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
Consultant: WCPS overspent on teachers, contract services and supplements for years as fund balance declined
June 30, 2020 9 Responses

Consultant: WCPS overspent on teachers, contract services and supplements for years as fund balance declined

Here are some of the highlights from School Operations Specialists president Aaron Beaulieu’s presentation to the Board of Education Monday evening. Our complete report follows: • The district has a $1,812,630.53 positive balance in its accounts for now, due in...
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Don’t be fooled by the excuses and high fives. The hits just keep on coming. And trust us, there’s more.
June 26, 2020 26 Responses

Don’t be fooled by the excuses and high fives. The hits just keep on coming. And trust us, there’s more.

Well … It seems the chairman of the Wayne County Board of Education is not too happy with us. Chris West said he doesn’t read what we write. But boy, during and after Thursday’s school board meeting it sure seemed...
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Teaching position cuts, increased class sizes likely coming, but Central Office leadership not on chopping block
June 26, 2020 17 Responses

Teaching position cuts, increased class sizes likely coming, but Central Office leadership not on chopping block

Wayne County Public Schools’ temporary — and as of June 26 interim — superintendent has delivered the first results from the district’s efforts to unravel its nearly $5 million deficit. And on the list of solutions are more students in...
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Years of consultants, audits, warning signs not enough to raise a red flag. Really?
June 24, 2020 6 Responses

Years of consultants, audits, warning signs not enough to raise a red flag. Really?

We have thrown a lot of numbers at you lately in our coverage of the financial mess that is Wayne County Public Schools. And some of them have been pretty shocking. So, it would be understandable that in the face...
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Consultant who helped restructure WCPS Finance Department before the $5 million deficit is back to help “fix” district books again
June 23, 2020 7 Responses

Consultant who helped restructure WCPS Finance Department before the $5 million deficit is back to help “fix” district books again

A partner in the consulting firm that worked on a “project-to-project basis” with Wayne County Public Schools from 2016 to 2019 — a man credited, by former WCPS superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore, with helping “to train our finance officer” and...
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As deficit grew, WCPS paid $125,000 more for legal services than Wayne County, $330,000 more than Goldsboro
June 23, 2020 7 Responses

As deficit grew, WCPS paid $125,000 more for legal services than Wayne County, $330,000 more than Goldsboro

Over the first nine months of 2019-20, Wayne County Public Schools paid its out-of-town law firm about $125,000 more than the Wayne County government spent during the same timeframe on the salaries and benefits for its three-person legal team —...
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WCPS: Consulting firm with ties to auditor worked “project to project” with district since 2016, but details and paper trail are M.I.A.
June 18, 2020 3 Responses

WCPS: Consulting firm with ties to auditor worked “project to project” with district since 2016, but details and paper trail are M.I.A.

A New Old North records request has revealed that a consulting firm that employs — or has employed — former high-level local and state school officials with connections to Wayne County Public Schools has been working with WCPS since 2016....
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From July to March, WCPS spent $400,000-plus on legal services
June 15, 2020 6 Responses

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...
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County offered WCPS $3 million loan in exchange for transparency. WCPS said ‘No.’
June 12, 2020 6 Responses

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,...
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Merrill: Stipends coming, but ‘painful’ decisions will follow
June 12, 2020 6 Responses

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. B...
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