Government - Randolph Record

12 Aug

City schools will require masks

Randolph RecordGovernment, News, PoliticsAsheboro, Education, schools

ASHEBORO — Following a last-minute plea from Gov. Roy Cooper, the Asheboro City School Board voted Thursday to require all students within the school system to wear masks as the 2021-22 school year opens. The divided board voted 6-3 to require masks. Board members Ryan Patton, Archie Priest, and Gidget Kidd voted to make mask wearing optional. In a letter to the board dated August 12, 2021, signed by Gov. Roy Cooper, DHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen, and State Health Director Betsey Tilson, state officials urged the board to mandate masks wearing for all students and teachers, regardless of vaccine status.…

12 Aug

RCC pays off student account balances

Randolph RecordBusiness, Government, NewsEducation, Randolph Community College, RCC, schools

ASHEBORO — Randolph Community College recently paid off outstanding student debt for approximately 200 students. The amount totaled nearly $113,000. Any student who was enrolled at the College between March 13, 2020 — the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — until the end of the Summer 2021 semester was eligible for the assistance. In addition to paying off outstanding student account balances, RCC has provided emergency financial assistance for food, housing, laptops, and internet access.

11 Aug

Austin, York retire from county jobs

Bob SuttonGovernment, News

ASHEBORO – Two longtime Randolph County employees have retired this summer, diminishing the level of experience in a couple of departments. Melissa Austin retired after 36 years in the tax department. Danny York has stepped away after 26 years in building inspections. “We can’t replace 62 years of experience from our county,” commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye said. Austin began in a part-time role at age 19. She ended her career as the department’s personal property and business property supervisor. “Melissa’s work was always performed at a high level of proficiency and significantly exceeded job requirements,” tax department administrator Debra…

11 Aug

County set to buy emergency equipment

Bob SuttonGovernment, NewsAnn Shaw, Darrell Frye, landfill, Maxton McDowell

ASHEBORO — Randolph County commissioners approved more than $1 million in purchases for the emergency services department at its August meeting. There were unanimous votes for two ambulances at a total of $489,548 and 16 cardiac monitor/ defibrillators at a total of $534,869. Both purchases will come from budgeted funds. The 2021 model ambulances could be in place by December. As for the defibrillators, emergency services chief Donovan Davis said a trade-in of 11 monitors means there’s a savings of about $137,000 that’s calculated into the purchase. Battle joins council Alvin Battle, who was a member of North Carolina State’s…

11 Aug

State superintendent won’t compel employee vaccination, will ask for shot status

A.P. DillonGovernment, StateEducation, schools

RALEIGH — N.C. state superintendent Catherine Truitt won’t force employees at the Department of Public Instruction to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot or compel them to provide proof of vaccination. In an Aug. 3 memo to staff obtained by North State Journal, Truitt outlines masking guidelines and employee attestations of vaccination status. The memo asks that all employees, including contractors, file an attestation form. Any individuals not filing the form will be considered unvaccinated and will be required to wear a mask inside the department offices. “Non-compliance or falsifying proof of a vaccine will subject employees to disciplinary action, up to and…

11 Aug

Health department pays people to receive vax

Neal RobbinsGovernment, NewsCOVID, public health, vaccines, vax

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Health Department is offering $100 to anyone 18 or older who receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The department is also offering $25 to anyone 18 and older who drives someone to receive the shot. The county’s health department opted into a program launched by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services agency on Aug. 3. The state program offers $100 prepaid cash cards after someone receives their first shot of the vaccine at a participating county health departments during the promotional period. The Summer Card program previously came with a…

29 Jul

City explores major McCrary Park renovations

Bob SuttonGovernment, Sports

Ballpark overhaul includes several stages, fundraising needs ASHEBORO -- The Asheboro City Council is looking for a collaborative project involving public and private money for a major renovation of McCrary Park. The city-owned baseball facility attracts thousands of visitors a year and a facelift is in order, council members have said. “We see this investment as a true form of economic development,” mayor David Smith said. “Tournaments and ball games at McCrary Park consistently bring people to Asheboro businesses throughout the spring and summer. These improvements will further strength our partnership with the American Legion baseball program, Copperheads baseball and…

28 Jul

City schools announce substitute teacher partnership

Randolph RecordGovernment, NewsEducation, schools

ASHEBORO -- Asheboro City Schools announced a new partnership with ESS who will manage the district’s substitute program. ESS will recruit, screen, train, hire, and manage applicants looking to be part or full-time substitutes in Asheboro City Schools. ESS will place substitute teachers and provide an online substitute management program that allows full-time teachers and staff to log their absences electronically. Those absences are then immediately visible to the substitutes interested in accepting the vacant positions.

21 Jul

Incumbents file in large numbers for municipal elections

Bob SuttonGovernment, News, PoliticsAsheboro City Schools, board of education, city council, election, incumbent, mayor, municipal elections

ASHEBORO — Asheboro mayor David Smith, who first elected to that position in 2009, will run unopposed in November’s election, while there are six candidates for four spots on the city council. Incumbent council members Clark Bell, Walker Moffitt and Katie Snuggs will have challenges from Kelly Heath, William (Bill) McCaskill and Delilah Perkins Warner. Linda Carter isn’t running for re-election for a board spot. For the Asheboro City Schools board of education, there will be seven names on the ballot for four open positions. Vice chair Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott are aiming to remain on the board. Other…

21 Jul

County school boards rebel against K-12 mask mandates

A.P. DillonGovernment, News, Politics, StateEducation, K-12, masks, Roy Cooper

RALEIGH — At a meeting on July 12, the Rowan-Salisbury School Board voted to make masks optional for all students, staff and visitors. The measure passed by a 5-2 vote. Chair Kevin Jones, along with members Travis Allen, Susan Cox, Dean Hunter and Brian Hightower voted in favor while Vice-Chair Alisha Byrd-Clark and member Jean Kennedy voted against. “I’m willing to take that opportunity to make an example to the rest of the school boards in the state,” Allen said of the vote to make masks optional. A second motion was passed by the Rowan board in support of the General Assembly’s…