Granville County Public Schools was awarded a Digital Champion Grant of $400,000. The grant, written in partnership with the Granville County Library System, will benefit students in GCPS and patrons of Granville County libraries. Funds from the award will be used to refresh GCPS student laptops and expand technology-based paid internships for GCPS high school students. Additionally, the award will be used to purchase devices for checkout and use through the Granville County Library System and secure mobile Starlink internet access for the Library System’s rural branches and Granville County’s rural communities.

Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne stated, “This award will help us continue to prepare our students to use technology in the workplace effectively. It also allows us to further impact our community in our partnership with the Granville County Library System. All Granville County citizens deserve reliable access to technology and broadband. We look forward to seeing how this funding will positively impact our schools, students, and Granville County citizens.”

Will Robinson, Director of GCLS, conveyed, “This was a wonderful opportunity to partner with GCPS. The Digital Champion Grant will significantly strengthen our ability to serve the community of Granville County. This funding will allow us to expand our digital resources, ensuring that all patrons and students have access to essential technology and online information regardless of their background or financial situation. By bridging the digital divide, we empower our residents with the tools they need for education, employment, and personal growth. This grant is a major step forward in our mission to provide equitable access to knowledge and resources for everyone in Granville County.”

Greetings, friends, and families of Granville County! I hope your summer has been wonderful and full of fun and lots of new adventures.

As promised, I am taking this opportunity to share a summary of how this past school went and provide some hints at what you can expect for the 2024-2025 school year.

If you recall, we have centered our work, “Focusing Forward” around four main priorities: Safety, Student Behavior, Attendance, and Academics. Our Board of Education, me, and the administrative team are in lock-step to make sure these fundamental aspects of our district improve quickly and significantly.

Concerning our first and most important priority, Safety, I am pleased to report that we had a very good year. There were no major threats or critical incidents, and our students and staff enjoyed a safe and secure learning atmosphere. I want to take this opportunity to thank our partners in law enforcement, particularly the officers of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, the Creedmoor Police Department, and Butner Public Safety. These dedicated and hardworking professionals are committed to working with our administration to keep our schools safe. Plans are underway to expand the School Resource Officer (SRO) presence. We also hope to bring the Oxford Police Department on board as well. You can expect to hear more about upgraded safety protocols and advanced training events. Please join us in this effort and remember, “If you see something, SAY SOMETHING!”  We all play a part in this effort.

I am happy to say that our next and related priority, Student Behavior, improved dramatically this past year. Thank you to our students, families, and staff for their efforts in creating a much more calm, peaceful, and respectful environment in our schools. Compared to the year before, there was an 11% decrease in the total number of student disciplinary referrals in the district and a 17% reduction in suspensions compared to the same time last year. Even better, the number of fights and acts of violence was down almost 20% compared to the prior year.  Of course, we will continue to strictly enforce our Student Code of Conduct, with maximum penalties for any violations related to threatening behavior or acts of violence. We are raising our expectations and will hold students accountable for their actions, creating structured and safe schools where students can focus on learning and be good citizens to one another.

Attendance, our next priority, also saw improvements. During the last few months of school, we managed to hit our goal of 96.5% at several campuses. Our elementary and middle schools saw big gains. We urge our high schools to do better in the coming year. After all, if students don’t come to school, they will miss out on critical learning opportunities and academic support.

Finally, concerning our core priority of Academics, we did see an overall improvement across the district compared to the previous year.  However, the official test score data sets are still not released from the state. But, I can say we are heading in the right direction. Of course, there is still much work to be done. There are not enough students reading at a high enough level. Many students are still struggling with math achievement. Many others face challenges to their learning that we must continue to support.

I credit these advancements to our hard-working teachers and administrators. The NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey that was administered by the state this past spring showed a dramatic improvement in morale. The percentage of teachers who said, “My school is a great place to work and learn,” skyrocketed from 82.5% in 2022 to 97.02% this past year. Happy teachers who feel valued and supported tend to be more effective; and, as a result, students do better in school.

While we still are working to fill teacher and support staff vacancies in key areas, we are much better off than we were at the beginning of last summer. I urge everyone in the community to consider volunteering in our schools. Come be a reading buddy. Join the PTO. Help with beautification projects. Tutor students in math. Help with our athletic programs. Attend our Board meetings and learn more about our work and how you can support our schools.

We are poised to continue our forward momentum in the upcoming school year, but we need everyone’s support. The budget will be tight, and we are being very strategic with how we allocate precious resources. Thank you to our County Commissioners and the County Manager for their support of our school district. They have been true partners in supporting our schools and have increased our funding for the coming school year, especially those funds that can be used to address the much-needed renovations and repairs to our facilities.

In just a few short weeks, it will be that time once again. Be on the lookout for announcements with details about getting ready for back to school!  Special note: We are in desperate need of bus drivers, so if you, a friend, neighbor, or family member is interested, please call us today!  In the meantime, be sure to follow us on social media, read up about us in the local papers, and spread the word about the transformation that is happening in our schools. Working together, with our educators, families, and the community, GCPS will be a source of strength and pride for our community. Esse quam videri!

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Dr. Stan Winborne

Superintendent 

Granville County Public Schools

(919) 693-4613

ESSE QUAM VIDERI

HENDERSON, NC (July 8, 2024) — For 55 years, Vance-Granville Community College has served the citizens of Vance, Granville, Franklin, and Warren counties. As one of 58 institutions in the North Carolina Community College System, we are the local source for higher education and training for the communities we serve. Thousands of students have enrolled in over 40 curriculum programs and worked towards various certificates, diplomas, and degrees. We’ve also provided continuing education programs for our community and helped local high school students get a step ahead in their college education by enrolling in early college courses here at VGCC. We have impacted the lives of thousands and, in doing so, have helped create a better community.

Many alumni of VGCC have gone on to make significant impact in their communities and careers. Two years ago, The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation began recognizing one outstanding VGCC alumnus each year with the Distinguished Alumni Award. The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award to an alumnus by The VGCC Foundation. It recognizes and honors outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions to their community, college, or career.

Alumni who have completed a diploma or degree program at VGCC are eligible for the award. Current VGCC Foundation Board members are not eligible. Selection will be based on the following criteria:

· Exhibits outstanding leadership and character

· Achieved significant accomplishments in career area

· Exhibits outstanding service to the community

· Supports VGCC in some capacity

Nominations are due August 31, and anyone may nominate a VGCC alumnus by completing the nomination form. Visit www.vgcc.edu/foundation to complete the nomination form or request one via email at foundation@vgcc.edu. Please note that nominees remain nominated for three (3) years after the receipt of their nomination.

The award will be presented during the annual The VGCC Foundation Scholarship Awards Luncheon on September 26.

Past Award Recipients:

2022: Mara Shelton

2023: Dr. Priscilla Chavis-Lockley

GRANVILLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES: Granville County Department of Social Services (DSS) recognized the work of local foster parents and DSS staff on Wednesday, May 29 at the Granville Athletic Park (GAP). The event was organized by the DSS Foster Care Unit and featured a meal and provided the opportunit for foster families to build community and camaraderie while enjoying an evening at the GAP.

Social Services Board and County Board of Commissioners members Sue Hinman and Tony Cozart were joined by Commissioner Zelodis Jay and Guardian Ad Litem coordinator Samantha Branch to thank foster families for their work protecting and housing some of the most vulnerable members of our community. They also recognized the work of DSS staff, particularly those who work most closely with children in foster care in the Child Protective Services and Foster Care units.

Granville County, along with all other counties in North Carolina, is always seeking additional qualified adults interested in completing the foster parent training program. For more information, contact Lama Elkhatib by email at lama.elkhatib@granvillecounty.org or by calling 919-693-1511.

GRANVILLE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES: Russ Barberio has been named the new coordinator of the Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program run by Granville County Senior Services. Barberio takes over for Marilyn Howard who is retiring from Granville County at the end of June.

Barberio joins Granville County after spending a few years in retirement following a long career in finance and computer software consulting. He came to North Carolina in 1982 when he was hired as Plant Controller at Max Factor Cosmetics (now Revlon) in Oxford. After his time at Max Factor, Barberio remained in the area working as a computer software consultant. He assisted companies throughout the United States in transforming their financial systems and presented a several national conferences and national user group meetings.

While in retirement, Barberio had the chance to focus more on his hobbies, including working with the North Carolina Genealogical Society to promote the organization while working to educate genealogists on research techniques. He also enjoys camping, reading, classical music, Shakespeare, and North Carolina history (particularly the Revolutionary War). After experiencing the rich array of classes available through the Granville County CLL program, Barberio jumped at the chance to lead the program following Marilyn Howard’s retirement. “This program has been administered so successfully by Marilyn for the last six years,” said Barberio. “She will be sorely missed, but she has left such a solid foundation for us to continue to build on.” He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Utah and a bachelor’s degree in Management from Utah State University. Barberio lives in Henderson with his wife of 57 years, Diane. They have three children and four grandchildren.

The Creative Lifelong Learning program was established in 2017 through a generous endowment and is modeled after the OLLI programs at Duke and NC State Universities. The program is committed to offering opportunities to stimulate the mind, uplift the spirit, and enhance the well-being of adult learners through a wide range of educational programs, physical activities, and social events.

For more information about CLL and all of the programs offered by Granville County Senior Services, visit the Granville County website at this link https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/ or follow Granville County Senior Services on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064457631282.

The Granville County Senior Center is located at 107 Lanier Street in Oxford and the South Granville Senior Center is located at 114 Douglas Drive in Creedmoor. The North Granville Senior Center is currently located at 318 US Highway 15 South in Stovall and construction is scheduled to begin this summer on a new significantly expanded center located in downtown Stovall on Oxford Street.
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