Author: Renee Carey

Renee Carey has been an award-winning writer, editor and commentator in community newspaper markets for nearly 25 years. An Ohio native, she began her journalism career in high school, deciding then that storytelling was her calling. She honed her craft at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, earning a degree in journalism from the Honors Tutorial College. Since then, she has spent her career telling people's stories, commenting on politics and life and teaching others how to do the same — an avocation that has introduced her to thousands of people who have inspired her and taught her many lessons about integrity, courage, faith and happiness. Mrs. Carey resides in North Carolina with her husband and two dogs, Rush and Beau. You can reach her at rcarey@newoldnorth.com
WCPS releases Plan B details
July 30, 2020 one Response

WCPS releases Plan B details

Wayne County Public Schools released its Plan B school reopening strategy Thursday evening. And while WCPS acknowledges that the plan is still “evolving” and is “subject to change,” Assistant Superintendent Tamara Berman-Ishee said it was important to provide “as much...
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Other counties get that Plan B is a problem. WCPS needs to change course before it’s too late.
July 29, 2020 27 Responses

Other counties get that Plan B is a problem. WCPS needs to change course before it’s too late.

If you have been following the Wayne County Board of Education’s recent decision to begin the school year on the state’s hybrid Plan B, you also are aware that the 5-2 vote has caused a bit of unrest among teachers,...
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Did your voices really matter?
July 21, 2020 13 Responses

Did your voices really matter?

Before we get started, here’s a trigger warning: No, this is not going to be a kumbaya, hand-holding, let’s all just get along, time for positivity commentary. And here’s why: Now we know — and judging from the volume of...
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School Board picks Plan B despite questions, concerns voiced by leadership team
July 20, 2020 22 Responses

School Board picks Plan B despite questions, concerns voiced by leadership team

Despite Wayne County Public School Interim Superintendent Dr. James Merrill making it clear that he and his team were not prepared to offer a clear path forward for a Plan B school reopening decision to be made during Monday’s Board...
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NON survey: Some support in-person instruction, but many WCPS teachers have serious questions, concerns about Plan B reopening
July 18, 2020 2 Responses

NON survey: Some support in-person instruction, but many WCPS teachers have serious questions, concerns about Plan B reopening

More than 170 Wayne County educators, several bus drivers, a handful of cafeteria workers and a member of the Central Office administrative team told the New Old North they are afraid to return to school this fall. Some of their...
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WCPS denies decision has been made after assistant superintendent says “we’re going to do Plan B.”
July 18, 2020 15 Responses

WCPS denies decision has been made after assistant superintendent says “we’re going to do Plan B.”

A Wayne County Public Schools spokesman is denying a report by a local media organization Saturday that the district has already chosen and is moving forward with Plan B — the state’s hybrid back-to-school model. Ken Derksen said this morning...
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N.C. governor chooses ‘Plan B,’ schools limited to 50% occupancy under hybrid reopening model
July 14, 2020 one Response

N.C. governor chooses ‘Plan B,’ schools limited to 50% occupancy under hybrid reopening model

Gov. Roy Cooper announced moments ago that North Carolina schools would open under a hybrid model — or, Plan B, as it is called in the Department of Public Instruction’s “Lighting Our Way Forward: North Carolina’s Guidebook for Reopening Public...
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There are many factors to consider as WCPS braces for Cooper’s reopening decision
July 14, 2020 11 Responses

There are many factors to consider as WCPS braces for Cooper’s reopening decision

We could have written a simple, hard news story about Monday’s regular meeting of the Wayne County Board of Education. If we were to write that report, it could be summarized in one simple, yet ironically still complicated, statement —...
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WCPS spent $200,000-plus on financial consulting just before 4-year slide
July 8, 2020 13 Responses

WCPS spent $200,000-plus on financial consulting just before 4-year slide

Wayne County Public Schools spent more than $200,000 on consulting projects tied to its Finance and Human Resources departments the year the district’s fund balance began its slide from a $7 million surplus to a $2.4 million deficit. A New...
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Meeting minutes show School Board, chairman knew about mounting financial crisis long before audit bombshell
July 1, 2020 15 Responses

Meeting minutes show School Board, chairman knew about mounting financial crisis long before audit bombshell

Wayne County Public Schools’ former finance officer and former superintendent repeatedly warned Board of Education members that the district’s finances were in disarray, according to School Board and Finance Committee meeting minutes obtained by the Ne...
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