School Board Honors WMS Football Team for Quad County Championship Victory

The Wayne County School Board met in regular session on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Central Office at 5:30 p.m. Board members in attendance were Chairman Amanda VanFleet, Vice Chairman Camryn Eaton, Sherman Martin, Debbie Brown, Mark Staggs, and Drew Turman. Dr. Ricky Inman, Director of Schools, was present as well. Board member Charity Horton was absent.

Chairman VanFleet opened the meeting by welcoming CHS student representative, Gentry Hart. She then asked for consideration of the consent items. After a motion from Sherman Martin, seconded by Debbie Brown, the agenda, the January meeting minutes, and the January ledger of accounts were all approved.

With no old business to discuss, Chairman Van Fleet moved the discussion to new business, asking to move the WMS Football Resolution up on the agenda. Dr. Inman presented a resolution recognizing WMS football players, coaches, and staff for winning the Quad County Championship and for their hard work and commitment. Debbie Brown made a motion to approve the resolution, and Drew Turman seconded the motion. The resolution passed with no opposition.

Policy review was next under new business. Chairman Van Fleet stated that this was a review of Instructional Services: 6.303-6.319. Dr. Inman noted that the policy reads 7th-12th grades for AEP but should be 6th-12th. He remarked that it could be passed with an amendment and move on to the second reading. Camryn Eaton made a motion to pass the policy with the 6-12 amendment. Sherman Martin seconded, and the motion passed with no objections.

Next on the agenda, Dr. Inman presented proposals for overnight trips. The trips were: FHS Beta Club, New Orleans, March 27-March 31, and WCHS FFA, State Convention in Gatlinburg. Sherman Martin made a motion to approve the trips, and Drew Turman seconded. The trips were unanimously approved.

The final item under new business was the consideration of a bus quote. The recommended quote was from Cumberland for the purchase of two 66-passenger buses at $148,118.96 each. Dr. Inman noted there is a six-month lag time between purchase and receiving a new bus, so passing now would allow the bus to be in operation by August 2026. Camryn Eaton inquired if there was a reason to purchase a 54-passenger rather than a 66-passenger, and discussion followed regarding how much easier the smaller buses are to drive and how the routes they would be used for don’t contain many kids. Approval at this time would allow the order to be placed, with funds to come out of next year’s funding. Sherman Martin made a motion to accept the quote, and Debbie Brown seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.

In other business, Dr. Inman asked for approval of non-faculty coaches. CHS Football requested approval for Darren Pounders, and CHS Softball requested approval for Joe Ray. Both have satisfactory background checks. CHS Band requested approval for Terri Durwin pending a satisfactory background check. Camryn Eaton made a motion to approve all, pending the background check for Terri Durwin. Debbie Brown seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

As an additional discussion, Mark Staggs brought up the topic of a recent event at a high school basketball game. There was discussion about potential dress code violations and student conduct that may have involved the targeting of a player. Some in the audience noted that some of the things brought up, such as chest painting, etc., had been done as tradition in many places, and the inappropriate behaviors that took place that night were addressed then and in the following days with administrators and students. Camryn Eaton mentioned that the board’s role is to pass policy. He stated that it had been done and that individual incidents are to be handled by the Director of Schools and administration.

There was also a brief discussion about a social media page that makes posts regarding WCHS sports and other teams’ players. Discussion was that if it is found to be a student making the posts, the student will be punished, but if it’s an outside person, the school system doesn’t have authority.

With no further business to come before the board, Sherman Martin made a motion to adjourn. Debbie Brown seconded, and the meeting was adjourned.