Our Opinion

Over the last few weeks, most of us have been more worried about who the school division is cutting, rather than who they are adding.
The very nature of that situation makes Tuesday’s announcement all that much more significant.
In a unanimous vote, the Orange County School Board announced the hiring of new school superintendent Dr. Robert P. “Bob” Grimesey, Jr. Dr. Grimesey will begin his contract with Orange County Schools July 1.
Grimesey has served as superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools since 2001.  Alleghany sits on the Virginia-West Virginia border more west than south of our Orange County.  There, he oversees a school division with 2,813 students, 445 employees, seven schools and a regional technical center.  Alleghany has a $31 million budget for 2008-2009. 
In a statement Tuesday, Dr. Grimesey said, “It is an honor to accept the school board’s invitation to serve as superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. I have been inspired by the school board’s hopeful vision for the future.  I have been impressed by abundant evidence that indicates the school division is staffed by dedicated professionals.  I look forward to assuming my place on a team that is devoted to serving the needs of children in Orange County.“
Leading a school division is a challenging job even in the best of times. And these, regrettably, are not the best of times.
Our school division faces an unprecedented budget shortfall. Jobs will be cut, programs eliminated.
Meanwhile, there remains the fundamental breakdown of trust between the superintendent and the school board that initiated this whole process in the first place.
Time heals all wounds and our interim superintendent, Larry Massie, has helped as well.
Even so, Dr. Grimesey will have his hands full on multiple fronts. He indicates the school board is hopeful, as are we.
We’re hopeful he can help restore balance to a school division in transition and flux. We’re hopeful he can work with the school board to develop strategies for increased student achievement. We’re hopeful he can work with the board to mitigate current future funding shortfalls. We’re hopeful he and the board can create a viable long-range facility/space plan. We’re hopeful we can put the past behind us and move ever forward.
Alleghany County schools have enjoyed success under Grimesey’s leadership.  In 2008, Alleghany was one of only 17 Virginia school systems to have all its individual schools meet all adequate yearly progress (AYP) benchmarks associated with the federal No Child Left Behind law.  It is one of only five Virginia school districts where the division and all of its individual schools met AYP for the past three straight years.
Clearly, he has the education credentials and the experience to be an effective leader of our school division. He’ll need to blend that professional experience with effective communication (within the school division and the community) to restore the community’s confidence in the effectiveness of the school board and its chief operating officer. As a former newspaper reporter, Dr. Grimesey undoubtedly understands the value of effective communication.
While most of us still rightfully remain concerned about who the school division will be cutting, we’re even more excited about who they’ve just added.