VanFleet, Eaton New Chair and Vice Chair of School Board

The Wayne County School Board met in regular session on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the Central Office at 5:30 p.m. All board members were in attendance, including Chairman Charity Horton, Drew Turman, Deborah Brown, Sherman Martin, Camryn Eaton, Mark Staggs, and Amanda VanFleet. Dr. Ricky Inman, Director of Schools, was present as well.

Chairman Horton opened the meeting with a call to order. After roll call was completed and a quorum was declared, she opened the floor for nominations to elect a Chair and Vice Chair. Deborah Brown nominated Amanda VanFleet, and Mark Staggs seconded. Deborah Brown then made a motion to cease nominations, and Mark Staggs seconded. Amanda VanFleet was elected to the position of Board Chairman, and she then took over leadership of the meeting.

Chairman VanFleet then asked for nominations for a Vice Chair. Deborah Brown nominated Camryn Eaton, and Mark Staggs seconded. Deborah Brown made a motion to cease nominations, and Mark Staggs seconded. Camryn Eaton was named Vice Chairman of the Board.

Chairman VanFleet next asked for consideration of the consent items. After a motion from Sherman Martin and a second from Drew Turman, the adoption of the agenda, the August meeting minutes, and the August ledger of accounts were all approved.

Policy review was the first item of new business on the agenda. Dr. Inman said this was a review of policy Section 5 Personnel 5.114-5.309. He had no recommended changes to the policies, and they were approved by the board.

Next under new business was a presentation by the Ayers Foundation. Charles Long shared the role of the Ayers Foundation in Wayne County Schools and distributed a sheet with data demonstrating the success of Wayne County students in the Ayers Foundation initiatives. All three high schools finished at the top of the state with 100% of FAFSA applications completed. Several audience members expressed appreciation for the work of the Ayers Foundation.

Chairman VanFleet next recognized and welcomed Jessica Durbin, student representative from Wayne County Virtual School.

Surplus items were next on the agenda. Dr. Inman asked that the listed equipment items from Wayne County Technology Center be declared as surplus. Charity Horton made a motion to surplus the items, and Camryn Eaton seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Non-faculty coaches were next on the agenda. Dr. Inman requested that the list of coaches from Collinwood Middle School and Frank Hughes School be approved pending satisfactory background checks. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the coaches, and Mark Staggs seconded. The coaches were unanimously approved.

Budget amendments were next. Dr. Inman asked for board approval of line-item budget amendments, moving a total of $160,000 from one line in the budget to another. Mark Staggs made a motion too approve the amendments, and Drew Turman seconded the motion. The budget amendments were unanimously approved on roll call vote.

In other business, Charity Horton expressed her appreciation for everyone’s confidence in her and the support she received during her tenure as Board Chair.

Cindy Davis, Wayne County Schools Supervisor of Instruction, congratulated Wayne County High School on their Level 5 TCAP Composite. Dr. Inman also noted that there were several teachers across the district with Level 5 composites.

Ryan Franks, Principal of Wayne County High School, thanked the board for their efforts on the completion of building projects across the district. He specifically noted the great job on the press box and stadium renovations at WCHS.

Before the close of the meeting, Student Representative Jessica Durbin gave a summary of activities at the Wayne County Virtual School.

With no further business to come before the board, Sherman Martin made a motion to adjourn. Mark Staggs seconded, and the meeting was adjourned.