DOBSON —Although construction on the North Carolina Viticulture and Enology Center at Surry Community College is moving forward, the question now is whether or not Viticulture Instructor Gill Giese will remain at the school.

Giese’s contract will be up for renewal on August 31. After speculation that Giese was told that his contract would not be renewed following the groundbreaking for the Viticulture and Enology Center on May 1 at the college, the instructor confirmed that his contract had indeed been discussed at that time.

“It was discussed. Yeah,” he said. “No decision has been made, currently. I’m still working here and I like it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had,” Giese said.

Students and wine industry leaders have signed a petition that had climbed to 226 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon. The petition, which is listed on GoPetition.com, was started by students on May 7 and is aimed at the college’s Board of Trustees.

The petition states Giese has been informed his employment will end when his contract expires, and places the decision for this at the feet of college President Dr. Deborah Friedman.

“Gill Giese has been instrumental in the success of the Surry Community College Viticulture and Enology program,” the petitions states. “His students benefit from his skill as a researcher, his experience in the field and his generosity of time and knowledge, as well as the strong alliances he has built among the local community.”

Giese said he has seen the petition and appreciates the effort behind it.

“The petition has really been outstanding. There’s been a lot of industry people who have signed it. There are several from up in Virginia that are well-known wine makers. That’s really been surprising to me that that many people would support me. I think it speaks to Surry’s program as being valuable and useful to external stakeholders that they would respond like this,” he said.

Giese began teaching viticulture at Surry Community College in 2001. He said he has seen the program grow over the years.

“We have developed the program. We have research projects going with Virginia Tech and N.C. State. The Grape Council has been very supportive of the school and what they have tried to do. And the industry ... has been very supportive,” Giese said.

“I am being very positive and building up all of the positive things that Surry has done. I think overall it’s a very good program and I am proud to be a part of it. We have some good people working for us right now, with Enology Instructor Molly Kelly and Mary Simmons, the winery tech. It speaks to the success of the program in that both of those individuals got degrees here and are now working here and are able to teach others,” Giese said.

Giese said there are 64 students enrolled in the viticulture program. Five students graduated from the program with associate’s degrees this year, Giese said.

Friedman said on Tuesday that Giese’s employment is a personnel matter, therefore she could not discuss any of the details because of privacy laws.

“We are not at liberty to discuss anybody’s employment records because of the confidentially of employment laws. There is of course public information concerning Mr. Giese’s employment and that is the information that is on his contract, but all instructors at Surry Community College are unemployed for a specific amount of time. Actually community college instructors are not like public school teachers or university professors and are not eligible for tenure. Mr. Giese is under contract. No final decision regarding his employment beyond his contract has been made at this time.

“We appreciate his service, and like with all employees, we wish him much success professionally here.”

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.