional delivery. Parent/Guardian technology sessions will also continue. Finally, literacy continues to be a key focus for ALL students. We have also made certain our school district’s reach was extended through the mobile Book Bus throughout the summer and fall this year, as well as winter book packets for all early learners. Coupled with this, more than 900,000 meals have been provided to students since the pandemic through a variety of methods – whether it be door to door, drive thru or traditional service at school. Taking school resources to the community has been important and it will continue to be.

“So what does it mean to say a ‘New Day’ is coming in GCPS?”, asks Dr. McLean. “Well, it doesn’t mean more things to do, but rather it means doing things differently than before. The pandemic has forced us to change the way we think about serving children and working with families. Remote learning and technology tools can be isolating, so it is more important than ever that we focus on making individualized connections with students and often, with the entire family. We need our community to help support us in this effort.”

Local businesses, churches and neighbors are to be thanked for assisting thus far but clearly, more might be needed. A call for community support has been underway since the spring of 2020, with dozens of individuals stepping up to do their part. Substitute teachers are still needed to help when staff are quarantined or out because of COVID. Personnel are also needed to help implement screening and temperature checks, supervise isolation rooms for students who exhibit COVID-like symptoms, prepare paper learning packets or help prepare and deliver meals for children. Support is needed across the board to help the front line “heroic” employees who have been working for children the past 10 months.

Board Chairman David Richardson and Superintendent McLean recently convened a working group of mayors, district leaders and our county economic development office to specifically help support ideas for older students needing to balance the demands of academics while many seek out employment opportunities to help their families during the pandemic. Soon, a community leader group will be convened to help grapple with ideas just as difficult. “It is a delicate balance for many families and it is important our school system is part of the solution- not the problem”, stated Superintendent McLean. GCPS has also surpassed state and regional averages for the WorkKeys state assessments – a critical workplace readiness exam that provides professional credentials for graduates. Platinum and gold level certificates are now at an all time high in GCPS.

“High school students are getting part-time or entry-level jobs like never before to help their family budgets, yet they still have the full demands of a rigorous academic schedule to handle. We want to help them navigate this stressful time and make sure they still earn that diploma and look towards their next steps to prepare for their careers,” commented Mr. Richardson. “In addition to these working groups, we will be finalizing the formation of a district Task Force that will take a closer look at issues of facility and capital needs, resource management and equity. These are important topics that the board has been working on prior to the pandemic, and need some final resolution.”

Superintendent McLean summarized her thoughts, stating, “I am extremely proud of the amazing work our team of educators have accomplished during the era of COVID. GCPS has kept the focus on our student well-being and literacy. The Board of Education and I are very optimistic and excited about the future of our school district. Together, we are poised to help support our educators as they propel our students and families forward. In Granville County, like in many other forward-thinking places around the nation, we are about to experience a true shift in our approach to education, which will improve the prospects for success for each young person, and as a result, our community as a whole. It is indeed a New Day for GCPS.”