WAYNE – With school a week away from starting, the Wayne Community Schools Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting earlier this week.
From the Jr/Sr High School Library, an annual report on American Civics was provided Monday evening.
Per a state requirement, the committee on American Civics meets twice a year and then issues a report once a year for public comment.
Superintendent of Wayne Community Schools, Dr. Mark Lenihan said the group goes through a check list of social studies, what the school teaches in their curriculum and how they celebrate some of the patriotic days.
“Veterans Day is a great example; we have a big assembly on Veterans Day,” said Dr. Lenihan. “Martin Luther King Day, all the days that relate to things concerning American Civics.”
Wayne High seniors are required to attend two public meetings, take a 100-point Civics test while providing presentations and reports.
The construction management at risk process was also updated before board members affirmed the recommendation from the selection committee with Hausmann Construction being at the top of the list.
Wayne Community Schools began the process last fall with strategic planning meetings in Carroll and in Wayne. Facilities were a high priority for those who gave feedback with enrollment continuing to grow and nearly at capacity in all the school buildings.
The three contractors who were interviewed were Hausmann Construction, Boyd Jones Construction and B&D Construction.
“Between now and our meeting we’re going to have later in August we’ll work on hammering out a contract with Hausmann,” Dr. Lenihan added. “Once that contract is signed, sealed and delivered then they’ll be our firm and we’ll re-engage that facility group.”
The second reading of Superintendent Evaluation Handbook was approved by utilizing more of an online process along with a job description with no major changes.
Policy readings also received first reading approval for board member attendance at functions, the annual safe return to school plan review which ties into ESSER federal funding and board members approved a second counselor from Heartland Counseling.
The school currently has a grant which covers up to $30,000 for mental health purposes. With one licensed mental health practitioner available in each of the Jr/Sr High School and Elementary buildings, cost to the district will be $24,000 (covered by the grant) for the year.
With teachers reporting to school for required training on Thursday, an open house is scheduled for next Monday, August 15 from 5 – 7 p.m. with all the school buildings being open. A half day is scheduled for Wednesday, August 17 with a noon dismissal before beginning the 2022-23 school year in Wayne next Thursday.
Dr. Lenihan mentioned it was a more extended summer for Wayne Community School students after getting out in the middle of May and starting a week later this year compared to last year.
“Which was something that a lot of people had asked for; they thought we were starting a little bit too early,” Dr. Lenihan mentioned. “We adjusted that so hopefully people are taking advantage of these last few days and the kids I’ve seen them out on their bikes and enjoying the summer.”
With new legislation, a process has changed when it comes to the budget which is due by September 30, 2022. Assessed valuations will be in for Wayne Community Schools before August 20 which will then allow the board to talk about where the levy rate is going to be, what to do as far a cash reserves, building fund and more.
“Then we need to attend what’s called a Joint Public Tax Hearing, this is the new part,” said Dr. Lenihan. “So, what we’re going to do is we’re going to have our budget hearing at our September board meeting, we have to work with the county because they set the Joint Public Tax Hearing Date.”
The board will then meet later in September to approve the budget.
A special meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 30 at 5 p.m. while the next regularly scheduled Wayne Community Schools Board of Education meeting will be on Monday, September 12.
‘View from Wayne America’ with Dr. Mark Lenihan, Wayne Community Schools Superintendent:
