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Education

  • Jones named Grayson teacher of the year

    By DON RICHESON, Staff

    INDEPENDENCE – Fairview Elementary School first grade teacher Melissa Jones is the 2015 Grayson County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

    Jones, who has taught either kindergarten or first grade in Grayson schools during all of her 29 years as a teacher, received word of her selection during a special reception at the Grayson National Bank Conference Center.

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  • Grayson approves school budget

    By LARRY CHAMBERS, Staff

    INDEPENDENCE – When Shannon Holdaway, vice chairman of the Grayson County School Board, adjourned the May 6 special called meeting and budget work session, he said the deficit was $1.22 million.

    Things changed in the days between that session and the regular meeting Monday night, when the school board approved a budget that has caused a great deal of controversy in recent weeks, due to personnel and program cuts.

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  • Galax schools to offer raises, bring back cut positions

    The Galax school system is offering raises for teachers and adding some teaching positions after scaling back its staff over the past couple of years.

    Schools Superintendent Bill Sturgill presented the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget for the school system at Galax City Council’s meeting last month.

    (Council held a public hearing on the school budget Monday.)

    Sturgill explained that the revenue summary shows a reduction in state funds of $332,000, but $210,000 of that drop is from an expired grant that paid for extending the school year.

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  • Judge to pick new school board member

    By LARRY CHAMBERS, Staff

    INDEPENDENCE – The Grayson County School Board met in closed session for almost five hours Wednesday night but failed to agree on a replacement for the Oldtown District seat left vacant by Hobert Bailey, who resigned last month.

    Board members went into closed session at the special called meeting shortly after 6 p.m. to interview the four people who submitted letters of interest for Bailey’s seat.

    The four contenders are Diane Haynes, Larry Bartlett, Chris Sutherland and Keith Andrews.

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  • School board finds few budget solutions

    By LARRY CHAMBERS, Staff

    INDEPENDENCE — At a work session April 27, the Grayson County School Board found more questions than answers as members tried to balance the 2015-2016 operating budget.

    Schools Superintendent Kevin Chalfant presented a revised budget for board members to consider.

    Chalfant said in a statement to The Gazette, “the numbers are all dependent on student count, so depending on which number we plug in, the amount to cut will vary.”

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  • GCHS Prom 2015

    By DON RICHESON, Staff

    INDEPENDENCE — About 300 danced the night away at Grayson County High School’s annual Junior-Senior Prom on April 25.

    The prom’s theme this year was “If Only for One Night.” The event was coordinated by GCHS teacher Amanda Brewer, who was assisted by many volunteers.

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  • Chalfant addresses school budget issues

    INDEPENDENCE — After weeks of often adversarial public meetings on the county’s school budget, Grayson Schools Superintendent Kevin Chalfant on Wednesday issued a statement to local media about the challenges facing school officials.

    The statement came a day after parents, students and community members demonstrated outside the school board office to demand changes in leadership and protested recent decisions on budgeting, finances, personnel and safety.

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  • Grayson school board to make appointment

    INDEPENDENCE — Letters of interest are still being accepted to fill a vacant slot on the Grayson County School Board.

    The Oldtown District seat became vacant last month when Hobert Bailey, a 16-year member, resigned. At the time, Bailey was serving as chairman of the school board.

    Vice Chairman Shannon Holdaway said during a recent budget work session of the school board that a special meeting will be held on May 6 at 6 p.m. The school board will review the applicants in closed session.

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  • CCHS Prom 2015
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  • Protesters call for school changes

    By LARRY CHAMBERS and DON RICHESON, Staff

    INDEPENDENCE — Members of the Grayson Citizens for Better Schools staged a peaceful demonstration Monday morning in front of the Grayson County School Board office in Independence, calling for changes in leadership and protesting recent budget cuts and teacher firings.

    Several motorists honked their horns as they passed by the group, which held signs referencing school leaders they’d like to see replaced.

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