Gov. Roy Cooper gave local school districts the authority to reopen elementary schools under the state’s Plan A model during a COVID-19 briefing this afternoon. “We have shown that listening to the science works,” the governor said, adding that declining…
COVID-19 cases prompt Wayne Christian to move, for time being, to remote learning
Wayne Christian School has shifted to remote learning after “two, unrelated members of the WCS family” tested positive for COVID-19. School administrator Paul Brenner said the decision to move to online learning was made with safety in mind — and…
Commissioners slam Board of Education for deficit, lack of financial oversight
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners agreed to allow Wayne County Public Schools some flexibility in how it will use locally provided facilities funds in the coming year, but not without asking some tough financial questions — including why nobody…
Merrill offers ‘early warning’ as another WCPS budget shortfall looms
Wayne County Public Schools’ interim superintendent told members of the Board of Education that he remains concerned about the district’s budget — and hinted that cuts might still be necessary — at the tail end of the board’s regularly scheduled…
$1.5 million WCPS attorney failed to prevent repeated policy violations
Despite all the money local taxpayers have coughed up to a firm that specializes in education law, a recent review of its stint in Wayne County has left us with one conclusion: It’s time for the Wayne County Board of…
Where I’ve been … since many of you have been there
I have been out of the loop for a couple of weeks, and many of you have noticed. And since we are now friends, I’d like to tell you why. I said goodbye to my mom last Thursday. Many of…
Despite requests from principals, district leaders, board denies Plan B delay
For the first several hours of a five-hour special meeting of the Wayne County Board of Education, Central Office leaders unwrapped their respective departments’ progress ahead of the district’s planned reopening. These are some of the highlights from their presentations….
After a series of split votes, WCPS moving forward with Plan B
A series of split votes left the Wayne County Board of Education without an updated school reopening plan — and, instead, married to its August decision to send students back to campuses beginning next week. For more detail on the…
Local principal criticized for “shaming” teens on Facebook
Editor’s note: The following photographs were used with the consent of the parents of the minors involved. A Wayne County principal is facing criticism after posting a photograph of a group of teenagers on social media without parental consent and,…
Merrill is about to drop another budget bombshell
Twenty-four hours after the Wayne County Board of Commissioners roasted the Board of Education for what they characterized as years of financial inattention and mismanagement — and marveled at the board’s incredibly poor decisions regarding contracts, Interim Superintendent Dr. James…