The Wayne County School Board met in regular session on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room. All board members were in attendance, including Andy Yarbrough, Greg Eaton, Sherman Martin, Charity Horton, Camryn Eaton, Debbie Brown, and Dwight Bumphus. 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.
The first items on the agenda included adoption of the consent items, minutes of the December meeting (there was no meeting in January), and the December ledger of accounts. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve. The motion was seconded by Greg Eaton and was passed unanimously.
The first item under new business was Policy Review: Section 3 – Support Services – 3.100-3602. Superintendent Davis had no recommended changes to the policy.
Three overnight trips were then presented to the board for approval: WCHS Honor Band-Tennessee Tech University, February 10-12, 2022; CHS Beta Club-Union City, TN, February 24-26, 2022; and FHS Beta Club-Dallas, TX, March 29-April 2, 2022. Charity Horton made a motion to approve the overnight trips, and the motion was seconded by Greg Eaton. The trips were unanimously approved.
Non-faculty coaches were next on the agenda for approval: Jason Culp, CHS Baseball; Chris Kelly, FHS Baseball, and Terry Thompson, FHS Softball. Superintendent Davis confirmed that all had satisfactory background checks. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the list as presented, Debbie Brown seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
A home school report from Superintendent Davis was next. He stated that there are currently 83 home school students registered.
Superintendent Davis then presented the 2022-2023 school calendar as recommended by the calendar committee. He noted that this calendar is very similar to the previous one. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the calendar, and Charity Horton seconded. The school calendar was unanimously approved.
Budget amendments were next on the agenda. Superintendent Davis stated that the amendments were related to Food Services, Maintenance, Safety Grant, and an adjustment to the Federal Fund balance. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve, and Charity Horton seconded. The budget amendments were unanimously approved on roll call vote.
Superintendent Davis next gave a COVID update. He presented summaries of active COVID cases among students and staff. He stated that there were currently seven active student cases and five active staff cases.
Next under new business was an ESSER 3.0 Addendum. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve, and Debbie Brown seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Superintendent Davis then presented the Safe to Return to Instruction plan. Charity Horton made a motion to approve. Debbie Brown seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
The Funding Formula was next on the agenda. The superintendent updated the board on the current status of the governor’s new School Funding plan. He said that this plan will not go into effect until the 2023-2024 school year.
The board next heard about the Best for All District Designation. Superintendent Davis announced that the Wayne County school system had been designated as a Best for All district. He went on to say that 68 districts in Tennessee shared this designation, and he summarized the qualifications for the designation. He stated that the district will receive $200,000 to continue to close learning gaps.
Superintendent Davis next presented the 2020-2021 audit report. He stated that the finding included in the report was addressed by increasing the Federal Fund balance included in the previous budget amendments.
Next on the agenda was a discussion regarding simulators. Superintendent Davis said that the Forestry Grant had requested bids for simulators but had received none. As a result, purchases may be made from quotes. However, the two vendors submitting quotes requested that the purchases be approved by the board. The quotes were received from Simformation and Virage.
Mr. Davis requested that the quotes be approved individually. Sherman Martin made a motion to purchase forestry simulation equipment from Simformation. Debbie Brown seconded, and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Charity Horton then made a motion to purchase CDL truck simulation equipment from Virage. Debbie Brown seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Debbie Brown shared data from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission with the board. The data included graduation rates, college-going rates, ACT scores, etc.
Greg Eaton the informed the board that the March 10 meeting will be his last. He will be moving outside of his current district to be closer to his family.
With no further business to come before the board, Sherman Martin made a motion to adjourn. Camryn Eaton seconded, and the meeting was adjourned.
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