Social distancing markers on floors. No self-service for food or drinks in the cafeteria. Symptom screening — including temperature checks — for everyone who wants to enter a school building. Increased cleaning and disinfection of everything from facilities to school…
From July to March, WCPS spent $400,000-plus on legal services
In the first nine months of the 2019-20 fiscal year, Wayne County Public Schools spent more than $400,000 on legal services. The billing statements for July 2019 through March 2020 were released as a result of a Freedom of Information…
County offered WCPS $3 million loan in exchange for transparency. WCPS said ‘No.’
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners offered the county’s Board of Education a loan to help cover the district’s teacher stipends and June payroll shortfall. But in return, the county wanted an accounting of how the money would be spent,…
Merrill: Stipends coming, but ‘painful’ decisions will follow
Wayne County Public Schools teachers will get their supplements and June paychecks with help from state funds, not by asking the county commissioners to pick up the bill, the district’s acting, and soon-to-be-interim, Superintendent Dr. James Merrill said. But he…
EXCLUSIVE: New Old North investigation tracks connections, contracts in WCPS deficit cleanup
An out-of-town accountant with a now-suspended license. His accounting firm, which had ties to the consultants called in to clean up school districts after their audits were completed. Connections between former local and state school officials who work or have…
Breaking News: Foster election challenge thrown out by Board of Elections
The Wayne County Board of Elections has dismissed the protest of Bevan Foster’s primary victory in the Democratic race for the Wayne County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat. For more on this story, follow the New Old North here…
Audit shows 4-year path to negative fund balance; School Board members blame Dunsmore, Central Office
This was not the first year that some Wayne County Board of Education members have heard that there was a problem with money in the district’s general fund — or that there would have to be cuts made somewhere to…
BOE members say they are confident teachers will get their stipends. County says it hasn’t said ‘yes’ on bailout. And 11- and 12-month employees say they have been told they might not get paid this summer.
Members of the Wayne County Board of Education say they believe the county will be a part of helping the school district out of its money troubles, and its vice chairman says that one of the most immediate priorities is…
Proposed WCPS budget includes $350,000 for legal services
There are a few big ticket items in the draft 2020-21 budget proposal for Wayne County Public Schools that are drawing attention as the district waits for its new interim superintendent to officially take office and as questions swirl about…
Warning: Attend graduation at your own risk
We haven’t really talked much about the Wayne County Board of Education’s decision to do in-person graduations for the Class of 2020. We confess. There has been a lot to write about lately — and while we had a commentary…