The Wayne County School Board met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2023 in the board meeting room at the Central Office. All board members were present, including Chairman Andy Yarbrough, Charity Horton, Camryn Eaton, Debbie Brown, Sherman Martin, Mark Staggs, and Amanda Van Fleet. Superintendent Marlon Davis was present as well.
Chairman Andy Yarbrough called the meeting to order and invited those in attendance to participate in a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Camryn Eaton offered the invocation.
The first items on the agenda included adoption of the consent items, minutes of the January meeting, and the January ledger of accounts. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve, and Camryn Eaton seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The only item on the agenda under old business was a property acquisition proposal which was tabled at the January meeting. Superintendent Davis reviewed the discussion from last month regarding the acquisition of the old Dollar Store property near Frank Hughes School in Clifton. The proposal is to renovate the building to be used for the Agri Science program at FHS as well as science classes in grades 7 through 12. Renovations would include bringing the building up to code, adding two classrooms, and adding more entryways. The estimated cost of the renovation is $125,000, and the list price for the building is $250,000. The cost to purchase the building would be covered by the Innovative High School Grant applied for by FHS, but the renovations would have to be funded by the district. Following a lengthy discussion, Mark Staggs made a motion to approve the purchase of the building contingent upon the approval of the Innovative High School Grant. Charity Horton seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
The first item of new business on the agenda was Policy Review: TSBA recommendations Sections 1 & 2. Superintendent Davis presented the recommended changes, and Sherman Martin made a motion to approve. Mark Staggs seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.
Data presentation was next on the agenda. School Psychologist Ragan Stooksberry presented follow-up data from benchmark testing, comparing data from winter 2021 to the current school year. Data shows that the average U.S. public school student in grades 3-8 lost the equivalent of a half year of learning in math and a quarter of a year in reading during the COVID pandemic. The loss of learning was much higher than the learning loss students experience during a normal summer break from school. However, Mrs. Stooksberry pointed out that students have made significant gains since COVID, including the current school year. She pointed out that most of the pressure is on third graders this year in light of the state bill that will require some 3rd graders to be held back.
Surplus items were next. Superintendent Davis presented a list of items to be declared as surplus, including obsolete technology equipment from Collinwood Elementary School and Collinwood High School. Charity Horton made a motion to declare the items as surplus, and Camryn Eaton seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The next item under new business was the request from WCHS to move this year’s prom off campus to Venue North in Lawrenceburg. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the request, and Mark Staggs seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Next was approval of the FHS Beta Club trip to Washington, D.C. on March 24-28. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the trip, and Mark Staggs seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Superintendent Davis next presented one overnight trip for approval, the WMS cheerleaders to the National Cheer Competition in Orlando, FL on February 9-13. Mark Staggs made a motion to approve the trip. Debbie Brown seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
One non-faculty coach was presented for approval, Joe West – CHS Softball. Camryn Eaton made a motion to approve pending a satisfactory background check, and Debbie Brown seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Budget amendments were next on the agenda. Superintendent Davis presented a list of line-item budget amendments, including the categories of Other Student Support and Food Service Fund 143. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the budget amendments, and Mark Staggs seconded. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
The final item under new business on the agenda included HVAC and electrical quotes. Superintendent Davis presented two quotes for installing HVAC in the CMS gym: Brewer Heating & Cooling, $189,750; and Ronald Franks Construction in conjunction with River City Refrigeration, $198,000. Davis stated that both quotes included equivalent specifications. Mark Staggs made a motion to approve the lower quote from Brewer Heating & Cooling. Amanda Van Fleet seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously on roll call vote.
Superintendent Davis then presented one quote submitted for the required electrical work for the HVAC installation. Skelton Electric, LLC submitted a quote in the amount of $50,100. Mark Staggs made a motion to approve the quote, and Debbie Brown seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
The first item under “Other” on the agenda was an update on ESSER 2.0 and 3.0. Superintendent Davis explained how the original plan included installing drop ceilings in CHS and WCHS. The cost proved to be more than expected, and as a result, those funds were moved to the HVAC projects at CMS and WMS. There were no other major changes. Charity Horton made a motion to approve the changes, and Debbie Brown seconded. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
The remaining item under “Other” was an update on the Extended Learning Facility at Industrial Park. Superintendent Davis said that the water meter has been set, the HVAC has been installed, and they are waiting on concrete work.
Charity Horton inquired as to why home school students are allowed to participate in school athletics while students at the Virtual School are not. Superintendent Davis referenced a Tennessee Code Annotated that requires school systems to provide an opportunity to home school students to participate. However, Virtual School students are enrolled in the district. In order for those students to participate at one of the other schools, the Virtual School would need to become a member of TSSAA, and then a co-op program would have to be established.
Charity Horton then asked when the Director of Schools contract expires. Davis stated that his contract expires on June 30, 2023. Horton requested that the Director’s contract be on the agenda for the next meeting.
Mark Staggs asked about restroom repairs at the WMS gym, but no action was taken by the board.
With no other business to come before the board, Sherman Martin made a motion to adjourn. Camryn Eaton seconded the motion, and the meeting was adjourned.
