Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Granville Board of Education Approves Changes to Elementary Attendance Zones

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019, the Granville County Board of Education approved changes to the attendance zones of the northern area elementary schools. The changes impact school assignments for students living in the Joe Toler Oak Hill, West Oxford, and Stovall Shaw Elementary School attendance zones. This action became necessary after the Board decided to close Joe Toler Oak Hill Elementary School (JTOH) at their January 2019 meeting.

The Board reviewed three different options that were drafted by staff. Ultimately, the Board chose the option that will potentially best minimize route times for students, and be most efficient for the bus fleet serving that area. These new boundaries will go into effect beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

Dr. Stan Winborne, Executive Director of Operations, Human Resources, Communications and Safety, presented maps, charts and a hypothetical route analysis to Board Members in an effort to provide as much information as possible about ride times and pick-up and drop-off times for students. Also included was information pertaining to the number of buses needed and total miles covered, all of which can impact the efficiency of the transportation department, which in turn impacts the department’s budget.

“Ultimately, the Board chose the option which was best for students.  While we cannot completely forecast the exact times and bus routes for next year with the information we have currently, we can plan for new attendance boundaries which have the least likelihood for long routes for students early in the morning, and late in the evening”, explained Dr. Winborne.

The approved new boundaries assign the majority of students in the current JTOH attendance zone to Stovall Shaw Elementary School. The remaining current south-west portion of the JTOH attendance zone will now be assigned to West Oxford Elementary School, which is closer in proximity to that school. (see map below)

Superintendent McLean offered her perspective on the matter, stating, “We want the shortest bus rides possible for our young students. With a county as large geographically as Granville, this poses a challenge for our transportation department. I believe the option approved by our Board will work well given our resources. However, one thing that is important to remember for our families living in the current JOTH attendance zone is that for next school year, they really do have a choice to attend whichever elementary school best suits their child. Our choice programs allow for this, and we plan to provide bus shuttle services based on the enrollment needs in our schools.”

Under the Choice Program, families may choose to have their children attend any elementary school in the district. Currently, each elementary school has its own theme or academic focus which designates it as a “choice” school. Door to door bus transportation is only provided to families within the designated attendance zone, however, the district does offer a series of bus shuttle services to assist with transportation in different parts of the county for families taking advantage of the choice program.

Parents, guardians, family members and members of the community may review detailed maps, and lists of addresses in the new attendance zones on the district website under the Transportation Department page.  If you have questions about a specific address, you may contact your child’s school or contact the Transportation Department at (919) 693-6412 or contact Ms. Cindy Fain by email at fainc@gcs.k12.nc.us.

Granville County Logo

Third Rabid Raccoon Reported in Granville Co. This Year!

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-Information courtesy the Granville County Government Facebook Page

Granville County Animal Control reports the pickup of a raccoon near the area of Rock Bottom Road, Needham Drive and Bob Daniel Road. The raccoon was picked up on Saturday, March 2, 2019, and has tested positive for rabies. It was reported to have been in a pasture with livestock.

Animal Control officers are in the process of posting notices on homes in the area. All pet owners are urged to ensure rabies vaccinations on dogs, cats and ferrets are up-to-date, as required by North Carolina law.

The Granville County Animal Shelter, located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford, provides one-year rabies vaccines for only $6. Call (919) 693-6749 for details.

Granville Co. Board of Education Member Toney Smith Resigns

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019.  After the conclusion of official business items on the agenda, Board Member Toney Smith announced his retirement effective immediately, stating,  “After careful consideration and much thought, I have decided to relinquish my position as Board of Education member effective immediately. The demands of my professional career simply prevent me from participating to the extent that is needed. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve the children of this district, and I appreciate all of the hard work of our talented educators. I wish everyone the very best.”

Granville County Board of Education member Toney Smith announced his resignation at the Board’s March 4 meeting. Smith has served the constituents of District 1 for 11 years as a member of the Board of Education, having been re-elected for the position in 2014. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

Mr. Toney Smith has served the constituents of District 1 for 11 years as a member of the Board of Education, having been re-elected for the position in 2014.  Mr. Smith’s tenure as a Board Member can be characterized as student-focused, with an emphasis on the equitable distribution of resources throughout the district.

Fellow Board Members, Superintendent McLean, and Senior Staff all praised Mr. Smith for his service, citing his love and compassion for students and public education. Dr. McLean shared her thoughts, stating, “During my tenure as Superintendent, Mr. Smith has always demonstrated sincere concern about issues around equity and fairness for all (both with students and adults) in the district – and I, not only respected but genuinely appreciated that.  It has been a joy working with him.”

Fellow Board Members also expressed their gratitude. Mr. David Richardson, Vice Chairman, presided over the meeting in the absence of Chairman Tom Houlihan. Mr. Richardson offered these thoughts, “Granville County Public Schools’ students have benefited from Mr. Smith’s service. We as a board have also benefited from his candor and common-sense approach to making decisions on behalf of the district. We wish him well and hope he continues to stay involved on behalf of our community.”

The Board will continue with six members until a replacement for District 1 is appointed. The replacement will serve until the next scheduled election for his seat, which will begin serving for the term of 2020. The Board will begin discussing the appointment process at their next regular meeting on April 1, 2019.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools on the Move…Literally!

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-Information courtesy Dr. Stan Winborne, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools

GCPS IS ON THE MOVE – LITERALLY!

You probably see our school buses just about every day at some point on our roads. Chances are, you’ve probably ridden a school bus at some point in your life. But I bet you didn’t know some statistics behind our transportation department, so check this out:

Granville County Public Schools transports an average of 3,662 students per day on 103 buses. Our drivers cover more than 7,600 miles and work more than 298 hours each day.  This works out to a grand total of more than 1,218,200 miles per school year!  YES, that is 1.2 million miles – just in our county!  And, it took more than 182,150 gallons of diesel fuel to do this!  That’s is enough fuel to fill TEN average-sized swimming pools!  Not to mention all of the other fluids, tires, wipers, lights and other stuff that need replacing – just imagine the maintenance required! Our 8 full-time mechanics do an amazing job!

From a safety standpoint, our fleet of buses is constantly being upgraded and modernized. We now have 14 buses equipped with Stop Arm Cameras, designed to catch drivers on video who pass stopped school buses (a big no-no!). Also, all of our buses are equipped with Global Positioning Systems (GPS). GPS systems allow us to monitor the locations of our buses at all times. We can tell the speed of a bus, when it applies the brakes, and even when it deploys a stop arm. It also allows us to monitor time and attendance of our drivers, which allows for a very accurate account of bus driver hours for payroll.

The GPS system also has a feature called “Comparative Analysis”. This allows us to monitor and maximize the efficiency of our routes as designed by our routing program and compare to what our buses are actually doing. It also lets us offer the “Here Comes the Bus,” a mobile app made available to our parents. Using this app, parents and students are able to view real-time location of their bus. It has meant fewer missed pick-ups, preventing children to not have to wait in the dark, freezing temperatures, or pouring rain. Parents also no longer need to call the school to check the status of the bus.

Finally, did we mention our recent state safety inspection?  We received the best score EVER and beat the regional average score and had NO buses with serious safety infractions.

All in all, we have a pretty amazing Transportation Department full of talented staff, led by Mr. Harry Wilkins. We hope the next time you see one of our buses on the road, you will have a newfound respect and appreciation for the job we do of carrying the most precious cargo on the road – OUR STUDENTS!

#GCPSONTHEMOVE

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s 2019 Grant Cycle is Open

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-Press Release, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation 

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Directors has announced the launch of its 2019 grant cycle, now open through May 17, 2019.

The Foundation seeks programs and projects that will provide positive results in one or more of the five focus areas: Chronic Disease, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Reproductive Health, and Success in School as related to Healthy Lifestyles. Nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and schools are eligible to apply.

The link to the Foundation’s online grant application is available at the website: www.tnhfoundation.org 

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, a regional healthcare grantmaking organization based in Henderson, NC, is a health legacy foundation that was established in 2011 following the merge of Maria Parham Medical Center and Duke Lifepoint.

The Foundation’s mission– to encourage, support, and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health in the Triangle North area— is achieved through funding strategic initiatives, programs, and projects that focus on improving health.  The Foundation also supports programs that build capacity and develop leaders for nonprofits in the region.

The Foundation has launched a grant cycle each year since its grantmaking began in 2013. To date, the Foundation has invested over $1.5 million in over 60 projects serving the four counties in the region, Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren.

According to the Foundation’s Executive Director Val Short, the Foundation Board’s hope is that through grantee organizations and the people they serve, the Board’s vision for the future of our region will be realized…“to live in a healthy community.”

“Our hope is that the Foundation’s investment of grant funds in our communities will result in long-lasting improvements in the health and wellbeing of our children and adults,” Short said.

The Foundation staff is currently available to discuss ideas for grant projects or to assist with grant writing.  Call 252-598-0763 to schedule an appointment.  Information about current and past funded programs and projects is available on the website at www.tnhfoundation.org.

Reminder: Groundbreaking for Granville’s New Law Enforcement Center/Animal Shelter

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Please SAVE THE DATE for Tuesday, March 12, 2019, for a “groundbreaking” ceremony for Granville County’s new Law Enforcement Center/Animal Shelter.

The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at the construction site, 525 New Commerce Drive in Oxford. The public is invited to attend.

Granville County Library System

Granville Co. Library Offers Full March Calendar of Events

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

The four branches of the Granville County Library System will offer several new and innovative events and programs during the month of March.

On Saturday, March 2 and Saturday, March 9, Women’s History Month is celebrated as two female authors are featured. Children’s author Amber Parker of New Bern, NC will be on hand at the South Branch Library on March 2 to discuss her books at 3 p.m. Young readers are especially invited to experience the world of nature she describes.

Following up on that presentation will be a book signing at the Berea Branch on March 9 at 11 a.m. as author Faye Little presents her work, “Snapshots of a Country Diary.” Originally from Berea, Little (formerly Faye Adcock) now lives in Virginia and will share memories of growing up and living on the family farm. For more details about these presentations, contact the South Branch Library at (919) 528-1752 or the Berea branch at (919) 693-1231.

Other events to be presented for Women’s History Month, in conjunction with Friends of the Library, include a program by Dr. Christine Darden, a “Hidden Figure” of NASA fame, on March 3 at 2 p.m.;  “The Status of Women in North Carolina” at 7 p.m. on March 6, with featured speaker Mary Williams Stover of the N.C. Council on Women; The Poetry of Mary Oliver on March 11 at noon; “Three Questions to Ask Yourself” discussion by Stacy Abrams, March 13 at 7 p.m.; “The Rise and Fall of the Rocket Girls” book discussion on March 15 at 11 a.m.; “African American Women and the Suffrage Movement” presentation on March 20 at 7 p.m.; and “The Political Progress Women Have Made,” facilitated by Cecile Richards at 7 p.m. on March 27. All of these events will be held at the Thornton Library.

Brightstar Touring Theatre will also present “American Women in History” at 5 p.m. on March 9. This production puts the spotlight on some of the world’s most remarkable female pioneers such as Sacajawea, Susan B. Anthony and many more. This program is also open to the public and will be held at the South Branch Library in Creedmoor.

Women aren’t the only focus for the month of March, however, as registered participants can follow mysterious clues from the “wizard world” to escape a “locked” room inside the Thornton Library. Reading all seven Harry Potter books before participating in the Escape Room is helpful but not required, according to Children’s Librarian Amy Carlson. While the registration list is full, a waiting list is now available for those who have not yet signed up to participate. The Harry Potter Escape Room will be open to registered participants of all ages on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. Learn more at Granville.lib.nc.us.

“Game Night” will continue the wizardry theme as “Dungeons and Dragons” is featured at the Thornton Library from 6 until 8 p.m. on March 7. Call 919-693-1121 for more details and “heed the call!”

Children’s programming for March includes story time at the Stovall branch (Mondays) and at the Thornton branch (Wednesdays), with topics of “Opposites,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Spring” and “My Emotions.” The Lego Club will also meet every Tuesday in March at the Thornton branch from 3:30 until 4:45 p.m.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programming continues on Thursday afternoons for students in grades K through 5. Held each week at 4 p.m., March topics include robot play, a presentation on the importance of clean water, building flashlights and building bridges. To participate or for more details, contact Amy Carlson at 919-693-1121, ext. 212.

Other hands-on activities include a crochet class at the South Branch, scheduled for 2 p.m. on March 18. This workshop is open to the public and all materials will be provided. A “makerspace” is also a new feature of the Thornton Library and consists of yarn, knitting needles, fabric scraps, etc. which have been donated for use by library patrons. Ask about it at the library checkout counter!

In addition, a “Seed Library” is being established at the Thornton branch. By the end of March, library patrons will be able to “check out” vegetable seeds with their library card to take home and plant in their gardens. It is hoped that residents who utilize this service will cultivate these plants and share their seeds with the library after harvest for “checkout” the following season by other interested gardeners.

Your local library is not just for books anymore! Find out “what’s new” at one of the four branches of the Granville County Library System in Oxford, Creedmoor, Stovall or Berea today, or visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ for a full listing of events at the library closest to you.

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Second Raccoon in as Many Weeks Found in Granville Co.

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-Information courtesy the Granville County Government Facebook page

RABIES ALERT

Granville County Animal Control reports the pickup of the second raccoon testing positive for rabies in the past two weeks. The animal was collected in the area of Bruce Garner Road/Graham Sherron Road/Champion Drive on February 25, 2019. Residents of that area are being notified of this report.

All pet owners are urged to ensure their animals (dogs, cats, ferrets) have current rabies vaccines as mandated by North Carolina law. One-year rabies vaccines for dogs and cats are available for only $6 at the Granville County Animal Shelter. Vaccines can be administered from noon until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week.

The Shelter is located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford. Call 919-693-6749 for more information.

Creative Lifelong Learning Offers Humanitarian Opportunity, Informative Classes

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) classes and events continue to be provided through Granville County Senior Services as the next quarter approaches.

In observance of World Water Day (March 22), CLL is partnering with Wine to Water, a non-profit organization located in Boone, NC to help build awareness of the world’s water crisis while providing a fun, interactive filter build experience. This free event is open to the public and is scheduled for Friday, March 8 from 3 until 4 p.m. at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford.

Facts about the water crisis will be provided during the hands-on experience as filters are assembled to provide clean water around the world. Each filter can provide ten people with clean water for more than ten years.

Although the event is free, there is an opportunity to contribute to the cost of building filters and the logistics of getting them to remote areas around the world.  You may make your tax-deductible donation at the event or visit the campaign site at: https://bit.ly/2SiWm8A.

The campaign will be open through the end of March. The Oxford Rotary Club has already made a large contribution to this campaign. Other civic and church organizations are also invited to contribute.

Other exciting and informative classes for March include the following:

  • Nutrition for Living II scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m.;
  • More Practical Wisdom: Is it possible to walk a spiritual path in today’s world? scheduled March 28 through April 18 (Thursdays) from 10 until 11:30 a.m.; and
  • The Trojan War: Myth & History scheduled March 13 through April 10 (Wednesdays) 2:30 until 3:30 p.m.

Classes are open to all interested adults.

Ideas for classes, events and other opportunities are welcome for the next curriculum year. Those interested in teaching classes may contact the Senior Center or apply through the Granville County Government website.

The Granville County Senior Center in Oxford is located at 107 Lanier Street. To learn more about the CLL program and scheduled classes, visit www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/center-lifelong-learning/ or contact Granville County Senior Services at 919-693-1930.

Granville Crime Stoppers

Granville Co. Crime Stoppers: Theft of Copper Bars from Creedmoor Tower

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-Information courtesy Granville County Crime Stoppers

On Monday, February 18, 2019, an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property located off Will Suitt Road, Creedmoor, NC and criminally removed several copper bars from an AT&T/Verizon tower.

If you have information concerning this incident, please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213 or call Crime Stoppers 919-693-3100.

THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS AUTHORIZED THE PAYMENT OF A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST/INDICTMENT(S) OF PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME.  IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CRIME OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS CRIME(S) IN GRANVILLE COUNTY YOU ARE ASKED TO CALL THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS IN OXFORD, NC AT 919-693-3100.