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From the Boardroom
Wayne County Board of Education Meeting Recap [4-8-24]
Board receives update & Proclaims April “Month of the Military Child”
Heather Winstead (WCPS District Military Liaison) and Christy Barnes-Williams (Seymour Johnson Air Force Base School Liaison) shared a Military Child Update highlighting the positive impact the United States military has on WCPS, Wayne County and North Carolina. Mrs. Winstead also presented a new Scorecard from the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission (NCMAC). The Scorecard is a unique report in that it specifically pulls out the academic performance results of the military connected student subgroups. Mrs. Winstead shared that the data reflects that military connected students are thriving in WCPS schools and are outperforming their non-military connected peers across the district and the state.
As part of their update, Mrs. Winstead and Mrs. Barnes-Williams noted that WCPS has been named a NC Purple Star District for the fourth year in a row and continues to maintain a strong relationship with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The two also highlighted various supports and strategies that are in place across the school district which are designed to help support military connected students and families.
Following the presentation, the Board unanimously approved a Proclamation proclaiming April as Month of the Military Child. As a part of the proclamation, April 19 has been designated as Purple Up! Day. Employees and community members are encouraged to wear purple as a visible gesture of support for students with a parent serving in our nation’s military.
Board approves three "Teacher Prep" programs
Dr. Yvette Smith Mason, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, brought three local grow your own educator preparation initiatives to the Board for approval.
The first was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Wayne County Board of Education and Wayne Community College (WCC) Dr. Mason, and representatives from Wayne Community College, presented the MOU which will help establish a formal partnership for an Educator Preparation Program.
The second was an Educator Registered Apprenticeship (ERA)Intermediary Incentive Request Contract. Dr. Mason, along with Felicia Brown, Director Human Resources, and a representative from ERA to move forward apprenticeship programs with incoming and residency teachers. The ERA program is funded by the national Department of Labor. In addition to receiving a $25,000 check from ERA to help fund the program, the Board also learned that Wayne County Public Schools is the first school district in the state to offer the registered K-12 educator apprenticeship program and the second in the nation to receive ERA funding.
The third was the WCPS Teaching Fellowship Program. Earlier this school year, WCPS learned it was one of 20 school districts to have the opportunity to receive a three-year $50,000 Teaching Fellows award. Dr. Mason shared that the district’s local plan was approved by the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program and now needed local Board approval.
Board members discussed the value of these three grow your own teacher programs. The Board approved the MOU, contract and plan, with the WCPS Teaching Fellows plan approved pending legal review.
Board Spotlights
The following student and staff members were recognized with a Board Spotlight for the following achievements:
North Carolina High School Athletics Association (NCHSAA) 1A Individual Wrestling Champion
- Jason Kennedy - Rosewood High
North Carolina School Public Relations Assocation (NCSPRA) Blue Ribbon Award
- Andrea Freile - WCPS Family Engagement & Communications Coordinator
- WCPS Federal Programs Department
- WCPS Community Engagement and Student & Family Support Department
Board receives Superintendent’s 2024-2025 Proposed Budget
Board members were provided hardcopies of the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget for FY 2024-25. As part of Dr. Marc Whichard’s budget presentation, he shared the district and the Board has been following strong fiscal practices, which has helped the district be financially positioned to continue safety and security upgrades and complete other projects.
Chief Finance Officer, Leslie Rouse, and Karri Bond, Executive Director of Finance, then presented a budget at a glance, information about budget drivers, budget assumptions and risks, budget planning information for 2024-25, and what increases can be expected locally in the coming year.
Dr. Whichard shared the proposed $202 million budget works to address the following Board and district priorities while working to maintain a balanced budget:
Safety & Security
Warm and inviting facilities
Sustainability beyond ESSER funding
Employee benefits
Efficient building utilization (Student reassignment, renovations or new school construction, etc.)
Continued conservative fiscal practices and Building of fund balance
NOTE: The proposed budget has been posted on the district website for public review and comment. Individuals who lack reliable Internet can review a copy of the budget at the district’s Central Services. Any comments will be shared with the Board in advance of its monthly Board meeting on May 6, when it is scheduled to take action on the budget.
Board recognizes staff through proclamations
In a show of appreciation for the work that they do daily, the Wayne County Board of Education proclaimed April as “School Library Media Month,” and “Autism Acceptance Month,” and “Occupational Therapy Month”. Representatives from the three areas stood and were recognized while the proclamations were read. Read the full proclamations by clicking on “School Library Media Month,” and “Autism Acceptance & Awareness Month,” and “Occupational Therapy Month”.
Board receives committee updates and approves recommendations
Each Board of Education committee gave an update along with any recommendations that came out of the associated committee meeting:
Policy Committee Update - A PLS report and AR were presented for information. Six policies were approved on second read:
Facilities Committee Update - The Board approved 10 Purchase Orders & Contracts, a phone monterization plan, and two service agreements for chillers and boilers.
Finance Committee Update - The Board approved FY 2023-2024 Budget Amendment 1. The Board also approved $175 in monetary donations and $6,635 in non-monetary donations.
Curriculum and Instruction Committee Update - The Board approved five Purchase Orders & Contracts, a bidding correction for ERate funding, and job descriptions for CDSP teachers and instructional assistants at Meadow Lane Elementary.
Board updates policies around Graduation Requirements
Dr. Marc Whichard, superintendent, and Ken Derksen, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Student & Family Support presented recommended policy updates (presented at a Policy Committee Meeting held earlier that day), which aligns Policy 3460 Graduation Requirements and Policy 3420 Student Promotion and Accountability with new State requirements. Essentially, local Boards of Education can no longer have local graduation requirements above the core 22 credit requirements established by the NC Board of Education.
The two also shared information about the new Accelerated Graduation Pathway which will allow some students to graduate in three years and also have an opportunity to receive a scholarship for up to two years at a NC community college or UNC system university. While the pathway will allow some students to get a jump start on college, work or the military, Dr. Whichard said students who opt for the 3-year accelerated graduation pathway will miss out on a 4th year of high school athletics and will not be able to take advantage of free and reduced meal options once they graduate. During the discussion, it was noted that the Accelerated Graduation Pathway opportunity will not be for every student, as it will require a more rigorous schedule with a doubling up of core courses. Additionally, students not seeking to attend state college or university system, or who simply prefer to take advantage of the added Advanced Placement courses, CCP courses, extracurriculars, and/or CTE courses, may prefer having the 4th year of high school that a traditional graduation pathway offers.
Mr. Derksen added that the new policy updates will require high schools to be more flexible with scheduling and that more students may begin to opt to graduate in December of their senior year. Dr. Whichard noted the next steps will be to inform students and families. Without further discussion, the Board approved the policy revisions.
Board approves new seal
The Board of Education Facilities Committee recently met to discuss options for a new Board Seal, which could be prominently displayed in the Boardroom. Dr. Tim Harrell, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, and Superintendent Whichard presented to the full Board a seal proposal for their consideration. The Board approved the new seal.
Board hears updates AND approves MOUs & Agreements
The Board heard two updates from Robert Yancey, Executive Director of Accountability / Technology Support Services and Program Evaluation:
The Board also approved the following items:
Board approves GoGlobal NC Global Teachers Endowment Letter of Intent
Ken Derksen, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Student & Family Support, shared information about an opportunity for WCPS to receive an annual global travel award, which if received would be awarded locally to the district’s Teacher of the Year. Mr. Derksen shared information about the special endowment through GoGlobal NC. [Background: In 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $1 Million to be matched for the Global Teachers Fellowship (GTF) endowment in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties. Essentially, a fully funded endowment for each district is $100,000 in total. Tier 1 counties will receive a $60,000 legislative match for a $40,000 private donation.] Derksen explained that Bill Bryan, Executive Chairman for Mt. Olive Pickle had secured four $10,000.00 commitments from four local foundations for the required match. Derksen stated that a letter of intent (LOI) was required to receive the award. He added because the district would be required to commit $2,000 annually to the $6,500 global travel award, Board approval was being sought before submitting the LOI. The board approved the LOI.
Public Comment
Board approves Consent Agenda
Prior to the Board Comment period, the Board approved its Consent Agenda, which included minutes, a General Personnel Report, and student reassignment requests.
Board Meeting Resources for the April 8, 2024 Meeting
DISTRICT 1: Mr. Don Christopher West - christopherwest@wcps.org
DISTRICT 2: Mr. H. Len Henderson - lenhenderson@wcps.org
DISTRICT 3: Ms. Patricia A. Burden - patriciaburden@wcps.org
DISTRICT 4: Mr. Willie Joyner, II - billjoyner@wcps.org
DISTRICT 5: Mr. Craig Foucht (Chair) - craigfoucht@wcps.org
DISTRICT 6: Mr. Wade Leatham - daleleatham@wcps.org
AT LARGE: Mr. J. Tommy Sanders III (Vice-Chair) - tommysanders@wcps.org
Located in Goldsboro/Wayne County, North Carolina