The Wayne County School Board met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2022 in the board meeting room at the Central Office. Board members present included Vice Chairman Charity Horton, Mark Staggs, Sherman Martin, Camryn Eaton, and Amanda Vanfleet. Superintendent Marlon Davis was present as well. Andy Yarbrough was absent. Board member Debbie Brown attended the meeting via telephone but was not legally allowed to vote on any agenda items due to not being present in person.
Vice Chairman Horton called the meeting to order and invited those in attendance to participate in a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was offered by Camryn Eaton.
The first items on the agenda included adoption of the consent items, minutes of the September meeting, and the September ledgers of accounts. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve, and Mark Staggs seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Next was Policy Review: Section 6-Students-6.100-6.3021. Superintendent Davis had no recommended changes to the policy, so no action was taken by the board.
Then next item on the agenda was TSBA policy service. Superintendent Davis recommended using the Tennessee School Board Association’s policy review service. This service also includes hosting the policy manual online. The cost will be $7,500 for the initial review and $3,000 annually. Mark Staggs made a motion approve Davis’ recommendation, and Amanda Vanfleet seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Surplus items were next on the agenda. Various transportation vehicles on the list included a Ford Expedition, a Ford Taurus, and two small buses. Also on the list was a Dodge van that had been used by the Collinwood Football Boosters, who will receive the funds if and when the van is sold. Also on the list were various computer items. All of the items will be put up for sale on govdeals.com. Mark Staggs made a motion to approve the items as surplus, and Camryn Eaton seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Next was teacher tenure. Superintendent Davis recommended the following teachers for tenure: Kelbie Risner-WES, Maria Pulley-WMS/WCHS, and Michelle Vrska-WMS. Sherman Martin made a motion to grant tenure to the teachers as presented. Camryn Eaton seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
Next on the agenda was an EPA Bus Grant Announcement. Superintendent Davis announced that the school system received a grant in the amount of $1,580,000 to fund the purchase of four electric buses and charging stations. Davis recommended approving the grant pending any additional charges. Camryn Eaton initially made a motion to table the item. Following a rather lengthy discussion, Eaton rescinded his motion. Mark Staggs then made a motion to approve the grant pending any additional charges, and with a representative coming to explain more to the board about the grant. Camryn Eaton seconded, and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Bids were next on the agenda. Superintendent Davis presented bids for an oven at CMS. He recommended accepting the low bid from Mobile Fixtures in the amount of $33,794.99. Sherman Martin made a motion to accept the bid, and Amanda Vanfleet seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Budget amendments were next. Superintendent Davis presented $81,696.99 in line item budget amendments, which moves money in the budget from one line item to another. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the amendments, and Mark Staggs seconded. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
Next, Superintendent Davis presented the district audit information from the previous school year. He identified the one finding in the audit, which was an incorrect ledger balance. Davis explained that the finding took place when an item was entered manually into the ledger, and the computer software automatically entered it again. He stated that personnel were now aware of what happened, and it has been corrected. Superintendent Davis also commended the bookkeepers for all their hard work.
Under “Other” on the agenda, Superintendent Davis updated the board on current attendance numbers. Sickness has caused the absenteeism numbers to go up to an average of 9% within the previous week, when normally it is between 5-7%. Davis said that although absenteeism is up, it has not reached a critical level.
Amanda Vanfleet then asked Superintendent Davis for an update on installing air conditioning in the WMS and CMS gyms. Davis said that the bids received for the project had been much higher than expected and refused by the board; therefore,the plans had been adjusted to reduce costs. He said that hoped to soon receive more bids.
With no further business to come before the board, Sherman Martin made a motion to adjourn. Mark Staggs seconded, and the meeting was adjourned.
