Category: News/Crime

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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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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Tempers flare as council members spar over budget, proposed audit, lobbyists
June 17, 2020 4 Responses

Tempers flare as council members spar over budget, proposed audit, lobbyists

One Goldsboro City Council member didn’t vote to approve the budget because it did not include funding for a forensic audit of the city’s books. Another took exception to what he characterized as a tax hike disguised as a 17.5%...
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As COVID-19 numbers, hospitalizations increase, state publishes school reopening options for governor to choose from
June 15, 2020 No Responses

As COVID-19 numbers, hospitalizations increase, state publishes school reopening options for governor to choose from

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 facilitie...
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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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EXCLUSIVE: New Old North investigation tracks connections, contracts in WCPS deficit cleanup
June 11, 2020 7 Responses

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 hav...
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