From the Boardroom

The Wayne County Board of Education proclaimed February as Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month. Members of the Wayne County Curriculum Instruction Department, the CTE Program, and high school Career Development Coordinators were recognized following the reading of the proclamation on behalf of all WCPS CTE teachers and staff.

The Board also proclaimed February as School-Based Health Care Awareness Month in recognition of the WISH Program’s 25+ years of service and continued commitment to promoting student health WISH Centers in seven schools. Members of the WISH Board and WISH Center staff stood during the reading of the proclamation.

Ken Derksen, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Student & Family Support, presented a Draft 2026-2027 Traditional Academic Calendar and a Draft 2026-2027 Non-Traditional Academic Calendar. Mr. Derksen shared that this year’s Traditional Academic Calendar was developed following an expanded and comprehensive review process, which involved detailed discussions around school calendar law, staff development needs, and early dismissal challenges. Mr. Derksen shared that this year’s calendar committee was expanded to include additional stakeholders and that an online survey was used to garner feedback for the final drafts developed for the Board’s consideration. Mr. Derksen shared that the calendar being recommended received overwhelming online support. The calendar has no early dismissal days, workdays embedded in the calendar for district professional development and protected time in the classroom, and a last day of school for students before Memorial Day.

Mr. Derksen also presented a 2026-2027 non-traditional academic calendar, which was developed for Wayne Early/Middle College High School and Wayne School of Engineering. The Board unanimously approved both academic calendars.

Each Board of Education committee gave an update along with any recommendations that came out of the associated committee meeting:

• Policy Committee Update - One policy and one Administrative Regulation were presented for information:

• Policy 7440 Assignment/Reassignments/Transfers

• AR- 4300-R Alternative to Out-Of-School Suspension Cessation Program (To be implemented in conjunction with Policy Code 4300 March 15 implementation)

• Twelve policies were approved on second read:

• Policy 2127 Board Member Technology Use

• Policy 3227/7322 Web Page Development

• Policy 4040/7310 Staff-Student Relations

• Policy 4050 Children of Military Families

• Policy 4120 Domicile of Residence Requirements

• Policy 4240/7312 Child Abuse and Related Threats to Child Safety

• Policy 4270/6145 Concussion and Head Injury

• Policy 4300 Code of Student Conduct (Approved with a March 15 implementation)

• Policy 4320 Tobacco Products-Student

• Policy 6310 Organization of Student Transportation Services

• Policy 7401 Duty to Drive a School Bus and Exemption

• Policy 7910 Retirement

• Curriculum & Instruction Committee Report - The Board approved the following items:

• C&I Contracts and Purchase Orders

• Kendall Green Contract

• CHE Restart Application

• Finance Committee Report - The Board approved the following items:

• Anderson Smith & Wike - Financial Audit Contract [Voting in Favor: Leatham, West, Vice-Chair Sanders, & Chair Joyner / Voting Against: Cowan, Foucht, & Henderson]

• Donation Report - The Board accepted $4,257.50 in monetary donations and
  $2,400.00 in non-monetary donations, bringing year to date donation totals to $63,083.13 in monetary donations and $23,824.10 in non-monetary donations.

• Facilities Committee Report - The Board approved the following items:

• Support Services Contracts and Purchase Orders

• Offer to Purchase, Holly St. Property

• WSE/GHS Soccer Field Repairs/Renovations

• Rosewood Elementary Transfer to County/Funding Agreement Amendment (Pending Legal Review)