Granville County Schools say consolidation finished on time and on budget; board approves consent items and staffing actions

Granville County Schools leaders told the Board of Education that major school consolidation moves and summer readiness work were completed on time and on budget, and that hiring and summer academic programs left the district better positioned for the start of the 2025–26 school year. The board approved routine consent items, student and facility fees, and certified/classified personnel; it also approved a staffing contract with Sunbelt Staffing pending final attorney review.

Superintendent Dr. Winborn opened the meeting by thanking maintenance, technology, transportation, child nutrition and human resources staff for completing the district’s secondary reorganization and logistical moves. He listed schools involved in the reorganization and upgrades, including Butner STEM Elementary and Middle schools, GC Hawley Middle School, Granville Central High School (and the new Granville Central Middle School), J.F. Webb High School and South Granville High School. District leaders told the board that moves, facility improvements and technology redistribution were completed "on time and on budget."

Operations and maintenance staff reported a heavy summer workload tied to consolidation. The district completed playground installs, moved security and technology equipment, and executed large‑scale removal of surplus materials and non‑friable floor tiles (asbestos containing tile abatement performed as standard, controlled removal). Transportation redesigned secondary bus routes that affected thousands of students. The district also reported progress on a parking lot upgrade at South Granville High School and ongoing rebranding and signage work for consolidated campuses.

Curriculum and student‑services staff reviewed summer academic programs. Highlights included a ninth‑grade Summer Success Academy, a federally funded program that ran at two sites with about 125 participating students; participating students who completed the full four‑week program earned one elective credit. High‑school summer course work recorded 75 course enrollments and 70 successful completions (a 93 percent completion rate). The new AIG camp served 52 students and received high parent and student satisfaction; the district’s Book Bus reached more than 1,000 students over the summer.

Human resources reported positive hiring trends: the district had filled 83 positions over the summer, restored a full school‑nurse complement with two hires, and reported five schools as fully staffed. The district’s substitute‑service partner reported an overall substitute fill rate of roughly 98 percent for the prior year, and HR said beginning‑teacher orientation and onboarding were run as separate events this summer to better focus support for new teachers.

Financial staff summarized unaudited fiscal year 2024–25 results: the district budgeted to use multiple millions in fund balance but used an estimated $1.2 million, leaving an estimated available fund balance of about $4.3 million heading into the 2025–26 budget process. The district said it will await final state budget action and more detailed guidance before finalizing local budget decisions.

On routine business, the board handled consent agenda items and several separate votes. A motion to separate Consent Item 4.06 (Sunbelt staffing) from the rest of the consent agenda succeeded and the board approved all other consent items. The board then approved the Sunbelt staffing proposal "pending final negotiation of non‑monetary contract terms and attorney review." That motion was moved by Board Member Russell and seconded by another board member; the transcript records the board’s approval but does not list a roll‑call tally in full.

The board voted to approve student fees and facility use fees as recommended by staff, and approved certified and classified personnel recommendations presented after a brief closed session. On personnel, a motion to approve certified and classified personnel was moved by Board Member Hayes and seconded by Board Member Baker; the motion passed per the transcript.

District leaders said remaining priorities before school opening include finalizing school signage and rebranding at consolidated campuses, completing a weight‑room contract bid at South Granville, continued abatement and repair projects, finalizing bus routes and completing visitor/volunteer sign‑in systems that check registrants against offender registries. The district also reported completion of a solar panel installation and progress on a guaranteed‑energy‑savings procurement that will be re‑bid.

The board closed the public portion of the meeting by moving into closed session for personnel matters, then reconvened and approved routine personnel actions before adjourning.