Tag Archive for: VCS

TownTalk: Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney Embraces New Role as VCS Superintendent

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As the newest superintendent of Vance County Schools, Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney most likely is feeling some of the same things that her predecessors felt as the beginning of a new school year approaches: excitement for what lies ahead, mixed with a little bit of apprehension, well, for what lies ahead.

But like all good educators, Ross-Putney is prepared. She’s prepared for what she knows is headed her way, whether it’s student achievement, measuring proficiency growth or supporting teachers with professional development.

And just like good teachers have good lesson plans, Ross-Putney said she’s laid out five tenets to prioritize as she embarks in her role leading Vance County Schools.

In what she calls her “entry plan,” Ross-Putney said she’s going to be hyper-focused during these first 100 days as superintendent.

The first tenet centers around “listening, learning and building trust” to engage stakeholders. She plans to meet with local government officials, faith-based leaders and businesspeople across Vance County.

It’s a way to strengthen existing relationships, but it’s also about visibility.

“Visibility is key,” she said on Monday’s TownTalk.

“Our district, and our county, is small enough that we can really reap the benefits of connecting,” she said. “Those exchanges are really powerful.”

Part of that connection comes through collaboration, whether it’s among community partners or within the school district offices.

The other tenets include building leadership capacity, having a centralized online hub for teachers to access any form, document or policy they may need and school safety and school climate and teaching and learning.

Ross-Putney points to the district’s SPARK NC program as one innovative way to engage students that also allows them a chance to explore fields from agriculture to cyber security through a series of modules that can lead to high school credits.

“This is the type of learning our students need,” she said. In a nutshell, students choose modules and earn a credit when they’ve successfully completed six modules.

If they like the topic, great. If they don’t, they can choose another without penalty.

Now, VCS is offering a second level of SPARK and has been able to bring in an additional teacher because of SPARK’s success.

“It gives them the opportunity to pivot without being punitive,” she said. It fits the student and their style of learning.

It’s important for today’s students to “own” the progress they make, setting goals for proficiency. Ross-Putney said the district established this philosophy last year, but it’s one that she wants to continue.

“We all have an individual journey,” Ross-Putney said. “There’s so much beauty in that diversity.” There are so many pathways available for students to explore and the superintendent is keen to make sure that educators teach students the skills that allow them to adapt to changing environments and use critical-thinking skills for successful outcomes.

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The Local Skinny! School Board Formally Approves Closing Carver, New Hope

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The Vance County Board of Education approved Monday the closure of Carver and New Hope elementary schools, effective June 30, 2026.

This formal vote was the last step needed to complete the closure and consolidation process required by state law.

The board had been discussing the possibility of closing the two schools since its retreat in October 2025, citing low enrollment, aging buildings and funding.

A public hearing was held in January to give parents and others from the community the opportunity to hear more about the plan to close the schools and to have those students attend other schools.

The Carver students will go to E.O. Young Elementary and the New Hope students will go to Dabney Elementary. In comments during the public hearing, Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett stressed that school employees would have job security, adding that nobody would be out of a job if the two schools close.

“We are trying to find the best possible option for all in the district so that we have financial stability in a time of declining enrollment and declining funding,” Bennett said.

Bennett also provided current enrollment information for both schools at the public hearing. There are 123 students in grades PK – 5 at Carver; New Hope has 108 students.

It comes down to funding, Bennett said. The school district relies on local, state and federal funds to keep its schools open, and state funding follows the students. So if students leave traditional public schools for charter schools, that per-pupil-expenditure goes with the student.

A link on the school’s website contains information in FAQ format that provides details for the process of closure and consolidation. Find it at Website link with closure/consolidation info:

https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/board-of-education/consolidation-plans

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TownTalk: Innovation Opportunities Open for All at VCS

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(Be sure to scroll down for information flyers.)

Families today have many choices when it comes to the type of school their children attend, and Vance County Schools offer several options to make sure the district’s students go to the school that fits their needs.

With National School Choice Week being observed Jan. 26-30, the principals of three non-traditional VCS schools are poised to share information with families and students about choosing one of the innovative options that might just work for them.

The application period for one of these three schools – STEM Early High School, Vance County Early College High School and Vance Virtual Village Academy – opens on Monday, Feb. 2 and ends on Friday, Feb. 27. Dr. Destiny Ross-Putney, VCS chief officer of instruction and innovation, said prospective applicants should plan to dedicate a good half hour to filling out the application, because they will be asked about particular courses they’re interested in taking and any special interests they may have. There may be a request to submit some written responses to questions as well.

The application goes live on Feb. 2, said VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin. Parents and students can find the application at the VCS website, https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/.

Once the application window has ended, the selection process begins. Decisions will be mailed out by Mar. 23, Sandlin said.

Vance County Early College Interim Principal Dr. Tim Hall encourages parents with rising 9th graders to consider the Early College, located on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson.

“Don’t assume that this isn’t for your student,” Hall said. “We’re here to expand access,” Hall said. “The Early College is a life-changing, transformative experience.” Teachers and staff emphasize high expectations but also provide support students need in areas that include time management, study habits, effective communication and self-advocacy.

It’s a place for students who want a smaller high school environment, where they can forge stronger relationships and where they can earn college credits.

Early College students enter at 9th grade and can not only graduate high school but can earn up to two years’ college credit in five years’ time.

The Early College open house is scheduled for (Feb. 4 because of weather delays). (Edited from original post.)

The open houses for the two other innovative options also take place on Feb. 4, both at the Center for Innovation from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

That’s where STEM Early High is located, and principal Jessica Austin said the sixth, seventh and eighth graders who attend this school have the opportunity to earn high school credit before setting foot on a high school campus.

The COGNIA-accredited school provides students access to curricula above their grade level, all in a fun and engaging atmosphere. Regular Club Days allow students to “dig into their passion projects,” Austin said, and expose students to career opportunities that involve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – STEM.

The middle and high-school students at Vance Virtual Village Academy find an online option best suits their needs, for a variety of reasons. Principal Dr. Jeff Batten said upperclassmen can take classes at Vance-Granville Community also, making college credits accessible to them as well.

Each school has videos and other information on their respective websites, and Ross-Putney said that’s a good way to learn more before attending one of the upcoming open house events.

Sandlin said, “I strongly encourage our community as a whole to take advantage of the school visits.” They provide an opportunity to not only meet the school principals, but also to see what the school building looks like and feels like – to really understand what the space is about.

“Delve into that,” she said, “(by) going to see it for themselves to make sure this is a fit for your child.”

Batten said his school has a wide variety of students who, for whatever reason, find a place at V3A. One student travels extensively with his parent. Virtual classes work. Another student wanted to graduate a whole year early and was able to double up on classes to achieve his goal. And there are opportunities for students to come to a physical location to get help a couple of times a week when they need it, Batten said.

Austin said the teachers at STEM Early High offer intentional STEM exposure and accelerated coursework to allow students to get real-world experiences to prepare them for future careers.

“Not all of our students come in ready,” Austin said. “They have gaps, just like all students. We pride ourselves on being able to reach students in our small setting and being able to help them grow.” By the time they finish eighth grade, the gaps are filled and, in some cases, they’re halfway to being a sophomore in high school.

Hall said he is most proud of the transformation he sees among the students at the Early College.

“Students come in unsure of themselves, (and) over time, they become the type of people who can manage college expectations, communicate with instructors, advocate for themselves and lead…this shift is powerful.”

(This information and audio was originally broadcast and posted Thursday, January 22, 2026.  Please look below for an updated flyers from Vance County Schools as of 01-27-26.)

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The Local Skinny! VCS Plans to Close New Hope and Carver Elementary Schools

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A public hearing held Wednesday evening gave Vance County Schools leadership and members of the school board a chance to discuss and explain the plan currently underway to close two elementary schools.

Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett spent about a half hour to lay out reasons why New Hope Elementary and Carver Elementary are being considered for closure.

Long story short, it’s a matter of low enrollment, aging buildings and funding.

The Vance County Board of Education has been discussing this possibility since its October 2025 retreat, according to remarks made by Bennett at the public hearing, which took place at the schools’ central services location on Graham Avenue.

Bennett said there were meetings at the two schools on Tuesday evening so school leaders could have a chance to hear from parents about the plans in store for the schools.

Just more than 20 years ago, there were close to 8,000 students enrolled in Vance County Schools; in 2024-25, that number was 4,913, Bennett said.

This year, there are 123 students in grades PK – 5 at Carver; New Hope has 108 students.

It comes down to funding, Bennett said. The school district relies on local, state and federal funds to keep its schools open, and state funding follows the students. So if students leave traditional public schools for charter schools, that per-pupil-expenditure goes with the student.

Parents have multiple options, Bennett said, including charter schools, private schools and home schooling.

Bennett cited data indicating that out of 8,194 school-aged children in Vance County, 4,113 are enrolled in Vance County Schools.
“Parents and families have more options than ever,” Bennett said. “Every family has the right to make the best choice for their children.”

If plans to close and consolidate proceed, New Hope students will be sent to Dabney Elementary. Carver students will go to E.O. Young Elementary.

Bennett stressed that schools employees would have job security, adding that nobody would be out of a job if the two schools close.

“We are trying to find the best possible option for all in the district so that we have financial stability in a time of declining enrollment and declining funding,” Bennett said.

 

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Vance County Schools support staff to benefit from State’s Merit Bonus Pay

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The Vance County Board of Education approved their local plan for the distribution of the State’s Merit Bonus Pay for the 2016-17 school year last night at their December 12, 2016 meeting.

In the State budget for this fiscal year only, districts across the state received allocations to implement a district level merit bonus plan for non-educators. Vance County Schools received $106,000 to be used exclusively for this purpose.  Non-educators are those staff members who are not paid on the state certified salary schedules and are not school administrators (Teacher Assistants, Bus Drivers, Maintenance, IT Technicians, Child Nutrition, Custodial, Office Support, School Technical Support, and Central Services Support).  The law required each school district to develop a plan for the use of these funds meeting the minimum criteria for distribution set by the state.

The most restrictive requirement by the state was that the bonus could not be distributed across the board to eligible employees.

Vance County Schools (VCS) formed a task force comprised of staff that represented all the groups eligible for this merit bonus.  The task force worked to develop the district’s plan that would provide a meaningful and fair merit award to eligible employees, ranging from $750 to $1000, for the top 10% of the performers in each non-educator group.    With the Board of Education’s approval of the plan, staff will work in January to identify staff members eligible to receive the bonus based on the criteria in the plan.

A copy of the full plan can be found on the district’s website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.   For questions please contact Jennifer Bennett, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance, jbennett@vcs.k12.nc.us.