Education - Randolph Record

05 Jun

High schools set to bestow diplomas in Randolph County (updated with RCSS graduation numbers)

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro City Schools, commencement, Education, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Commencements coming up for hundreds of area students Commencements for most high school seniors will be held across the next several nights in Randolph County. Hundreds of students will take part in ceremonies marking the ends of their high school days. Friday night’s ceremony for Asheboro City Schools is set for Lee J. Stone Stadium, where there are expected to be 307 graduates. Asheboro has the largest senior class of any school in the county. Uwharrie Charter Academy’s ceremony will be Friday night in the central gym on campus, with about 150 graduates marking the school’s largest class. Last year,…

01 Jun

Randolph County School System expands free lunch program

Ryan HenkelNewsboard of education, Education, free lunch, Randolph County School System

All elementary and middle schools will be able to offer free meals Randolph County Schools Board of Education was presented with the list of schools that will be operating under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2024-25 school year. “School Nutrition plans to expand the Community Eligibility Provision or CEP program to all middle schools, Uwharrie Ridge 6-12 and Eastern Randolph High School,” Kelly Green, director of school nutrition, said a May meeting. “As you may know, this past school year, we added all elementary schools, Ramseur Elementary has been operating under it since 2015, and Southeastern Randolph Middle.”…

26 May

New playground coming for Grays Chapel Elementary School

Bob SuttonFeatures, NewsApril Wood, Education, Franklinville, Grays Chapel Elementary School, Randolph County School System

The daughter/father combination of Melanie Neighbors, left, and Lonnie Allred pose with memorabilia during Grays Chapel Elementary School’s 100-year celebration this spring. (Courtesy photo) Funds raised during 100-year celebration aid project FRANKLINVILLE – The 100th anniversary celebration for Grays Chapel Elementary School went so well this spring that a new playground will be installed soon on the rural school’s grounds. “All the funds we raised that day went toward the playground,” said April Wood, a kindergarten teacher and one of the anniversary event organizers. “We raised enough money to pay for the installment and some additional pieces.” The Randolph County…

23 Apr

Superintendent presents budget for next school year

Bob SuttonNewsbudget, Education, North Carolina Governor's School, Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey

Salary increases make up bulk of expanded RCSS costs ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System, submitted a proposed budget of nearly $27 million for the 2024-25 school year, representing an increase of almost 1.1 percent. The budget as presented last week to the RCSS board of education is listed at $26,846,240. That’s more than a $2 million increase from the proposal for this school year, which checked in at $24,762,040. The increase comes primarily, based on a report from finance officer Marty Trotter, from continuation costs (such as insurance increases, match in retirement increases, charter…

18 Apr

Southwestern Randolph group performs at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Bob SuttonFeatures, Newschoral, Education, New York, Southwestern Randolph High School, St. Patrick's Cathedral

Southwestern Randolph High School choral students pose for a photo outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – A group of nearly three dozen Southwestern Randolph High School students took part in a special trip to New York during spring break. The concert choir and advanced honors ensemble made up the group. The highlight was performing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. That performance of about 40 minutes involved songs specifically for cathedral settings. “It was beautiful,” said Kerri Smith, whose daughter, Skylee, is a member of the honors ensemble. “It was just great.” The group was…

14 Feb

Welcome!

Randolph RecordNewsasheboro city school board, Asheboro City Schools, Education

Asheboro City School board members cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Asheboro High School Welcome Center in Bear Creek on Feb. 7. The Welcome Center will serve as a community hub for learning, collaboration, and innovation. Located within the newly renovated Global Innovation Center, the Welcome Center will provide a wide range of information and resources including school supplies, computer access, and material about community resources useful for families. The Welcome Center has two rooms for community use: the Welcome Center room and the Comet Community Corner room to be used for classes and educational sessions for…

30 Jan

In surprise event, NC awards nearly $30M to renovate South Asheboro Middle School

Jordan GolsonGovernment, NewsAsheboro, Asheboro City Schools, Catherine Truitt, Education

ASHEBORO — Asheboro City Schools (ACS) board members and executives were surprised by representatives from the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the General Assembly today with the announcement of a $29.7 million needs-based grant award to revitalize the 62-year-old South Asheboro Middle School. The award comes after more than 100 applications from over 50 school districts were sent to the DPI for awards out of the $400 million Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, a capital expenditure-focused program funded by the General Assembly with proceeds from the lottery. Applications closed in early January, and this was the third award…

26 Jan

RCSS board recognizes director, accepts grants

Randolph RecordNewsEducation, Gary Cook, Randolph County School System, Randolph County Schools Board of Education, RCSS, Shenna Creech

Shenna Creech, right, poses with school board chair Gary Cook. (Courtesy of Randolph County School System) ASHEBORO – The Randolph County School System's Board of Education recognized director of digital teaching and learning Shenna Creech, who was selected as the Piedmont-Triad Regional Technology Director of the Year, during its January meeting. “Shenna Creech has been employed with RCSS since 2004 and has been an integral part of the Randolph County School System,” public information officer Amber Ward said. “Her work ethic, knowledge and skill are invaluable.” Creech will be recognized and represent the region at the state-level competition at the…

22 Dec

RCSS board incumbent Sink won’t be on ballot

Bob SuttonNews, Politics2024 elections, board of education, Brian Biggs, Dave Craven Jr., Education, Mike Sink, Randolph County School System

Photo: Mike Sink ASHEBORO – There will be at least one new member of the Randolph County School System’s board of education after the 2024 voting with incumbent Mike Sink choosing not to seek re-election. There are four spots on the 2024 ballot for the seven-member board. Board chairman Gary Cook and fellow incumbents Sharon Petty Farlow of Sophia and Tracy Boyles of Denton have filed to keep seats. Farlow is the board’s vice chair. Rana Gantt of Trinity and Todd Cutler of Asheboro are the other candidates to file by last week’s deadline. Sink, who turns 75 in January,…

27 Sep

Randolph County School System extends superintendent’s contract

Randolph RecordNewsEducation, randolph county, superintendent

ASHEBORO — The top executive of the Randolph County School System will be at the helm of the county’s largest public school system through at least the 2026-27 school year, following action from the Randolph County School Board this week. Dr. Stephen Gainey had his employment contract extended to June 30, 2027 — the maximum length allowed by state law. “Over the last year, Dr. Gainey continued to work tirelessly to lead the Randolph County School System with great thoughtfulness and care,” said the Randolph County Board of Education in a joint statement. The board highlighted Gainey’s encouragement of “teachers…