Stephen Gainey - Randolph Record

14 Jun

Graduating classes grow around Randolph County

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsAsheboro City Schools, Asheboro High School, commencement, Education, Randolph County School System, Southwestern Randolph High School, Stephen Gainey, Uwharrie Charter Academy, Wheatmore high school

Big graduating classes were among the themes for high school commencements this spring in Randolph County. The largest class was at Asheboro High School with 352 graduates. That marks the school’s biggest class in 25 years. Most high school commencements in the county were held this week, though there were a couple earlier. Within the Randolph County School System, there were 1,075 graduates across eight high schools. RCSS, citing a transition from one student information system to another, was unable to provide a school-by-school breakdown of graduates. The schools in RCSS include six traditional high schools (Eastern Randolph, Providence Grove,…

10 Jun

Board of Education reverses decision, will close Virtual Academy

Ryan HenkelNewsboard of education, Education, Gary Cook, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey, The Virtual Academy at Randolph

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School System will be closing The Virtual Academy at Randolph. The decision comes following a unanimous vote by the Randolph County Schools Board of Education at its June 2 meeting, which reversed a prior vote made just a few weeks earlier. “Last month, it was a 3-3 tie and it stayed as is,” said board chair Gary Cook. “I voted to leave it open. We didn’t have the full board here and we probably should have tabled it until we had a full board for a decision like that. I’ll own that mistake.” Board members…

21 May

The Virtual Academy of Randolph to remain open

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Gary Cook, Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey, The Virtual Academy at Randolph, Todd Cutler, virtual academy

ASHEBORO – Despite the recommendation of the superintendent, The Virtual Academy at Randolph will not be closing. At the Randolph County Schools Board of Education’s May 19 meeting, the board held a vote to close The Virtual Academy at Randolph, but due to a 3-3 split – with chair Gary Cook and members Phillip Lanier and Shannon Whitaker voting against the motion – it failed to pass. “Just can’t do it,” Cook said. “I know it’s a business and I made this a point to a lot of people. But, for me, I couldn’t sleep tonight. I have a soft…

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…

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.…

16 Mar

Most basketball title teams from state finals come from West Region

Randolph RecordSportsnchsaa, Prep Basketball, state tournament, Stephen Gainey

Stephen Gainey, president of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, helped present awards during the state tournament in Winston-Salem. Gainey is superintendent of the Randolph County School System. Here, he poses with Reidsville’s Johnniyus Sharpe, right, who was named Most Valuable Player of the Class 2A boys' state final. (NCHSAA photo) WINSTON-SALEM — Here’s a look at the state championship results for boys’ and girls’ basketball in the North Carolina High school Athletic Association. State finals were played Friday and Saturday at Joel Coliseum. Friday Class 1A boys: Corvian Community 58, Southern Wake 55, OT Class 1A girls: Cherokee…

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…