Tag Archive for: #granvillecountyboardofeducation

Granville County Public Schools

Granville School Board Approves Leadership Changes

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Granville County Public School’s new superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne has announced leadership changes approved by the board of education.

The board held a special meeting on Monday, July 10.

Jamar Perry has been named assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Student Services.

Courtney Currin is the new executive director of Human Resources and Public Information Officer.

Perry begins his fifth year with GCPS and was most recently assistant superintendent for Human Resources.

Currin has worked in GCPS for almost 20 years and most recently served as the federal personnel director within the Human Resources department.

“The individuals in these new roles will bring stability and strength to our senior leadership,” Winborne said in a press statement.
“Each has a deep connection to our district, a strong work ethic, and an absolute commitment to the students of GCPS.  I am very optimistic about our future and look forward to a great school year for our students and educators.”

Winborne noted that Bill Graham. executive director for Operations, and Vickie Hines, interim finance director, will continue in their roles and complete the executive team for the district.

Winborne was sworn in on June 29, 2023 and assumed the role of superintendent on July 1, following the retirement of Dr. Alisa McLean.

Granville School Board Terms Reduced From 6 Years To 4, Finally

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Granville County residents who may be pondering running for a seat on the Board of Education, take notice: The General Assembly passed a law that changes the terms of school board members from six years to four.

And it only took four years to undo what had been done more than 30 years before as a result of a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.

As a result of House Bill 30, school board elections will be held in even-numbered years at the same time as primaries for county offices.

Districts 3 and 4 will kick off the new process, with elections in 2024; districts 1,2 and 6 follow in 2026 and districts 5 and 7 will come up for election in 2028.

In 1987, the Granville County Public School system was involved in a civil rights lawsuit brought by the U. S. DOJ. On Feb. 17, 1989, U.S.-District Court Judge Terrence W. Boyle signed a consent decree setting up the election of Board of Education members by seven geographical districts within the county, rather than all seats being at- large.  At the time, terms were set for six years.

“Almost every other school system in North Carolina already had four-year terms,” Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS assistant superintendent and public information officer, said in a statement announcing the change earlier this week.

“The thinking of the board was that this change would encourage more citizens to run for office and for board members to complete their terms of service,” he explained.

But it wasn’t quite so simple to un-do what had been done. Back in 2019, the board began discussions about changing term limits back to four years, Winborne said.  But first, it needed approval from the Voting Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. and then ask for a modification of the 1989 consent decree from the United States Eastern District Court.

The process further slowed during the pandemic, but finally, on Mar. 29, 2022, Judge Boyle signed a consent decree to change the term limits to four years.

N.C. Rep. Terry Garrison first introduced the legislation in June 2022, but it failed to reach the House floor.

Then, after the November mid-term elections, a resolution for support of this change was unanimously adopted at the Jan. 23, 2023 school board’s work session and forwarded to N.C. Rep. Frank Sossaman, N.C. Rep. Matthew Winslow, and State Senator Mary Wills Bode. House Bill 30 was filed by Representatives Sossamon and Winslow on Jan. 30 and it became law on Mar. 9.

“The Granville County Board of Education is grateful for the diligence and support of Granville County’s legislative delegation in fast-tracking this much needed change in term limits. It was important to the board that this bill be passed before the next election cycle,” said Board Chair Glenda Williams.

 

 

Granville School Board Set To Meet Monday, Sept. 19

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting on Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center of Education

Public comments for the meeting can be made in person at the board meeting, or in writing by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y37evl6z

Comments should be submitted between 12 noon and 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting, according to a press statement from Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS associate superintendent and public information officer. Board members will receive copies of comments; a maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment during the meeting.

Although seating is limited, anyone without access to WiFi may use internet services at the Richard Thornton Library, 210 Main St., Oxford, NC 27565 or the South Branch Library, 1550 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor, NC 27522

Join live at https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

 

David Richardson, Granville School Board Chair, Dies

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David Richardson, chairman of the Granville County Board of Education, died Tuesday evening. Friends, church colleagues and education supporters across the county reflected Wednesday on Richardson’s life and legacy in the community.

Granville County Public Schools Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne said district officials received word of Richardson’s death, but he had no further information about funeral service arrangements.

Richardson was pastor at Peace’s Chapel Baptist Church, located in the Fairport community. He also served on the advisory committee for the Granville Crime Stoppers, and President Frank Sossamon said he had known Richardson through that organization, as well as through their shared work in the ministry.

“It was a shock to all of us,” Sossamon said, of learning of Richardson’s death.

“He was a caring man…He deeply cared for people,” he said, adding that he wanted to do something that would positively affect his community. He was recently re-elected to the District 7 seat on the Granville County school board. “He wanted what was best for the county,” Sossamon continued.

A post by Board President Dr. Linda Frederickson on the Granville Education Foundation social media page said, “David was a champion for Granville County Schools and so supportive of GEF. He had a kind and giving heart and truly wanted to do what was best for Granville County Schools.”

Houlihan Resigns From Granville Board Of Education

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Granville County Board of Education member Dr. G. Tom Houlihan last week submitted his resignation, effective July 31.

Houlihan represents District 2 and has been on the board since 2014.

In his letter, Houlihan expressed his gratitude to the community during his time as on the school board. “Best wishes to all and thanks to the voters for electing me to represent District 2 for 7+ years,” Houlihan stated, according to a press statement from Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS public information officer. Houlihan cited the difficulty of school reorganization and closures as reasons for his resignation.

Houlihan has a long, distinguished career in public education, having served as a teacher, principal and as superintendent for both Granville and Johnston counties.

He also served as the senior education advisor for Gov. James B. Hunt in the 1990’s, and led the Council of Chief State School Officers in Washington, DC during the 2000’s.  During his retirement, he continued to serve children both as a mentor and volunteer in the Oxford area schools. Houlihan is also an author and has served his community through various charitable and service organizations, Winborne noted.

After the resignation goes into effect, the Board will begin the process of appointing an interim board member to fill the vacant position for District 2, Winborne explained. “The details and timelines of this process will be shared with the public and qualified candidates will be encouraged to apply and be interviewed,” he said, and the finalist will be appointed to serve out the remainder of Houlihan’s term, which ends in December 2024.

Granville Elementary Schools Remain K-5, At Least For One More Year

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The elementary schools in Granville County will keep their K-5 designations, at least for another year, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent and public information officer.

At its Jan. 10 meeting, the Granville Board of Education amended an earlier decision to put sixth grades at the elementary schools next year as part of the consolidation and reconfiguration efforts.

The board voted 6-1 to push that back to the 2023-24 school year. Board member Leonard Peace voted against the motion. In December, the board voted to change all elementary schools to K-6.

“Citing a need for more time to prepare, and to discuss additional possible impacts and scenarios, the board chose to move the date to reconfigure grades out to the 2023-2024 school year,” Winborne said in a press release. The board also cited challenges created by the ongoing pandemic as a reason to delay the decision.

Next steps include a review of a draft study of the closing of G.C. Hawley Middle School in the coming months, Winborne noted. A public forum must be held in advance of any decision regarding the fate of the middle school, but Winborne said a date has not yet been set.

Granville School Board Meeting Set For 6 P.M. Today

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting tonight (Monday) at the Mary Potter Center of Education, 200 Taylor Street, Oxford, NC 27565. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

There are three ways to make comments for this meeting, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer and associate superintendent: in person at the board meeting, placing a written comment in the box located outside the board room between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. or by using the link: https://tinyurl.com/y37evl6z. Comments made using the link must be submitted between the hours of 12 noon and 4 p.m. today. A copy will be distributed to the board members.  A maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment.

Anyone who attends the meeting in person must wear a face covering and comply with social distance requirements. Winborne said that residents without access to WiFi who would like to view the meeting via livestream may visit the Richard Thornton Library, 210 Main Street, Oxford, NC 27565, or the South Branch Library, 1550 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor, NC 27522, and use the libraries’ WiFi services.

School Board Approves One-Time Bonus Payments For GCPS Employees

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The Granville Board of Education approved one-time bonuses totalling more than $1 million for almost 900 permanent, full- and part-time employees of Granville County Public Schools, as well as additional bonuses for bus drivers.

The board decided on the retention bonuses at a work session held Monday. The bonus pay – projected to cost $1.1 million – comes from federal COVID relief funds. Permanent, full-time employees will get a one-time bonus payment of $1,000, and permanent part-time employees will get a one-time bonus of $600.

In addition, bus drivers will get an additional $250 for driving a morning, afternoon or regular double route, according to information from the school district.

Bonuses will be paid on Jan. 14, 2022. To be eligible for the extra payment, workers must be employed with the school district as of Nov. 1, 2021 and must continue to work through the end of the school year.
All eligible employees must complete an opt-in form agreeing to the terms of the bonus.  The superintendent, associate superintendent, assistant superintendent and executive directors will not receive the bonus payment.

“We are so incredibly grateful for our dedicated employees,” said Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean. “We know how difficult things have been for our educators recently, and we wanted to find a way to reward those who continue to be loyal to GCPS.  While they deserve far more, we are pleased that we can direct a portion of the federal COVID funds allocated to our district for this important effort. We hope this modest bonus will be received along with our sincere gratitude and appreciation for our excellent employees.”

Granville County Logo

Joint Commissioners, School Board Meeting Cancelled; Commissioners Still On For Nov. 15 at 7 P.M.

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The joint meeting of the Granville County Board of Commissioners and the Granville Board of Education, scheduled for Monday, Nov. 15, 2021 at 2 p.m., has been cancelled, according to information received from Debra Weary, clerk to the board of commissioners.

The commissioners will meet on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. for the regular scheduled meeting.

 The commissioners meet at the Granville Expo & Convention Center, 4185 Highway 15, Oxford.

The district boundary map will be on the agenda for consideration at the Nov. 15 meeting.

Contact Weary at debra.weary@granvillecounty.org or 919.603.1607 for more information.

Granville School Board To Meet Sept. 13

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 at 6 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center of Education, 200 Taylor Street, Oxford. The The livestream link is https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The Board also will meet in closed session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 for Personnel, and Attorney/Client Privilege.

Public comments for this meeting can be made  in one of three ways:

  • In person at the board meeting
  • In writing by placing comments in a box that will be located outside of the board room at the Mary Potter Center of Education from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • In writing by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y37evl6zComments made using the link must be submitted between the hours of `12 noon and 4 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2021.

A copy will be distributed to the board of education members.  A maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment.

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings and cooperate with social distancing requirements. There will be limited seating available.

This information comes from Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent of curriculum & instruction and public information officer for the school district.