Some parents are expressing outrage over a decision by Wayne County Public Schools to no longer excuse absences for students who don't have a bus to take them to school. But district leaders said the change was necessary.
BY KEN FINE / p.14
SEPTEMBER 21, 202 5 Volume 3, Issue 6 NEWOLDNORTH.COM
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CONTENTS
4 GPD ranks are thinning again Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West said if he keeps losing officers, he will have to start making tough decisions.
9 Mount Olive residents sound off
The house was packed for the Mount Olive Town Board's Sept. 8 meeting and several residents warned those in the room about the fact that the upcoming election could have dire consequences.
10 Our Take
In our view, Goldsboro cannot afford to lose members of the Police Department, so it is time for the GPD's chief, city leaders, and members of the City Council to figure out a way to retain — and recruit.
12 Our Take
Wayne County Public Schools leaders and members of the Board of Education have done everything they can to mitigate a national bus driver shortage. Now, it's up to families — and the community — to ensure every child is getting to school.
14 Cover story
Hundreds of local residents are sounding off on social media about the fact that Wayne County Public Schools is no longer excusing students who do not have a bus to bring them to school.
18 Spectator
The Charles B. Aycock soccer team is off to a white hot start to the season.
20 Public Notices
COVER DESIGN BY SHAN
NEWS + VIEWS
GPD ranks are thinning — again
Other law enforcement agencies have become more aggressive as they look to poach members of the Goldsboro Police Department. Their tactics are working.
BY KEN FINE
Ayear ago, members of the Goldsboro City Council were celebrating the fact that by increasing salaries for members of the Goldsboro Police Department, the board had played a direct role in resolving the GPD’s staffing crisis — and that crime numbers, particularly those involving gun-related violent crime, were down significantly.
Councilman Chris Boyette, a former lawman, went so far as to characterize his mood as “delighted” — and predicted a near future in the city in which would-be criminals would think twice before acting on their impulses.
“Now that we’re getting staffed back up, crime will not go unchecked,” he said last September. “And as a former law enforcement officer, one of the most important things to the uniformed officers on the street is to feel that their department and their chief and their elected leaders have their back. Now they know it, and I’m excited to see them get to do their jobs with adequate staff in the coming months.”
The councilman had reason to feel that way.
He had, after all, spearheaded an effort to increase taxes to fund salary increases for public safety employees — a move that resulted in a “booming” increase in applications “flooding into” the GPD for vacant positions.
But Tuesday, GPD Chief Mike West acknowledged that those
staffing numbers are now “moving in the wrong direction” — and that if he loses any more of the men and women under his command, he “could be forced to temporarily reassign officers” from the specialty units that have been responsible for suppressing gun and gang activity in recent months.
To make matters worse, other departments are “getting more aggressive” as they attempt to poach officers from the GPD, with one, the Winston Salem Police Department, even buying billboard advertising space on U.S. 70 East and Wayne Memorial Drive.
“Some are offering a take-home car, and others are offering a signing bonus. Well, I can’t always do that, and those things matter,” West told Wayne Week. “But a part of me knew that when we got the increase, other departments would keep raising the bar. Unfortunately, that’s the game.”
Back in December, the chief told the paper that a lack of take-home vehicles for officers who rated them was “a big concern.”
“As we bring these new officers online, one of our big recruiting pitches was that we have county-wide takehome. Well, unfortunately, I’m 15 vehicles short. So, once we get these people on the street in March, I’m going to have to double up some officers to share vehicles and that’s going to be a morale hit,” West said then. “So, vehicles are my top priority.” n
Continued on page 6
PHOTO BY KEN FINE
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Keen Plumbing Co.
Staffing woes inside the GPD has been a well-documented concern since Summer 2023, when West told members of the City Council that he was unable to compete, salary-wise, with neighboring departments, including the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office — that if numbers did not improve, he would be forced to dismantle several of the specialized units that stop gun violence before it happens through community policing.
And after members of the board — the majority of them are no longer serving — balked at what he pitched as the necessary increase, he was proven right.
The number of homicides spiked.
Reports of shots fired did, too.
And ShotSpotter data obtained by Wayne Week told a story of thousands of bullets being discharged inside the city limits.
Boyette, and several other hopefuls who were running for seats on the council in late 2023, identified the safety of local residents as Priority No. 1.
But after they won their respective elections, they understood that in order to restore order in a community that was experiencing a dramatic uptick in gun violence — and homelessness, addiction, and prostitution crises to boot — they would have to find a way to lure prospective lawmen to their depleted police department.
And since the previous council and former City Manager Tim Salmon rejected West’s recommended salary package in late 2023, voting to realize the pay plan he had championed, known as “Plan A,” seemed like a logical solution for the newly seated members of the board.
Getting there, however, took a near tragedy.
Sure, the community started taking notice in Spring 2023 after a 15-year-old girl was shot to death at a Spring Break pool party.
But the “powder keg moment” did not happen until January 2024, when a group of teenagers engaged in a firefight, in broad daylight, inside Berkeley Mall.
At the time, West was honest about what he characterized as a “mentality shift” among wouldbe criminals — telling Wayne Week that because they could see less of a police presence inside the city limits, they were growing more brazen.
And he explained, to the current council, that unless the GPD could compete with neighboring departments, applications from strong candidates would simply not come in.
So, in February, the board officially adopted “Plan A” — the raise recommended by West to alleviate the problem of having fewer than 80 officers and no fully-staffed gang prevention unit, selective housing unit, or vice squad.
It worked.
A year ago today, the GPD was only 24 officers short of a full staff — a number that in-
cluded 15 frozen positions.
And younger want-to-be officers were sending applications to West and enrolling in Basic Law Enforcement Training courses.
So, West was not surprised when, two months later, he reported a “pretty wellstaffed” department.
“I’m very optimistic. Right now, we’re at 20 vacancies, whereas six months ago, we were at 32 or 34. So, we’re staffed at 86 sworn positions — 20 vacancies and 15 of those are frozen,” he said in December. “I think what the council did for us and what the public did for us — the taxpayers — has helped us get very competitive with other agencies. Our applicant pool has increased, and they are quality applicants. So, all that is positive. We’ve just got to stay focused.”
Fast-forward to today.
The GPD has 25 vacancies — five more than it did nine months ago.
The Operations Bureau, which includes the Patrol Division, is 19 officers short.
The Support Services Bureau, which includes the Housing, Specialized Enforcement, and Gang Suppression units, is down six.
And West was frank when asked what the repercussions might be should one or two more officers decide to quit, retire, or transfer to another law enforcement agency.
For starters, having fewer officers means a higher “burnout rate.”
“Maintaining patrol coverage and emergency response remains our highest priority, and service delivery to the community has not been compromised. In fact, crime continues to trend downward, even with fewer officers,” West said. “But that success comes at a cost. Officers are covering more ground and working harder, which has led to burnout and affects morale over time.”
And because patrol is the GPD’s top priority, if the chief has to, he will be forced to sacrifice numbers in the specialized units.
“At this point we have not shut down any specialized units, but if staffing numbers were to decline further, we could be forced to temporarily reassign officers from those units back to patrol to maintain citywide coverage,” he said.
Still, he remains hopeful — particularly because he and his team feel “incredible support” from members of the current City Council and know that the city’s elected officials, with the public’s support, have fought for the GPD once before.
“I believe we can figure this out,” West said. “This community and our council have rallied behind us before because they know what kind of a city we can have if our department is staffed up and doing what we do best. So, I’m not ready to give up. We’re going to keep moving forward. It’s what we do.” n
Mount Olive residents sound off about airport, “missing” millions
Some want to know where tens of millions in grant money has gone — and why it didn’t fix the issues that led to Mount Olive being placed under a moratorium. Others are not shocked about state investigators’ findings at the town airport.
BY KEN FINE
The Mount Olive Town Board approved signing a contract with CPA Beverly Stroud to “reconcile” the government’s bank statements from the summer of 2024 to current at its Sept. 8 meeting, but despite the board’s attempt to show it was working to get Town Hall back on track in the wake of a damning report issued last month by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, several residents took aim at how the elected body has been conducting its business.
There was Cindy Bell, who said she is not surprised that problems were found at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport because, in her view, residents who voiced concern about the airport during the process were ignored.
“In May and June of 2024, more than a year ago, during the budget process, it was pointed out to this board — not a previous board — that there were inconsistencies in the airport budget. The inconsistencies that were pointed out were that the town was paying utilities, that we were not generating revenue, and that the fuel costs made no profit for this town,” she said. “Everyone sitting up here was told that. They were also asked not to approve the airport budget until they understood the expenditures and what was happening there. The citizens asked them not to do it. But guess what? They turned a blind eye to it. They allowed it. It was approved.”
To her point, one of the key findings reported by the NCOSA involved the airport.
State investigators allege that during their probe into the facility, they discovered mismanagement of town records, inadequate accounting practices, improperly authorized purchases and contracts that were not being followed.
“We found that Town records were unverifiable; contract and accounting practices for Wi-Fi, telephone, and fuel were inadequate; fuel purchases were improperly authorized by someone outside the Town; and both the Town and Airport Operator failed to follow their Contract,” the report read. “All of this puts the Town at a greater risk of fraud and/or embezzlement and leads to difficulty tracking financial activity.”
And they also found that the airport operator was pulling money from a town bank account — and that the “white card purchase” practice reported in the Aug. 24 edition of Wayne Week authorized some users to get fuel on credit.
Both, according to the NCOSA, are in direct violation of the contract that is in place.
“According to the Airport Operator, he orders the fuel and the Town’s Airport fuel bank account is debited for the purchase (OSA confirmed that fuel purchases were debited from a Town bank account). As per
the Contract, however, it is the responsibility of the Airport Operator — not the Town — to purchase the fuel,” the report reads. “It is unclear why and how a Town bank account is being debited for fuel purchases related to a contract that the Town is not party to. … Regarding fuel purchases by customers, the Airport Operator told OSA he only accepts credit cards. If customers do not pay via credit card, they can still obtain fuel without making a payment that day. Customers are invoiced for payment at a later date. For those customers invoiced, the Airport Operator emails the Town Clerk — not the Finance Director — monthly to inform her whom and how much to invoice. These invoices are not entered into the Town’s accounting system and therefore are not properly accounted for. This puts the Town at risk of losing money due to late or uncollectable payments.”
Bell was not the only resident to sound off on the findings from the report.
Billy Wilkins and Dan McPhail both talked about the moratorium — specifically, the fact that tens of millions of dollars had been awarded to the town since the restriction was levied by the state and the issue has still not been resolved.
“I implore you to look at your next board that you have to vote for and decide. These people are making million-dollar decisions
up here. Millions of dollars,” Wilkins said. “I bet most of us in here don’t write a check for $10,000 in a year. You need people that have that capacity and understanding to do that.”
Every seat on the board — including the mayor’s — will be on the ballot this November, but several incumbents did not file for re-election.
And because the NCOSA focused only on the town’s Water Department and airport, Mayor Jerome Newton has written State Auditor Dave Boliek and formally asked for a forensic audit into all business that has been conducted inside Town Hall.
Meanwhile, Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland is, he told Wayne Week in late August, trying his best to right the ship.
Less than a week after the paper outlined practices at the airport that violated the contract between the airport operator and the town, he said “white card fuel purchases” had “ended” — adding the next step was to ensure the airport operator no longer had the ability to charge “the town fuel account” for purchases.
He also vowed to ask the board to hire Stroud.
Whether her work will be done in addition to — or in lieu of — an extensive audit conducted by Boliek’s team of investigators remains to be seen. n
{ our TAKE }
THEY’RE STEALING OUR COPS
If we have learned anything over the last few years, it is just how important it is to this community to make sure its residents are safe.
And we understand also that getting there requires a strong, stable police force.
To their credit, members of the Goldsboro City Council have made safety — and supporting Goldsboro’s police force — a top priority.
They made a historic decision to raise taxes to provide money to raise the salaries the city is offering to potential police officers so we could not only compete for the best applicants but also retain experienced and qualified staff.
It was important.
It wasn’t easy.
It took a sacrifice.
And yes, they took some licks.
But they — and the mayor — got the job done.
And we have seen the results.
Police Chief Mike West has used the extra support to make the department strong again — revitalizing critical specialized units that target everything from gang and gun violence to keeping drugs out of our community.
And there are more cops around — a presence that means that criminals are thinking twice about running rampant through the city.
There is law and order around here again.
And that is critical to the future of this city, and especially important now that we are not only planning for a bigger and better future for Goldsboro but making sure we are doing what we need to do to ensure the future of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
We need that base to stay growing and strong — and right where it is.
And just like improving our schools is already making a difference in Washington, so, too, has putting our collective feet down about crime.
There is no question that Goldsboro’s streets are safer.
But now there is a new threat.
And just like others that we have faced in the past, solving it will require some creative thinking, some tough decisions about where to put money, and a sharp focus on the big picture.
We have increased the salaries of our officers, and for a while, that was enough.
Applications from quality candidates increased, and fewer experienced officers went looking for new employment.
But the market is competitive, and other communities are having the same problem attracting and keeping officers.
So, they have upped their game — and are trying to poach members of the GPD. You have probably seen the billboards from Winston-Salem on U.S. 70 East and Wayne Memorial Drive.
So, now, what was, just a few months ago, an increasing number of Goldsboro police officers — still not where it absolutely should be but getting progressively better — has taken a turn the other way.
And according to West, he is just about at the point where he has to make a difficult decision.
With not enough officer applicants making the cut, and more experienced officers considering other positions, the chief is close to having to shut down the special units he has just reactivated.
That, by the way, would be a disaster.
We know what happens when word gets around about that.
Think the Berkeley Mall shootout or the broad daylight gunning down of teenagers inside the Ash Street Food Lion and outside the convenience store two blocks from Center Street.
We cannot go back to that place.
We just can’t.
So, you might ask, what are we to do?
It’s true that there is only so much money to go around.
And we can’t keep just adding salary we can’t afford to keep up with the Joneses.
At some point, there will be a limit to what we can give.
There is also the question about what will be enough.
Will the back and forth keep going even if more perks are added to the employment package?
In other words, will what the city can reasonably afford be sufficient?
We think those are reasonable questions to ask.
But here is why we think we need to consider coming up with something more when it comes to our police force.
Let’s start with the obvious.
The events of the last couple of the weeks and the temperature of the world in general suggest that this is not a time to skimp on the safety we offer our community.
There are crazies in this world — and tempers are flaring and confrontations increasing. We need to be vigilant and ready.
And then there is the sharp increase in juvenile crime.
Too many young people seem to have the impression that they can get away with bad behavior because there are not enough of us watching.
They need to know that the GPD is out — in force.
The numbers prove why.
Since we have upped staffing at the GPD and reinstated the special units, there has been a noticeable shift in youth crime — and our streets are safer.
But there is an elephant in the room, the idea no one really wants to talk about because they don’t want to hurt the feelings of past leaders.
The current City Council inherited a problem that was pretty far down the road when its members were asked to find a solution.
Keeping those officers’ compensation packages competitive was not a city priority for decades.
So, we were already playing catch up.
And it’s unfortunate because, as Councilman Chris Boyette has said repeatedly, the only choices are to take a few lumps doing the right thing or continue to kick the can down the road at the city’s detriment.
Well, in our view, there is nothing more important than keeping Goldsboro’s streets safe.
The chaos of shootings, murders, and rampant theft and assault, that just can’t happen anymore.
And if making sure we have the bodies we need behind those badges is what we need to do, we must do it.
Yes, that means looking pretty hard at the budget to see where there might be places where money could be re-prioritized.
And that means hard decisions for every single city department.
We would all like to have unlimited funds — and to say “yes” to every request — but right now, there have to be priorities if we want Goldsboro to continue to reclaim its glory and to keep improving.
So, we have to look at what we need to do to remain competitive.
How do we get there?
That is the only part we aren’t quite sure about yet.
But we do know this.
West is the man to get it done.
We feel he has done a great job in getting us to this point.
He has dedicated himself to not only inspiring his officers to work hard for the citizens of this community but has also created a police force that is responsive and accountable.
And in case you didn’t know, he doesn’t have to be here. He could retire or move on to greener pastures today.
He could have done either years ago.
But he doesn’t — and didn’t — because he loves his city and vowed to leave his depart-
ment in better shape than it was in when he was picked to lead it.
By the way, West is not asking for anything for himself — even though he has certainly earned it.
He just wants to make sure the GPD is positioned to attract new faces and to keep valuable experienced officers.
And those officers are grateful, too, by the way — for the support the community and the city’s leadership have shown them.
In fact, when the announcement about the council approving their salary increase was made last year, we heard from many of them about how touched they were to realize that this community valued them and what they do.
It has inspired them to go above and beyond.
So, no, this is not about greed or taking advantage of a community.
It is about coming up with some extra perks to give the officers we have a reason to stay and to turn down recruitment efforts from other communities.
So, if the council could talk to Chief West and get a measure of what is necessary, we can start to get the framework in place to have the kind of police force we need.
It won’t be easy, but nothing that is important ever is.
The good news?
We trust that this council and this mayor are up to the challenge. n
The lack of bus drivers in Wayne County Public Schools is not a new problem.
There just do not seem to be enough of them to keep all the buses on the road.
And while it might seem like an “us” problem, it really is a challenge school districts all over the country are facing.
In other words, we are not the only ones scrambling to get our children to school.
And despite increasing salaries, noholds-barred recruiting, consolidating routes, and changing school start and release times — and even coming up with a plan to get classified and even some certified employees trained to get their commercial driver’s licenses — the district is still facing the scenario that there will be days when some buses simply cannot and will not be on the road.
Finding a fix
But while it might have been the impetus for the discussion, that is not what is pinging around social media this week.
The controversy revolves around a decision to eliminate excused absences for students who simply cannot get to school — specifically because their bus is not running.
Parents don’t think that it’s fair that students should pay the price because WCPS cannot cover every route.
They say they should be able to count on the bus, especially working parents who cannot risk being late to work when the buses are late or do not arrive at all.
The district says that while it is doing everything it can, there is just no magic wand to ensure that the routes will be covered.
And, officials say, they need parents’ help.
You see, it is not about finding more money or even hiring some high-powered
recruiting firm.
It is about figuring out a way to make sure that every child is at his or her desk every day.
Because, you see, we have learned a lot about education since COVID-19.
And the most important of those lessons is that children need to be in school to get the knowledge they need to succeed.
And WCPS wants to make sure they get there — one way or the other.
So, district officials are removing what they perceive as a crutch that, while useful and explainable during COVID, is now just giving some children and parents an out when the buses aren’t running.
If your bus is not coming, the district says, you have to find your own way to school.
And if you don’t, the absence will be unexcused.
Well, you can imagine how well that went over.
But if we are going to be fair, and solve the problem, there are some important realities we must face.
Wayne County Public Schools has made major strides forward in academic proficiency — including seeing a significant surge in schools that showed tangible improvement. And that happened, in part, because students were at their desks learning.
We cannot afford any setbacks there. None.
We need more good news from our school district if we want Wayne County to be a go-to destination for businesses looking to expand and families looking to relocate. So, yes, being in the classroom as many days as humanly possible, well that is critical to creating the building blocks necessary to
make sure the students can not only excel at the grade they are in, but that they will be prepared for the next step.
And if there is a roadblock to getting students to those classrooms, it is up to us to rally to make it happen.
If the school board and administrators were just sitting around saying, “Oh well. We just don’t have enough bus drivers,” it would be completely unacceptable and our message would be different.
We would be absolutely justified in sending the message that someone, somewhere — specifically on Royall Avenue — needs to get busy.
But that is not the case.
It just isn’t.
WCPS leaders — and members of the Board of Education — seem to have, indeed, pulled out every stop to try to fix the problem.
And while we are not there just yet, we are making progress and there is hope on the horizon.
What we can all agree on?
The importance of getting children to school as a key factor to their future educational success.
But we should also all agree that allowing excused absences to mount up is not sustainable.
Here’s why:
Ask a teacher — we assume most of you know one — what happens when a student is granted an excused absence.
What they will tell you is they are required to give them several extra days to make up missed assignments and tests and project due dates have to be rescheduled.
That throws everyone off.
And no, that student is not going to have that day’s lesson retaught to them.
They are the loser in that scenario.
Isolated incidents — like illness, surgery, family deaths, and appointments — are one thing.
And most teachers move mountains to do everything they can to help students facing those moments.
But several days a week because the bus didn’t pick them up?
That’s a whole different beast.
So, while we are surprised that there is not a statutory guarantee that a district will transport every child to campus every day, we were not shocked to learn that so many parents are really worried about what transporting their own children will do to their ability to get to and from work.
We understand their concern.
This is during business hours, and for many Wayne County parents, dropping everything to go sit in a school pickup line
could be the difference between keeping a job and being unemployed.
But here’s the thing.
We all want what is best for the kids.
So, what if the school parent-teacher organizations and maybe a neighborhood or two got together and created some sort of rideshare?
Having to be available for transportation duties once or twice a week might make it an easier burden to bear.
Consider it the same sort of responsibility as getting students to extracurriculars like sports or cheerleading after school.
It isn’t always easy juggling that either but we always find a way.
The best part of this community, and we say it often, is that people really do rally to help each other.
And Wayne County residents really know how to work around a problem.
So, maybe this is an opportunity to do so — to help each other out and to do our part to make sure our children get the class time they need.
There might even be a non-profit or two — or proud school booster clubs and alumni organizations — that might have some ideas to help out until we get over the hump.
Or maybe one of this county’s wonderful
church communities could step in. How often do they do just that to help when there is a problem to overcome?
It might take a village like that this time. And Wayne County is one village that certainly knows how to get organized and to be there for one another.
But even as we say that, we understand that this no small ask.
It will take a little bit of sacrifice and a lot of planning.
And we know something else, too. This is not a pass for the school district to set finding a solution to the bus driver crisis aside.
The work and creativity that has been used to this point must continue as school leaders strive to find a solution.
We think Assistant Superintendent Dr. Gary Hales is the man to get that job done.
This is a short-term fix with an eye to reinforcing a very important message.
Education is a high priority in this county. This community is proud of what its students and teachers have achieved — and we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that success continues, up to and including making sure our young people are in their seats at school every day.
Sure sounds worth it, doesn’t it? n
WHO ’ S DRIVING THE BUS?
Some parents are expressing outrage over a decision by Wayne County Public Schools to no longer excuse absences for students who don't have a bus to take them to school. But district leaders said the change was necessary.
BY KEN FINE
It is a routine that has, over the last several years, become all too familiar for some parents of students who attend Wayne County Public Schools.
First, the phone rings early in the morning.
Then, a text message notification pops up on their device.
The bus that is supposed to take their child to school is not going to be running that day.
Other arrangements need to be made — and quickly. A scramble ensues.
Some are unable to find an alternative on such short notice, so their child misses school.
But while the issue — the result of a bus driver shortage that has impacted districts across the state and nation — has resulted in parents sounding off everywhere from school campuses and WCPS’ Central Office to social media platforms, the depleted driving team is not what has, in recent days, drawn their ire.
In recent days, what has escalated their contempt is that students who fail to attend school because the bus never picked them up are no longer receiving “excused” absences, a designation that affords them extra time to complete assignments and other concessions.
WCPS officials, though, contend that the district has gone to great lengths to do as much as possible to reduce the number of routes that are impacted by the driver shortage.
And they also argue that when a child misses school, real damage is done.
So, the policy change was, in WCPS’ official view, a way to combat chronic absenteeism — and continue to improve proficiency on campuses across the county.
“We have spent hours and hours on transportation because it is a priority, but this is not a Wayne County issue. It’s happening everywhere,” WCPS Spokesman Ken Derksen told Wayne Week. “And at some point, you and I both know that real learning only happens when our children are in classrooms.”
According to Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Dr. Gary Hales, WCPS is currently only 14 drivers short, a number that “has allowed us to better meet the transportation needs of our families.”
And while it remains true that some routes are still cancelled, it is also true that Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard and members of the Wayne County Board of Education have gone to great lengths to ensure no child is left behind.
In 2024, the board voted to significant-
ly increase salaries for bus drivers. (Today, the pay range is $17.32 to $22.33 based on years of service and drivers now receive step salary increase based on longevity.)
WCPS also reimburses new employees for the cost associated with obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License after completing 120 days of employment as a school bus driver.
But the big shift came in January when the board approved a new policy that requires instructional assistants, school nutrition workers, and custodians to “obtain and hold” a CDL and be willing to serve as a bus driver as a condition of their employment.
At the time, Derksen said the measure was “intended to be another tool that the school district can use to help address the bus driver vacancy challenges being experienced by some schools” — and emphasized that it would not impact employees of the district who were hired before the policy was adopted.
The policy states that “to ensure that the school system maintains a sufficient number of qualified school bus drivers and substitute school bus drivers to efficiently and effectively operate the school transportation system, all instructional assistants, school nutrition program workers, and custodians first hired or re-employed following a break in continuous service after January 1, 2025 (as set forth in Policy 7400), must obtain or
already hold a North Carolina Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with P&S Endorsements (School Bus Certification) and be willing to drive a school bus within 180 days of their start date. Bus driving duty shall be considered an essential function for each of these positions.”
The board did not stop there.
Whichard and his team were also authorized to adjust start and release times at schools across the district in an attempt to free up bus drivers who could then double-up on routes.
And additional funding was approved, “for a number of certified teachers to drive a school bus.”
Despite the district’s attempt to mitigate the problem, hundreds of people have taken to social media since the school year began to air their disdain for the removal of “excused absence” status for children who did not have a WCPS-provided ride.
Some have even argued that it is “illegal.”
But North Carolina General Statute is clear.
No district is required to provide transportation to all students.
And the State Board of Education has even less liability.
Continued on page 16
We cannot educate children that aren't here.
- Chris West
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Continued from page 15
NCGS § 115C-240 states that, “The State Board of Education shall be under no duty to supply transportation to any pupil or employee enrolled or employed in any school. Neither the State nor the State Board of Education shall in any manner be liable for the failure or refusal of any local board of education to furnish transportation, by school bus or otherwise, to any pupil or employee of any school.”
In fact, the only justification for granting excused absences comes from NCGS § 115C378, which gives principals and the superintendent the right “to excuse a child temporarily from attendance on account of sickness or other unavoidable cause that does not constitute unlawful absence as defined by the State Board of Education.”
But the right to do so is still not a mandate.
And Derksen said excusing absences due to the absence of a bus is not in the spirit of the law — which applies only, he said to students who are absent due to “illness or injury, medical or dental appointment, death in the immediate family, quarantine, court or administrative proceedings, religious observance, participation in an education opportunity, and pregnancy.”
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, when WCPS was experiencing a high volume of bus driver vacancies, schools began to experience for the first time situations where students simply could not get to school. It was determined at that time by the superintendent that a local absence code could be used to count these types of absences ‘excused’ with documentation from the family that the child could not get to school due a bus not running,” he said. “Keeping in mind that this local absence code was not used in this same way prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the continued use of the code has been reviewed annually by each superintendent/interim superintendent and staff since to determine whether the practice is still warranted or if, like other pandemic-related practices, it is time to end. This school year is the first since the 2019-20 school year that this practice has not occurred.”
Whichard agreed — adding that there is another lesson to be learned from what unfolded during the pandemic.
“We recognize the frustrations many families have experienced in recent years due to bus transportation and driver vacancies. Having said this, the one key takeaway from the COVID-19 pandemic is that if children are not at school, learning cannot take place and children will not be as successful academically,” he said. “As we looked at whether or not this pandemic practice should continue, we considered all of the efforts that have been put in place to address transportation challeng-
es. We also considered the fact that the vast majority of our families have and continue to get their child to school even when a bus issue arises. Ultimately, in ending this carry-over pandemic practice, we considered academics and chronic absenteeism, and the efforts under way by all of our schools to increase both academic performance and student attendance. Ultimately, it was determined that the continued use of this local absence code was contrary to both of these efforts.”
The superintendent did not stop there.
He also noted that staff has experienced students and families taking advantage of the excused absence policy — which has exacerbated the district’s chronic absenteeism problem.
“Unfortunately, our schools have seen this code taken advantage of in some instances where a family might use it like a blanket ‘Get of School Card’ and make absolutely no effort to get their child to school because the child could be counted excused,” Whichard said. “We have also seen the extra work placed on teachers and staff across the district who for the past five years have had to go above and beyond to help those students who regularly do not come to school be successful, complete missed work, and be engaged in learning and what is happening in the classroom on the days they are at school.”
And Chris West, the Board of Education’s longest-tenured member said ending the policy would address that — and remind parents and families that they have “stake in the game.”
“I see both sides, but it’s time to move forward,” he told Wayne Week Wednesday. “I mean, look at what we’ve done. We’ve kind of pulled out all the stops. We’ve done everything within our power to attract bus drivers and to change policy and everything else to get as many kids transportation as possible. Now, everybody else needs to step up, too. We cannot educate children that aren’t there.”
Hales and West believe that in the coming weeks, a lack of bus drivers could be a thing of the past.
In fact, 20 would-be drivers are currently in “the pipeline,” and should they meet the necessary requirements and join WCPS, the district would have six more drivers than needed for a “full” crew.
But even if that happens, Hales said he will continue to look for ways to ensure a shortage never happens again.
“Ultimately, it is my goal to have more drivers than assigned routes, which will allow us to begin looking at where we can add routes to help reduce ride times for students,” he said. n
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PHOTOS BY KEN FINE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH LEE
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Christopher Joseph Lee, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before November 30, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 22nd day of August, 2025.
Matthew Joseph Lee, Administratorof the Estate of Christopher Joseph Lee c/o L. E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, L.L.P. P. O. Box 1616, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
August 31, 2025, September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, and September 21, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Julia Cousins Frederick, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before December 8, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 7th day of September, 2025. Adrian S. Cousins, Administratorof the Estate of Julia Cousins Frederick 105 Bernier Court Princeton, NC 27569
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth Eugene Brown, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before November 30, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 31st day of August, 2025.
Oramanee K. Edwards, Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth Eugene Brown 164 Brook Meadow Lane LaGrange, NC 28551
August 31, 2025, September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, and September 21, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Julia Cousins Frederick, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before December 8, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 7th day of September, 2025.
Adrian S. Cousins, Administrator of the Estate of J ulia Cousins Frederick 105 Bernier Court Princeton, NC 27569
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICES
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JOHN MERRITT LEAR PEACOCK
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against John Merritt Lear Peacock, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 7th day of September, 2025.
Robin Peacock Dawson, Executor of the Estate of John Merritt Lear Peacock
c/o Mark J. Hale, Jr. Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C.
Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916
Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, a nd September 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JOYCE SMITH COATES
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Joyce Smith Coats, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 7th day of September, 2025.
Douglas Allen Coates and Lori Coates Thomas, Co-Executors of the Estate of Joyce Smith Coates
c/o Mark J. Hale, Jr.
Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C.
Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916
Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916
(919) 735-7275
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JOSEPH IRVIN POWELL
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Joseph Irvin Powell, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 7th day of September, 2025.
Willie Ray Powell, Administrator of the Estate of Joseph Irvin Powell c/o Mark J. Hale, Jr. Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C.
Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916
Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF MARY ALICE WILSON
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Mary Alice Wilson, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 7th day of September, 2025.
LuAnn Smith Burton, Executor of the Estate of Mary Alice Wilson c/o Mark J. Hale, Jr. Baddour,Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C. Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916
Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
GENERAL NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE SALE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 24CVD001681-950
WAYNE COUNTY, Plaintiff vs. REGINA CLEVENGER, Defendant
Under and by virtue of an Order of the Clerk of Superior Court of Wayne County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled “WAYNE COUNTY vs. REGINA CLEVENGER, the undersigned Commissioner will on the 24th day of September, 2025, offer for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction, at the courthouse door in Wayne County, North Carolina, in Goldsboro at 10:00 a.m. the following described real property, lying and being in State and County aforesaid and more particularly described as follows:
254 UNION DROVE CHURCH ROAD, FREMONT (PIN: 2695281434)
BEGINNING at the centerline intersect ion of N.C. Secondary Road No. 1341 and the run of Little Swamp, said point of beginning being located 1570.30 feet measured in a southerly direction along the center of N.C. Secondary Road No. 1341 from a nail set in the centerline intersection of N.C. Secondary Road No. l34l and N.C. Highway No. 222, and runs thence with the center of N.C. Secondary Road No. 1341 S. 17-05 w. 546.63 feet to the centerline intersection of said road and a ditch, if extended, thence to and with the center of said ditch N. 43-19 W. 161.58 feet and N. 48-48 W. 122. 73 feet to an iron stake set in the center of said ditch, thence leaving said ditch N. 36-15 E. 328. 71 feet to an iron stake set on the southern bank of the run of Little Swamp, thence continuing N. 36-15 E. 10.00 feet to the center of the run of Little Swamp, thence up the run of Little Swamp S. 77-29 E. 3.57 feet and N. 72-05 E. 168.15 feet to the point of BEGINNING, containing 1.95 acres, more or
less, including the road right-ofway. And being part of the property conveyed to Junius A. Evans and Floyd Anthony Evans and Nancy F. Evans by deed dated December 16, 1982 and recorded in Book 1040, Page 267 of the Wayne County Registry.
The sale will be made subject to all outstanding city and county taxes and all local improvements assessments against the above-described property not included in the judgment in the above-entitled cause. A deposit of 5 percent (5%) of the successful bid will be required or $750.00, whichever is greater, in the form of cash, certified check or money order.
This the 28th day of August, 2025.
Andrew J. Neal County Attorney Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1713
Published September 14, 2025, and September 21, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF ALLEN NELSON CUNNINGHAM
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Allen Nelson Cunningham, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before November 30, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 21st day of August, 2025.
Joyce Anderson Cunningham, Administrator of the Estate of Allen Nelson Cunningham c/o L. E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, L.L.P. P. O. Box 1616, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
August 31, 2025, September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, and September 21, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Brian Lee Hitch, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 14th day of September, 2025.
Brianna Marie Hitch Administrator of the Estate of Brian Lee Hitch 1001 Broadban Drive Apt. 329 Leland, NC 28451
Published September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, and October 5, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Jamie Royall, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 21st day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 21st day of September, 2025.
Khary Royal Administrator of the Estate of Jamie Royall 226 Jeff Outlaw Road Mount Olive, NC 28365
Published September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, and October 12, 2025
WAYNE COUNTY CITIZENS — PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, October 7, 2025 to consider a proposed amendment to the Wayne County Zoning Map. The hearing will be held at 9:30 am in the Wayne County Commissioners Meeting Room, Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 East Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC. The item to be discussed:
Z-25-01 – Amend the Wayne County Zoning Map by rezoning 10.62 acres from Community Shopping (CS) to RA-20. The property is located in Brogden Township along the west side of US Hwy 117 at Swinson Drive and is listed in the Wayne County Tax Office as Parcel Number 2585109656, 2585008517, 2585119046, 2585210132, 2585211137, and 2585212241.
The public is invited to attend and speak at this hearing and/ or submit any comments. Written comments before the meeting may be submitted to the Wayne County Planning Department, PO Box 227, Goldsboro, NC 27533 or berry.gray@waynegov.com. Questions may be directed to the Planning Department by calling 919-731-1650.
Carol Bowden Clerk to the Board
Published September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
WAYNE COUNTY CITIZENS — PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, October 7, 2025 to consider a proposed amendment to Article VI of the Wayne County Code of Ordinances. The hearing will be held at 9:30 am in the Wayne County Commissioners Meeting Room, Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 East Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC. The item to be discussed:
A-25-02 – Amend Article VI of the Wayne County Code of Ordinances to apply the existing Electronic Gaming Operations Ordinance to tobacco and hemp retail operations and to remove the allowance of ac-
cessory gaming operations. The public is invited to attend and speak at this hearing and/or submit any comments. Written comments before the meeting may be submitted to the Wayne County Planning Department, PO Box 227, Goldsboro, NC 27533 or berry.gray@waynegov. com. A full copy of the amendment may be obtained from the Planning Department by calling 919-731-1650.
Carol Bowden Clerk to the Board
Published September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Goldsboro will conduct public hearings during the course of their open meeting which starts at 5:30 P.M. on Monday, October 6, 2025, in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 214 North Center Street to consider the following request.
New Street Naming: A new road was constructed by NCDOT to serve properties after a road realignment relocated Central Heights Road to align with Royall Avenue. This newly constructed road requires a name and addresses for postal delivery and emergency services. The section of road runs from the intersection at Berkeley Boulevard South-Eastward, approximately 1,581 linear feet to its terminus.
All interested persons are encouraged to attend. To accommodate disabilities and to comply with ADA regulations, please contact City Hall if further assistance is needed. All inquiries regarding this matter may be directed to the City of Goldsboro Planning Department at (919) 580-4313 or online at www.goldsboronc.gov.
Mark E. Helmer, AICP, CFM Planning Services Manager
Published September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel Tyner, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before December 21, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 21st day of September, 2025.
Ann H. Tyner, Administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel Tyner 2307 Labrador Court Greensboro, NC 27406
Published September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, and October 12, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF DALE O’BRIEN BIZZELL
Having qualified as Executors of the Estate of Dale O’Brien Bizzell, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before December 21, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 21st day of September, 2025.
Danya Bizzell and Dwight Bizzell Co-Executors of the Estate of Dale O’Brien Bizzell 2221 Rainy Lake Street Wake Forest, NC 27587
Published September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, and October 12, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE
SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY
An offer of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) has been submitted for the purchase of certain property owned by the County of Wayne and the City of Goldsboro located at 305 N. Vance Street, Fremont (PIN: 3605651227) more particularly described as follows:
BEGINNING at a point at the Western edge of Vance Street, and in the center of the run of Aycock Branch, at the intersection of said Branch by said street, it runs in a Southerly Direction with Vance Street 98 feet to a stake; thence Westerly in a line parallel with North Street, 82 feet to the center of a ditch; thence Northerly with the center of said ditch to a point in the center of the run of Aycock Branch; thence Easterly with the center of said Branch to the Point of Beginning. And being the same property conveyed by deed recorded in Book 714, at Page 411; being also the same property conveyed to Stephen Edgar Ferrell and wife, Frances G. Ferrell by deed dated September 9, 1971 which will be found duly recorded in the Wayne County registry, in Book 794, at Page 54. And being the same property conveyed to Ernest W. Hamilton and wife, Mary S. Hamilton by deed recorded in Book 1342, Page 657 of the Wayne County Registry.
Persons wishing to upset the offer that has been received shall submit a sealed bid with their offer and the required deposit to the office of the Wayne County Manager, 224 E. Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530 by 5:00 P.M. on October 1, 2025. At that time the Clerk to the Board shall open the bids, if any, and the highest qualifying bid will become the new offer. If there is more than one bid in the highest amount, the first such bid received will become the new offer.
A qualifying higher bid is one that raises the existing offer at least 10% of the first $1,000 and 5% of the remainder. A qualifying bid must raise the existing offer to an amount not less than $5,300. A qualifying higher bid must be accompanied by a deposit in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid; the deposit may be
made in cash, cashier’s check, or certified check. The County will return the deposit on any bid not accepted, and will return the deposit on an offer subject to upset if a qualifying higher bid is received. If no other bids are made the original offer to purchase will be accepted.
Further information may be obtained at the Wayne County Manager’s Office, 224 E. Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530 or by telephone at (919) 705-1971 during normal business hours.
Andrew J. Neal Wayne County Staff Attorney PO Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1971
