Randolph County School System

09 May

Ejections, behavior within NCHSAA concern RCSS superintendent

Bob SuttonSportsEducation, nchsaa, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Stephen Gainey (Courtesy photo) A rise in ejections across sports in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has raised the concern of Stephen Gainey. Gainey, the superintendent of the Randolph County School System, is serving as NCHSAA president. “I’m seeing sportsmanship issues,” Gainey said last week after the association’s spring meetings wrapped up. “I see it on the field. I see it in the stands. And it’s very concerning to me.” The number of ejections of players has increased dramatically during the 2024-25 school year, NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said. For Gainey, who regularly attends sports competitions in Randolph…

16 Apr

Public hearing to be held for potential closure of Virtual Academy at Randolph

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey, The Virtual Academy at Randolph

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School System is looking to close the Virtual Academy at Randolph. At the Randolph County Schools Board of Education’s meeting this month, the board was presented with a study the district had done which focused primarily on the “welfare of the students who are enrolled in the school should the Virtual Academy at Randolph be closed.” “If we sent the students back to their schools that they were assigned to because of the closure of this school, it would not lead to any disruptive enrollment increases in those schools,” said Stephen Gainey, RCSS superintendent. “The closure…

10 Apr

Commissioners approve purchase of property for new Randleman High School

Ryan HenkelNewsDarrell Frye, Education, Randleman High School, Randolph County Board of Commissioners, Randolph County School System

ASHEBORO – Randolph County has moved one step closer toward the construction of a new high school. At this week's meeting, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment to allocate $6 million for the purchase of approximately 90 acres of property located on Walker Mill Road intended to be utilized for the site of a new Randleman High School. “Approximately one year ago, this board authorized the Randolph County School System to begin looking for land for future locations for Liberty Elementary School and Randleman High School,” county manager Zeb Holden said. “It took some time, but…

26 Mar

RCSS board chair addresses school safety in light of Hopewell Elementary School incident

Ryan HenkelNewsboard of education, Education, Gary Cook, Hopewell Elementary School, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Schools Board of Education addressed the incident at Hopewell Elementary School at its March meeting. On Feb. 26, a man entered Hopewell Elementary through a broken door during school hours. While the man didn't seem to have any ill intent nor did he harm anybody in the school, it raised concerns among parents and district staff regarding the safety of the district’s schools. “That should have never happened, but it did happen and we have to learn from that, get better and take steps so that it never happens again,” board chair Gary Cook said.…

11 Mar

NCHSAA aims to speed process to set calendar, playoff formats

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, Que Tucker, Randolph County School System, realignment, Stephen Gainey

The next step for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association is to set the playing calendar for the 2025-26 school year and devise playoff formats for the new eight-classification set-up. Expect that to be expediated. “If we had it ready, it would be out there,” said NCHSAA president Stephen Gainey, who’s also superintendent of the Randolph County School System. “We know the coaches and the ADs and principals need it.” The NCHAA board of directors completed the conference realignment process last week by approving a final version. Gainey and NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker answered questions last Thursday. The calendar…

03 Mar

Security breach draws scrutiny at RCSS school

Bob SuttonNewscrime, Education, Hopewell Elementary School, police, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey

TRINITY — The head of the Randolph County School system has vowed that the district will be more attentive to safety issues and he said broken hinges on a door that contributed to an intruder entering a school last week have been repaired. Superintendent Stephen Gainey addressed the incident at Hopewell Elementary School in a message to parents and district residents, apologizing for the high level of anxiety that was created last week. “While the situation did occur, it should never have happened,” Gainey said. “This individual had no business on the campus of Hopewell Elementary School, and definitely didn’t…

25 Feb

RCSS Board of Education voices displeasure with school calendar law

Ryan HenkelNewsboard of education, Education, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO – Frustrations have been growing around the state in regard to school calendar law and Randolph County is no exception. At its February business meeting, the Randolph County Schools Board of Education was presented with the 2026-27 school calendar and many of the board members voiced their displeasure with the current law. According to state law, traditional public schools are forbidden from starting earlier than the Monday nearest to Aug. 26. What this then means is that districts are typically unable to finish the first semester before winter break meaning students have to come back to take exams after…

24 Feb

School notes: RCSS uses remote days for first time since pandemic

Bob SuttonNewsbus drivers, Education, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO — The first remote learning days of the school year were held last week in the Randolph County School System because of inclement weather. Those sessions came on consecutive days because of weather-related concerns. There were no remote instructional days during the 2023-24 school year for RCSS. Amber Ward, the district’s public information officer, said that prior to last week the last remote days for students came during the pandemic. RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey said the district had already absorbed five unscheduled days off that had been reserved for such situations this school year. So the next step, he…

01 Feb

RCSS seeks to hire more bus drivers

Bob SuttonNewsbus drivers, Education, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO — The need for bus drivers is ongoing within the Randolph County School System. Superintendent Stephen Gainey said the latest push to attract more drivers isn’t an alarm as much as a reminder that the topic remains on the minds of school administrators. “Our No. 1 job is taking care of children,” Gainey said. “We have to get them to school.” As of last week, there were 26 positions open that include responsibilities as bus drivers. That’s a reduction from a few years ago when the problem became heightened. “It has been a pretty steady need since the pandemic…

24 Jan

Area schools don’t shift in second NCHSAA league draft

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Randolph County School System, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Stephen Gainey, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

There were no changes involving Randolph County schools in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s second draft of conference alignments. That revised draft was released this week. “What I gather is our schools are pretty happy where they are,” said Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System. RCSS has six high schools as part of the NCHSAA. Gainey began a term as NCHSAA president last summer, so has a keen eye on the topic. Appeals and comments from schools regarding the conference make-ups are due Tuesday. The realignment committee is scheduled to meet again Feb. 3-4. “A…