Granville County Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay tomorrow, Jan. 17. School officials made the decision because of the expected bitter cold temperatures predicted for overnight and Wednesday morning.
The delay is for students and staff.
Two Granville County Public School graduates have completed requirements of the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program.
Jared Gladki, a graduate of South Granville High, completed his apprenticeship at Revlon in Oxford. Jacob Ganzzermiller, a graduate of Granville Central High, completed his apprenticeship program at Buhler Aeroglide in Raleigh.
The two were recognized at a ceremony on Monday, Aug. 15, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne. Gladki completed a two-year degree in mechatronics at Vance-Granville Community College and Ganzzermiller completed at two-year degree in mechanical engineering technology at Wake Tech. Both students participated in a work-based training program with their respective companies; the apprenticeships come with the promise of a full-time, high-skilled job in local manufacturing companies.
The apprenticeship program is a partnership between GCPS, VGCC, Wake Tech, NCTAP and local industries. High school students apply for and enroll in a fast-track program to complete their college engineering coursework – tuition free – while they work. The candidates who complete the apprenticeship are then offered full-time employment at their training sites and get a significant jump start on their career in advanced manufacturing, Winborne said.
GCPS Career Development Coordinator Tamara Rodebaugh attended the graduation ceremony and acknowledged the opportunities for these students and others. “Advanced
manufacturing is a growing sector in our region and offers high-skilled and high-paying careers for our graduates,” Rodebaugh said in the press statement. “All interested students should reach out to their counselors or their Career and Technical Education teachers for more information. I look forward to having more GCPS students enter the selection process this fall,” she said.
There’s a certain satisfaction artists have when they create something that others also admire and appreciate – “budding” artists (pun intended) in Granville County will have the chance to experience that feeling of satisfaction next month at the Granville Education Foundation’s Arts in Bloom Gala and Silent Auction.
GEF Executive Director Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter invites the community to come out to The Granville Museum, 1 Museum Lane in Oxford, beginning Thursday, April 28 to see local students’ artwork. Carpenter spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk about the event, which is the first of its kind offered by GEF.
She and Amy Rice, GCPS’s STEAM coordinator (STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) both said they are excited about the event, which will culminate on May 3 at 4 p.m. when the winners of the silent auction will claim their art.
Carpenter said GEF came up with the idea “to showcase (student) talent, promote the visual arts and to give back to the community.”
She said that all schools located in Granville County have been asked to submit at least three items to be included in the art exhibit and silent auction, which will include students in grades K-12. It will be a distinct opportunity for students to be able to see others appreciate, enjoy – and bid on – their artwork, she said.
Rice, whose career in education began as a Science teacher at J.F. Webb High School, said that, for her, “the most exciting part is to showcase the talent of our students.”
Teachers bring the completed artwork to Rice at GCPS Central Services. “I love seeing the artwork as it comes in,” she said.
A teacher recently brought in some entries and commented to Rice that this event allows students to feel successful. Not all students make the A honor roll, Rice said, and the art gala is an important way for students to demonstrate talent in areas other than academics.
Arts in Bloom kicks off with a light reception from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 28. The event continues on Sunday, May 1 and concludes at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3.
Musical entertainment will be provided on Apr. 28 by students of Granville Central High School musical director Joshua Carter, himself a recipient of three GEF mini-grants in 2021-22 totaling more than $7,000.
The GEF awards grants to Granville County educators who submit applications for projects to enrich and enhance their students’ educational experience. GEF also funds cultural arts programs that bring in the arts to schools in the county. Carpenter said the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on the cultural arts arm of GEF programming, but she is happy to report that it will resume this spring.
The art submissions are not limited to paintings or drawings, Carpenter said, adding that students may choose to create in any medium – “we wanted to allow the kids to be creative,” she said, adding that entries could be as varied as crochet, quilting or beadwork.
Proceeds provide resources and enrichment programs for students in all Granville County schools.
There are sponsorship opportunities available for Arts in Bloom, too – $500 Rose event sponsor, $250 Daisy supporting sponsor and $100 Tulip featured sponsor. The deadline to submit sponsorships to GEF is April 7. Details about sponsorship and more can be found at www.GranvilleEdFoundation.org.
Email Carpenter at GranvilleEdFoundation@outlook.com or phone 919.693.7047.
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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.”
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.
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.
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
At a special called meeting on Thursday, July 2, 2020, the Granville County Board of Education approved plans related to the reentry of students to school this fall.
During the past four weeks, GCPS has been busy preparing three distinct plans as required by the state. Governor Roy Cooper had planned to announce on July 1, 2020, which of these three plans would be enacted this fall. However, he instead postponed his decision until later in the month.
Despite this delay, GCPS is moving forward to finalize plans so families and staff can prepare for which plan the Governor eventually chooses, and are explained as follows:
Plan A – minimal social distancing – which is the least restrictive, is one where all students would return to school with extra attention to cleaning, health and safety. This plan looks a lot like a traditional return to school and is less complex to implement.
Plan C – remote learning for all – is the most restrictive, and is very similar to what families experienced this past spring. GCPS has been busy working on ways to improve the instructional delivery and support systems should this plan be chosen.
Finally, under Plan B – moderate social distancing – only 50% of students would be able to return to school on any given day. Many different possibilities and scenarios are being considered by districts across the state, but in each of these, separate groups of students would physically report to school on different days or weeks.
So, what would Plan B look like in GCPS? On July 2, 2020, the GCPS Board of Education approved the general framework for our Plan B, which includes two separate groups of students alternating between two consecutive days of face to face school, with Wednesday being a remote learning day for all students. So, essentially, students would have two days of learning at school and three days of remote learning each week.
At this time, the Board also approved a provision to allow the district to begin this schedule for ALL students on August 17, 2020, but with using a ‘staggered entry’ for face to face, whereby smaller groups of students would physically come to school in the first few weeks to better learn and understand the new screening processes, social distancing expectations, use of PPE and modified class schedules.
Under this plan, all students and parents will be learning about many new expectations, processes and procedures for how to come to school. Therefore, it is important that we do this with smaller groups of students to ensure the safety of everyone on our campuses.
To understand exactly how the weekly schedule will work for students, refer to this chart below:
PLAN B SCHEDULE AS APPROVED BY GCPS BOARD 7-2-2020
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
|
Group A Students |
Group A Face to Face |
Group A Face to Face |
Remote Learning for All Intensive Disinfecting and Cleaning of Campuses and School Buses |
Group A Remote |
Group A Remote |
|
Group B Students |
Group B Remote |
Group B Remote |
Group B Face to Face |
Group B Face to Face |
|
|
Students with Specialized Learning Needs |
Face to Face |
Face to Face |
Face to Face |
Face to Face |
|
|
Teachers |
Face to Face with Group A, Remote with Group B |
Face to Face with Group A, Remote with Group B |
Planning, Grading Feedback Virtual Sessions Lab Day |
Face to Face with Group B, Remote with Group A |
Face to Face with Group B, Remote with Group A |
Some details are yet to be finalized under this plan. The way in which students are selected for A or B group remains to be determined, however, care will be taken to ensure that siblings are not separated by group, even among grade spans or different schools if necessary. Also, students with special needs may be eligible to physically report to school more frequently than two days a week. The district is also working on plans to make sure students can have access to meals on days when they are engaged in remote learning.
Finally, guidance from the state indicates that our school bus capacity will be limited to a maximum of one student per seat, which may mean significant changes to our bus schedules and routes.
It is also important to note that this schedule includes a break on each Wednesday between the two different groups of students so additional cleaning and disinfection can occur. This will help reduce the possibility of potential virus transmission between groups of students in the unlikely event of an outbreak. The district will also be performing daily, regular disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and high traffic areas throughout our buildings and buses.
Families should also know that if either Plan A or Plan B is chosen by the Governor, GCPS will also provide remote learning from a student’s base school to ANY family who does not feel comfortable with their child returning back to school.
Granville Academy, which offers a blended model of education, is also another option that will be available to families. We are committed to providing choices to all families to meet their needs.
THREE LEARNING OPTIONS UNDER PLAN A OR B:
|
Daily Schedule |
Transportation |
Meal Service |
Internet Connectivity |
Is an Application Required? |
Academic Support Provided by Adult |
Are Paper Packets Available on Remote Days? |
|
|
Face to Face |
2 days per week |
Provided by Base School |
Provided by Base School |
Not Required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Granville Academy |
2 Partial Days per Week face to face, 3 Full Days and 2 Partial Days Remote per Week |
Not Provided |
Not Provided |
Required |
Yes |
Required, At-Home Learning Coach Must Sign a Contract |
No |
|
Virtual Option @ Base School |
5 Days Remote per Week |
Not Provided |
Not Provided |
Required |
No |
Required |
No |
Finally, in the coming weeks, we will continue to refine our internal processes and be ready to share more information with our families once the Governor makes a final decision on which plan will be in place on August 17. If the Governor chooses option A or B, then we will immediately be launching our “SaFE” process, or “Sign-up Fall Entry,” whereby families can choose which of the above learning options they prefer for their child.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to move forward during this difficult time for all. #gcpsonthemove
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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
GCPS Superintendent Alisa McLean was among 45 superintendents from across the state to graduate from the NCSSA Next Generation Superintendent Development Program Cohort VII.
The program is designed to support the growth, expansion and enhancement of superintendents using the North Carolina Superintendent Standards, said Jack Hoke, executive director of the NC School Superintendents’ Association.
The year-long program was comprised of six face-to-face sessions that guided superintendents as they reflected on and improved their effectiveness as district leaders; focused on their personal leadership goals and linked personal goals with district and state goals; and guided and facilitated the professional development of superintendents toward advanced levels of executive leadership as defined by the North Carolina Standards for Superintendents.
Dr. Alisa McLean, GCPS Superintendent, and Dr. Jack Hoke, executive director of the NC School Superintendents’ Association, are shown with Dr. McLean’s certificate of achievement for completing the NCSSA Next Generation Superintendent Development Program Cohort VII. (Photo courtesy GCPS)
Hoke said of Dr. McLean, “In addition to participating in high-quality professional development, Dr. McLean developed a strong network of superintendents to consult with, and she contributed to the discussion on emerging issues and innovative practices occurring in the Granville County public schools.”
Superintendent McLean offered her thoughts, saying, “The NCSSA Next Generation Superintendent Development Program gave me an opportunity to network with other superintendents from across the state and discuss trending issues and innovative practices in education. The program is designed to assist superintendents in the complex work of leading and guiding a school district. I appreciate the NC School Superintendents’ Association for organizing and delivering the program and for bringing all the superintendents together for the great professional development and growth opportunity.”
Board Chairman David Richardson offered his reaction during the June 1, 2020, Board Meeting. He stated, “In the midst of leading a district through a response to COVID 19, we are proud and excited to announce Dr. Alisa McLean’s graduation from the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association Next Generation Superintendent Development Program. I can say that we have seen the fruit and profit of Dr. McLean’s participation in this innovative group, and I want to thank her and congratulate her for this accomplishment and want her to know that as the Board Chair, a Board member and a resident of Granville County, I want to thank you for your commitment to leading Granville County Public Schools with distinction, innovation and a caring heart.”
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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools
Granville County Public Schools’ child nutrition staff have been working hard to provide meals to students during this difficult time. During the week of April 10 – 17, staff will not be working, so the community will be stepping in to provide some options for our hungry children.
Instead of the normal meal locations, there will be six sites open this week:
CG Credle Elementary School
The Oxford Housing Authority
Stovall Shaw Elementary School
The Highway 15 Trailer Park Neighborhood
Butner Stem Middle School
Mt Energy Elementary School
Volunteers will be on these sites between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to distribute meals that have been generously donated by members of the community.
In addition, the owner of the Oxford and Butner McDonalds has also generously donated meal vouchers for children during this same time. These vouchers may be received at one of the six sites. Children must be present to receive these meals.
If you are interested in volunteering to help distribute meals during this time, please click here for more information. If you would like to make a monetary donation to support this effort, please visit the Union Bank branch in Oxford or Creedmoor. Just tell the drive-thru teller you’d like to make a donation to support the Community Children Meal Program.
The school district plans to resume our child meal services on Monday, April 20 with a modified schedule of three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) as long as our staff can safely do so. We will provide updates for that program as needed.
We thank you all for your support of our children and the community. Together, we will get through these difficult times.
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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
Since early 2016, the North Carolina State Board of Education has provided a little known option for schools that face challenges in ‘making the grade’. A state-designated “Restart” status provides a mechanism for select schools across the state to adopt charter-like flexibility as it relates to operations and staffing.
Under this state policy, a school may apply for ‘restart’ status and begin the process of implementing additional flexible and innovative ideas to help improve the academic performance of its students. Some examples of this flexibility include changes to the school’s calendar, daily schedule and instructional hours.
A school may also consider looking at different models for staffing the school, including different employee contracts, educator licensure requirements and types of positions assigned to the school.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this status allows for increased flexibility as it relates to funding and budgets, which can have benefits for some schools in certain situations. It is important to note, however, that there are no additional or separate funds made available to these schools.
Currently, there are 148 schools across the state that have been granted this designation. Granville County Public Schools now has four schools in the process of applying for this special state-approved flexibility: Creedmoor Elementary School, West Oxford Elementary School, Butner-Stem Middle School and Northern Granville Middle School.
GCPS Superintendent Alisa McLean explains the rationale behind the decision to move in this direction, saying, “Applying for restart status is really about making sure we have all the tools at our disposal to increase academic performance in these schools. It’s not so much about having to do more, but rather just being able to do things differently. Our Board of Education understands that in today’s shifting challenges in public education, we must have the flexibility to address each school’s individual needs. The restart model will provide some options for us that were previously unavailable, and I am excited about the new opportunities for our students and their families. Really, it’s a chance to ‘reboot’ and take it to the next level – I see it as version 2.0 for these four schools. I’m thrilled they have this opportunity!”
These four schools have committed to a planning period prior to implementing the new options, which will include an important window for stakeholder input. Not only does the school staff need to build consensus and plan of action, but the parents and community need to be involved as well.
Dr. McLean further explained, “It is critical that the school drive this innovation and change. Our principals, teachers and parents must work together to choose what works for their students. Much like the regular school-improvement process, this restart implementation is about choosing ‘what fits’ for them – this is not a scenario in which I or our Board of Education will mandate certain changes, but instead work with our schools to provide support and guidance in the process.”
So far, the district has had several planning sessions to make sure state policies and guidelines are fully understood. Applications are being developed and plan to be submitted early during the new year.
The 2020-21 school year will likely be a planning year for these schools, with perhaps a few key operational changes being made incrementally. “The idea is to enact these changes carefully and deliberately, and make sure the school is 100% on board. We don’t want to rush this and place burdens on a school that already faces challenges,” said Dr. McLean.
While NC is only three years into this new school status, there are other states across the country that have been exploring models that provide greater flexibility to the public school structure. While no conclusive research has been published analyzing these flexibility models, schools do appreciate having more control and say over how their schools are run.
NGMS Principal Dr. Williamson shared her perspective, stating, “If we are going to compete against charter schools, private schools and homeschooling, then we should be allowed to play by the same rules. Getting this increased flexibility presents some exciting possibilities for us. I am excited about working with our staff and community to take NGMS to the next level. I will put our public schools up against any organization out there. As we like to say in GCPS, we are on the move!”
