From the Boardroom

On March 4, 2024 the Wayne County Board of Education held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Upon returning from Closed Session, the Board approved its Meeting Agenda.

Ken Derksen, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Student & Family Support, shared information about the “Bigger than a Game” video which was produced to highlight an event where two middle school basketball teams came together to make a basketball manager’s dream come true by letting him play in game and score a basket. Mr. Derksen shared that the original WCPS Facebook post had over 32,000 impressions and the video had over 3,800 views within the first few days. After a special showing of the video, the two teams were recognized along with Chris Boykin, the star of the video. Following the Board recognition, both teams presented Chris with a basketball with signatures from all of the athletes.

Ken Derksen, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Student & Family Support along with Sonja Emerson, Executive Director of the Exceptional Children’s Department, gave a CSD/CDSP and the Edgewood Student & Family Transition Plan update. They explained what the Community Developmental School (CDS) located on the Edgewood campus is, and what the Community Developmental School Programs (CDSP) located on the Meadow Lane Elementary and Greenwood Middle campuses are. They also gave the history of the CDS and CDSP, noting that the CDS began in a church basement classroom in 1967, was moved to the former Greenleaf School and later the former Walnut School before moving to the Edgewood School campus in 1983. The two, along with the principal of the Edgewood CDS discussed the “12+ program” and the future of the Edgewood CDS which is designed for students ages 18-22. Mrs. Emerson shared the WCPS Department’s EC vision and pathway for students with significant cognitive disabilities ages 3-22. Prior to closing the presentation, the two discussed the CDS transition plan for students and families, which is being put in place to support families who will be moving with the CDS to the Eastern Wayne High campus next fall as part of the district’s facilities utilization and maximization moves.

The Wayne County Board of Education proclaimed March as School “School Social Workers Month.” School social workers, along with representatives of the Community Engagement and Student & Family Support Department, stood during the reading of the proclamation.

The Board also proclaimed March as “Arts in Our Schools Month.” Visual and performing arts staff, along with representatives of the Curriculum & Instruction Department, stood during the reading of the proclamation.

Read the full proclamations by clicking on School Social Workers Month and Arts in Our Schools Month.

Dr. Carol H. Artis, Executive Director for Curriculum & Instruction, gave a synopsis of the district’s Mid-Year Data Review. Dr. Artis covered key data systems across grade levels and other indicators that were reviewed. She noted that the C&I Department does the review annually to help inform decisions and to support schools with improving academics.

As a part of a new process, each Board committee gave an update along with any recommendations that came out of the associated committee meeting:

• Policy Committee Update - A PLS report and six policies were presented for first read. Later in the meeting, the Board approved the following policies upon second read:

• Policy 4155 - Assignment to Classes

• Policy 6401 - Ethics and the Purchasing Function

• Policy 6430 - Purchasing Requirements for Equipment, Materials and Supplies

• Policy 7100 - Recruitment and Selection of Personnel

• Policy 7130 - Licensure

• Policy 7510 - Leave

• Policy 7520 - Family and Medical Leave

• Policy 7650 - Employee Travel and Other Expense Reimbursement

• Policy 7730 - Employee Conflict of Interest

• Policy 8325 - Daily Deposits

• Facilities Committee Update - The Board approved six Purchase Orders & Contracts and the surplussing of two vehicles.

• Finance Committee Update - The Board approved a 5 year chromebook refresh plan and awarded CDW-G, as the lowest bidder, for a Category 2 Erate Bid. The Board also approved $8,135 in monetary donations and $9,390 in non-monetary donations.

• Curriculum and Instruction Committee Update - The Board approved six Purchase Orders & Contracts and the WCPS Summer Retesting Plan.

The Board approved the following items:

• MOU between Wayne County Board of Education & East Carolina University

• MOU between Wayne County Board of Education & North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

• K-12 Elevate Agreement for Replacement Teachers

One individual signed up to address the Board during its Public Comment period:

• Rachel Radford - WCPS Sex Ed Curriculum

Prior to the Board Comment period, the Board approved its Consent Agenda, which included minutes, a General Personnel Report, and student reassignment and transfer requests.

The full March 4, 2024 Board Meeting video can be viewed by clicking on the following Board Meeting Video link. The March 4, 2024 Meeting agenda and associated materials presented to the Board can be viewed by clicking on Meeting Link.

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. Bill 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