• Briefing - December 16, 2015 
     
    The board came to a consensus Dec. 16 to target $300 million in needs for its list of projects. This was based on what the board felt was fair to ask the county for, as well as about how many projects the district could manage at one time.

    The board decided to keep Winston-Salem Preparatory at its current location based on the earlier commitment it made that it would not move the high school program unless it found a better situation for it. The board also discussed the possibility of leaving Hanes Magnet School at its current location in the former Hill building.

    The board then worked through its projects to get it closer to the $300-million target. This is not a final list; the board directed staff to prepare an updated list and maps with the different projects so it could continue discussing the projects. The board still plans to take a list to the public in eight forums this spring before finalizing a request that it will take to Forsyth County Commissioners in May.

    Included in the current list, totaling about $296M:
    • A replacement school for Konnoak Elementary on its current campus
    • $29.4M in maintenance and capital improvements across the district
    • A replacement school for Lowrance Middle at Paisley IB Magnet
    • A replacement school for Paisley IB Magnet on its current campus
    • A replacement school for Brunson, with the location yet to be determined
    • A new Pre-K Center, with the location yet to be determined 
    • Renovations and additions at Easton, Griffith and Ward elementary schools
    • Renovations for Philo-Hill Magnet Academy at its current campus
    • Renovations for John F. Kennedy High School at its current campus
    • Traffic improvements at Southeast Middle, Wiley Magnet Middle and Reynolds High, Meadowlark Elementary and Middle, and Parkland High
    • New gym and additional classrooms at Wiley Magnet Middle on its current campus
    • Renovations at East Forsyth High on its current campus
    • A new middle school at Smith Farm Elementary 
    • A new middle school on Robinhood Road 
    • Land for a future eastern elementary school
    • Money for either updated media centers or a STEM lab at every school (The board does not have a consensus on which option yet.)
    Two projects that the board is still also considering are renovations at North Forsyth High and a replacement school for Ashley Academy for Cultural and Global Studies. The board also hopes to fund safety improvements for stadiums at Mount Tabor and Glenn and other district safety projects outside a bond referendum.