Cook Literacy Model School May Close
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education held a public hearing about the potential closure of Cook Literacy Model School during its meeting on Tuesday night.
During the Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting earlier that afternoon, the board heard explanations from the Operations Department about why the closure was recommended.
Every campus requires daily operating costs and long-term maintenance costs, as well as an allotment of administrative staff that doesn’t fluctuate much with enrollment. If a school is underenrolled, closing the school and sending its students to other nearby schools can save money.
Cook currently hosts 186 students, about one third of its estimated capacity of 500. It’s also 75 years old and due for renovations or replacement. It would cost an estimated $50 million to build a new school. The new Brunson Elementary School is already under construction in the area, and a new Ashley Academy may be built close by in the near future as well. The current Cook building has a property tax value of $2,558,100 and requires an average of $1,203,400 in administrative staff and annual operations expenses.
Operations recommended that the board close Cook in June of 2026, redraw residential boundaries to send students to neighboring schools, provide priority transfers to Cook staff, and determine a new use for the property.
The board will continue to solicit feedback from the public over the next two weeks and will take action regarding a closure during its meeting on October 28.
Foundation Gives District $400k
The Twin City Development Foundation presented the board members with a $400,000 emergency contribution earmarked for debt repayment at the beginning of the meeting. Foundation leaders said assisting the district in its time of financial need is essential to preserving public education for years to come. Foundation Board Chair Robert Clark called on other private foundations in the area to join them in supporting local students.
“This is a moment that calls for leadership and collective action,” Clark said. “For the future of our children and our entire community, we must all lend a hand.”
Superintendent Search Paused
After agreeing to a 15-month contract with Dr. Don Phipps to be the district’s next superintendent, the board has halted its search for a new superintendent with Summit Search Solutions. The district will pay the firm $10,000 for the work it has accomplished so far, and the district will return the remaining $30,000 of the grant that the Winston-Salem Foundation provided to fund the search.
Board Chair Deanna Kaplan praised Summit Search Solutions for their feedback and said it would be helpful in the future as the district searches for a permanent superintendent.
Budget Update
Interim Superintendent Catty Moore provided the board with an update on the district’s budget situation, more information on which will be available in this Friday’s Community Budget Update. Previous Community Budget Updates are available to read here.
The Board of Education will meet again on Tuesday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m.