Board reviews homeschool enrollment trends and approves budget amendment to allocate outcome funding

The Wayne County School Board heard a homeschool report and approved a budget amendment to allocate increased state outcome (TISA) funding at its January meeting.

Miss Ladonna presented the homeschool submission the district files with the state twice a year, reporting December counts: 134 church‑related independent homeschools, 29 in the nonpublic school category and 3 in another category. Board members noted those totals were somewhat lower than last year and discussed outreach steps, including summer mailings and materials from a new vendor that provide dual‑enrollment and digital options for older students.

S3 provided details on TISA outcome funding, explaining the state calculates allocations based on the number of 3rd‑grade students proficient in ELA and 7th‑grade proficiency in ELA and math, plus multiple high‑school graduate categories. S3 said high‑school outcome funding is the largest portion and reported the district received roughly $31,000 more than last year; S3 cited a base amount of $7,295 and explained that qualifying students typically generate 10% of that base while special‑needs students generate 20%.

To use those funds, S3 presented a budget amendment that, among other moves, adds $30,000 for miss LaDonna’s virtual program to support increased enrollment, places technology funding into the technology line for Chromebook purchases, covers instructional equipment and restores teacher bonus funds (the board previously issued a $2,000 bonus to teachers in July and has now received the funding to place in the correct line item). S3 moved the amendment and it was seconded; district‑level roll‑call responses in the transcript were recorded as follows: 2nd District — yes; 3rd District — yes; 4th District — absent; 5th District — yes; 6th District — yes; 7th District — yes. Based on those responses the motion was approved.

The board asked staff to proceed with the reallocation and to follow typical reporting and procurement processes for Chromebooks and instructional equipment. The transcript contains no details on precise vendor contracts or exact Chromebook quantities; those procurement details were not specified.

The meeting closed with routine approvals of other items and an announcement of the recent death of district employee Michelle Robertson.