RCSS - Randolph Record

29 Oct

RCSS students provided career pathway through RCC

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, Randolph Community College, Randolph County School System, RCSS

ASHEBORO – High school students in the Randolph County School System can select from a variety of program offerings through Randolph Community College in a new partnership announced last week. It’s called a Workforce Roadmap as part of a college and career readiness Continuum. This is an expansion of a program that began in 2003. The program provides RCSS students with post-secondary Career Academy certificate and credential opportunities. This program includes free RCC tuition and textbooks along with the opportunity to earn high school and college credentials. In 2023-24, RCSS students earned a total of 7,366 credentials aligned with the 26…

23 Oct

Randolph County School System receives more than $100,000 in grant funding

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County School System has found itself with a bit of extra funding. At its Oct. 21 meeting, the RCSS Board of Education approved the acceptance of two grants. The first was a $50,000 Career and Technical Education Grade Expansion grant from the Education and Workforce Innovation Commission. The grant will provide partial funding to support a middle school career development coordinator whose job is to ensure students have a documented career development plan and will support staff with facilitation of each student’s plan. The second grant is a $60,000 Innovation Grant from the North Carolina Department…

09 Oct

Commissioners approve purchase of property for new elementary school in Liberty

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Liberty, public schools, Randolph County Board of Commissioners, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO – Randolph County has taken a big step toward the construction of a new elementary school as the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of land for the new Liberty Elementary School. At its Oct. 7 meeting, the board approved the purchase of 32 acres of land at a sale price of $62,500 per acre located at 4547 Starmount Road for the site. “The board and myself believe this is the best site for the new school,” Randolph County School System superintendent Stephen Gainey said. “The feasibility study may require us to buy more, so we’ve been…

18 Sep

Contract extended for RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey, who has been the superintendent of the Randolph County School System since 2013, had his contract extended by the Board of Education for an additional four years with his term now set to end June 30, 2028. “Dr. Gainey continues to lead the Randolph County School System with strategic, long-term thinking and thoughtful attention to the needs of our students and staff,” the board said in a released statement. “Over the last year, Dr. Gainey planned for the future in our county. At the same time, Dr. Gainey elevated the parts of the school system that…

17 Sep

Trinity’s Tillery selected for RCSS teaching honor

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, Elizabeth Tillery, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Teacher of the Year, Trinity High School

Here’s English teacher Elizabeth Tillery in a Trinity classroom earlier this month. (Courtesy of Caiden Brown / Trinity student) TRINITY – Elizabeth Tillery wasn’t all that familiar with Trinity High School when she took her first job out of college. But she was quite certain that teaching was going to be her passion. That hasn’t changed. “I love being a teacher,” she said. “I think it’s very important for teachers to like the job.” Tillery, an English teacher at Trinity, has been named Randolph County School System’s Teach of the Year. She’s in the early stages of her 14th school…

03 Jul

RCSS receives two child nutrition grants

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

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County School System's board of education met last Thursday for a wrap-up at the end of the school year and the acceptance of several grants related to child nutrition. The first was The Dairy Alliance Youth Wellness Program Grant from The Dairy Alliance for cafeteria equipment. The grant provides a refrigerated milk merchandiser for Providence Grove High School and a refrigerated milk dispenser for Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve in order to “maximize student access and consumption of cold milk.” The total value of the equipment provided by the grant is just under $8,000 The second grant, at…

30 Jun

Water comes under scrutiny at Farmer Elementary School

Bob SuttonNewsdrinking water, Education, Farmer Elementary School, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey, water

ASHEBORO – Drinking water should be off limits at Farmer Elementary School because of chemicals found in the water supply, Randolph County School System superintendent Stephen Gainey announced last week. Staff members are advised to avoid drinking the water after a report released by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. There are no classes because of summer break and only about a half-dozen staff members are working at the school for the next several weeks. Gainey’s statement said that bottled water is available at the school. Gainey said the goal is to have the situation rectified by the start…

02 Apr

Board of Education passes support for Randolph County School System growth plan

Ryan HenkelNewsLiberty, Randleman, Randolph County School System, Randolph County Schools, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

Construction of a new Liberty Elementary School and Randleman High School are the main focus of the plan ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Schools Board of Education approved the first phase of the school system’s growth plan at its final March meeting. “Phase one of our growth plan is really focused on facility and student assignment needs associated with our current school facilities,” superintendent Stephen Gainey said. The two main items are the construction of a new elementary school in Liberty and high school in Randleman. “The preference will be to build Randleman High School and Liberty Elementary at the same…

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…

11 Sep

Ag teacher finds right fit at Randleman

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, Mark Walker, Randleman, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year Mark Walker, center, is flanked by RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey, left, and Randleman principal Corey Phillips at last week’s banquet. (Photo courtesy of RCSS) RCSS honors Walker with annual award RANDLEMAN – Once Mark Walker became involved with agricultural education, he sensed that would be his best avenue to make a difference at Randleman High School. He stuck with it and he was rewarded for his decades in that capacity as the Teacher of the Year for the Randolph County School System. “I hope I can be more of a voice and do more to…