From the Boardroom

On January 8, 2024 the Wayne County Board of Education held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Upon returning from Closed Session, the Board approved its Meeting Agenda with the following adjustments:

• Removal of AR 4150-R(6) from Item 4.D.

• Addition of 7.G. to the Consent Agenda - “Board approval of license revocation for Markia Spriggs for the remainder of the school year”

Ken Derksen, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Student & Family Support, presented information about the new AR 4150-R(7) Guidelines for Special Purpose Schools. The school district's Special Purpose Schools include: Wayne Early/Middle College High School, Wayne School of Engineering, & Wayne School of Technical Arts. Derksen shared that under a previous policy, repealed by the Board in November, each school was given a set number of lottery seats based on that school's population. The number of seats that were established did not take into account the number of applicants from that school or how many non-WCPS applicants resided within that same school's attendance zone. Derksen shared that with the new AR, a percentage of seats will proportionally be allocated based on the number of lottery applications received from each high school attendance zone.

Derksen explained that the new AR will maintain representation of students across attendance zones, while at the same time create a more balanced chance for students (both WCPS and non-WCPS) to be selected to a special purpose school no matter where they live. He added that the AR will potentially allow more non-WCPS students to be selected to a special purpose school, positively impacting district enrollment/ADM. Board member Joyner expressed concerns that the new AR may take seats away from disadvantaged students in the southern end of the county and give them to students who have more means. Derksen noted that there is poverty is in every area of the county, and expressed that the ultimate goal of the AR is to ensure that regardless of what area of the county a student (WCPS or non-WCPS) lives in or what their means are, that one student has the same chance as their neighbor to be selected to a Special Purpose School through a lottery.

Some discussion followed about the lottery application, which Derksen stated has been made easier for families to complete. He shared that WCPS students no longer have to provide academic and discipline documentation with the application, as the district already has that information on file. He also confirmed to board members that non-WCPS students are required to provide such documentation to ensure they meet the minimum requirements to be included in the lottery.

Superintendent Whichard stated that they will be closely watching this year’s lottery process under the new AR. He added that there are non-WCPS parents he has spoken with that are looking for opportunities to come back to Wayne County Public Schools. Dr. Whichard said he would like to create avenues to bring back students opting for other choices in the community, and it is his desire for Wayne County Public Schools to become the system of choice for Wayne County families.

During the General portion of the meeting, the Board was presented a PLS Update.

Later in the meeting during its Board Action, the following Board of Education policies were approved upon first and second reading.

Policy 4002 - Parental Involvement (First reading)

Policy 4110 - Immunization and Health Requirements for School Admission

Policy 4150 - School Assignment (with technical edit from attorney)

Policy 4342 - Student Searches (with technical edit from attorney)

Policy 5008 - Automated Phone and Text Messaging

Policy 5040 - News Media Relations

Policy 6136 - Automated External Defibrillator

Policy 7310 - Staff-Student Relations

The Board approved the following items:

• Contract for GOSHEN CONSULTING, INC., STEMKAMP 2024

• Support Services Purchase Orders & Contracts

• WorkSource East Cooperative Agreement