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Dr. Grimesey gave informative report on local schools

Despite some of the most severe funding constraints in its history, Orange County Public Schools is determined to provide children with the kind of education they deserve.

That was the message from Dr. Robert P. Grimesey Jr., school superintendent, when he addressed members of the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club at the LOW Clubhouse on Jan. 19.

His troubling assessment of the division’s economic strife was tempered with hope that Orange County citizens might at last be willing to provide the resources necessary for local schools to succeed.

Among the startling revelations from Dr. Grimesey are these:

  • Since the 2007-08 fiscal year, the local school budget has been cut by $4.7 million, resulting in the loss of 100 employees, including 30 teachers.
  • Orange County teachers have not had a cost-of-living adjustment or a step increase for four years. The practical effect of this is that they have suffered a 7.8 percent cut in pay.
  • One out of every three teachers in Orange County has just four years of experience or less.
  • Not a single teacher in Orange County Schools has a computer less than five years old.

Since he became superintendent in 2009, much of his energy and attention necessarily has been invested in “what we can do to keep the school system from falling into decline,” Dr. Grimesey said.

Whereas the county’s Board of Supervisors has been reluctant in the past even to consider increasing taxes to meet the needs of local schools, he said, support from citizens and some members of the board have given him reason to believe that hard-line attitude is changing.

Dr. Grimesey also provided a detailed explaination of how the decision was made to close down Locust Grove Middle School on Route 20 and move the students to the new school on Flat Run Road. He said the county will save $222,000 in operating costs each year that the school is closed. Keeping the school closed for more than the next year or two will not be an option because of increased enrollment, he said. By that time, it is expected that enough will be saved to finance the re-opening costs.

A complete videocast of Dr. Grimesey’s remarks will be presented on Comcast Channel 18 in the near future. Consult Lake Currents for dates and times.

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Meetings

We’ll be at the clubhouse from now on

The Lake of the Woods Democratic Club will meet in the lower level of the LOW Clubhouse starting with the first meeting in January, Chair Shirley Pfile has announced.

The move was made necessary by plans to enlarge the Fareways Restaurant in the Woods Center, which will willl greatly reduce space available for club meetings. The space in the lower level of the Clubhouse was the only other space available large enough to accommodate our growing club.

Members are asked to spread the word of he change.

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Steering Committee Meeting

The January Steering Committee meeting will be at the home of Chris Carr at 110 Greenspring Road.  Her phone number is 972-0348.

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Dr. Robert Grimesey to speak

The Club’s January meeting features Dr. Robert Grimesey, superintendent of Orange County Schools. The meeting will be in the Lower Level of the LOW Clubhouse.

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Meetings

School superintendent will speak to club in January

Dr. Robert P. Grimesey

Dr. Robert P. Grimesey Jr., superintendent of Orange County Schools, will address the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club on Jan. 19 on the status of local public education.

Guests are welcome to attend the meeting, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Lower Level of the LOW Clubhouse. Dr. Grimesey will take questions after his remarks.

Dr. Grimesey assumed his responsibilities as superintendent in July 2009.

Orange County’s school system includes five elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school. The school system represents more than 70 percent of Orange County’s annual budget.

In November 2010, he was named “Virginia Child Advocate of the Year” by the Virginia Parent-Teacher Association. He has served as chairman of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents’ Legislative Committee since the summer of 2010.

Prior to coming to Orange County, Dr. Grimesey served as superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools from July 2001 through June 2009. In May 2007, he was named Virginia Region 6 Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.

In November, 2004, Dr. Grimesey was named “State Administrator of the Year” by the Virginia Music Educators Association. In February, 2005, he received the “Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Award” from the Virginia Technology Education Association.

Prior to his tenure in Alleghany County, Dr. Grimesey served from 1987 to 2001 in Rockingham County Public Schools as assistant principal of John C. Myers Middle School (1987-1991), principal of Ottobine Elementary School (1991-1994), principal of Spotswood High School (1994-1998), and director of grants and partnerships (1998-2001). He began his administrative career as assistant principal at King George Middle School (1986-87). Prior to becoming an administrator, Dr. Grimesey taught social studies and coached football and wrestling at Harrisonburg High School (1982-1984), and at Osbourn High School in Manassas City (1985-86). He also served as a graduate assistant at James Madison University during 1984-85 while he completed work on his master of education degree in school administration.

He graduated from Fairfax County’s Annandale High School in 1974, where he played football under legendary coach Bob Hardage. Dr. Grimesey received his bachelor of science degree in communication arts from James Madison University in 1978. He served stints as a staff writer and sports writer for the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record between 1977 and 1984. In 1978, Dr. Grimesey earned first-place awards from the Virginia Press Association for “Best Sports Feature Article” and “Best Series of Stories.” He worked as an agricultural volunteer in Israel during 1979-1980.

Dr. Grimesey completed his master’s degree in 1985, and he received his Doctor of Education degree in leadership and policy studies from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education in May 1991.

He married his wife, the former Carol Y. Martin, in 1982 and they reside in Locust Grove. Their oldest child, John, serves in the United States Air Force. They also have two daughters: Sarah, who teaches English at the American College of Sophia, Bulgaria; and Hannah, who attends Germanna Community College.

More information about Orange County Public Schools is available at the division’s Web site.

You can review report cards for Orange County Schools at the State Department of Education Web site.