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Board advances consolidation plan and approves reductions in force to align staffing with lower enrollment
Summary
The Granville County Schools board approved a reduction-in-force plan and discussed consolidation moves, furniture/technology logistics, and projected budget savings as enrollment declines.
Granville County Schools’ board on Tuesday approved a reduction-in-force (RIF) plan that cuts 25.5 positions as the district proceeds with planned school consolidations and responds to declining enrollment and budget shortfalls.
Superintendent Dr. Winborn told the board the district projects a decline of 165 students for the 2025–26 school year and has used roughly $4 million from fund balance to cover current shortfalls. “We have had an enrollment decline of 30% over the past 12 years,” he said, and recommended eliminating a mix of certified and classified positions to achieve roughly $1.7–1.8 million in salary savings.
The list presented to the board included principals, classroom teachers across subjects, teacher assistants and several central-office and support positions. School leaders said many reductions reflect redundant roles created by consolidation; some vacancies and normal attrition are expected to absorb cuts and limit layoffs. “These are positions, not people,” the superintendent emphasized during the presentation.
Board members discussed how the district will try to absorb reductions through vacancies, retirements and reassignments. A motion to approve the RIF plan passed by voice vote.
Operations staff described large-scale logistics now under way as part of consolidation: boxed classroom materials, labeled inventories, equipment moves, technology inventories, fencing and playground re-use to save costs, and staging timelines. Moves are scheduled for June 2, June 9 and June 16 at impacted schools; the district set a May 14 deadline for changes so movers can load on June 2. Facilities work going out for bid includes a South Granville high school weight room renovation and parking-lot upgrades, projects officials said could be complete by Aug. 4.
Finance staff briefed the board on planning allotments from the state and a substantial increase in “low-wealth” funding eligibility. The district also discussed pursuing a county loan to cover capital projects upfront while repaying the county with future capital outlay allocations.
After discussion, the board approved the RIF plan by voice vote and directed staff to continue efforts to place affected employees in vacancies where possible.
