To provide up-to-date and transparent information about the district’s financial condition, this is the November 14 Community Budget Update.
All in For Our Schools Update
The All in For Our Schools campaign has raised $5.8 million from 330 donors for the district, organizers announced Monday at the Board of Education meeting.
On Monday, the board accepted the first $663,500 installment of funds from the WS/FCS Student Success Fund, overseen by the Winston-Salem Foundation. The funds will be used for custodial supplies, Pre-K snacks, job training and classroom materials for students served through the Exceptional Children Department, music programs, and student activity transportation costs.
The Education Foundation will deliver checks from its Classroom Supplies Fund directly to all schools after Thanksgiving.
Of the funds raised, $4 million will go toward paying the district’s debt. Those funds and additional dollars raised to pay debt by December 31 will be matched in debt forgiveness from the Forsyth County Commissioners.
“Every donation made by year-end will have a major impact on the district, our schools and our students,” said Marni Eisner, executive director of the Education Foundation.
Learn more about the campaign at allinforourschools.org.
The district has sent a letter to Forsyth County stating the board’s intent to apply private funds raised for debt relief toward the district’s debt to ESS, a substitute management contractor.
Budget Update
Interim Superintendent Catty Q. Moore – on her last full board meeting of her six-month tenure – provided a wrap-up of the progress the district has made on reducing its budget deficit and balancing the budget.
After considering support from community and cost-saving efforts, the current estimate of the Fiscal Year 24-25 debt is $13.4 million. That includes $1 million owed to the county and $5.5 million to ESS. The remaining balance reflects the district’s negative fund balance, which doesn’t require repayment but is managed through careful budgeting and spending.
To avoid a deficit this year, the district made more than $50 million in reductions, largely to personnel. As of October 30, WS/FCS had 585 fewer employees than October 2024. The district plans to spend 74 percent of its budget on personnel this year, down from about 85 percent last year.
Audit Committee Created
At its meeting Monday, the school board created an Audit Advisory Committee. The seven-member body will have three members appointed by the Forsyth County Commissioners and four appointed by the school board.
Fiscal Year 26-27 Planning
District leaders kicked off the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget planning process Monday. Interim Superintendent Catty Q. Moore lead a budget exercise at the monthly principals meeting.
Moore asked principals to answer a wide range of questions about school needs for administrative, student services, instructional and academic support. She also asked them about areas for operational efficiencies, including in current Central Office structures and how technology or staffing changes could reduce administrative burdens.
Moore also told principals she has taken the idea of furloughs for principals off the table.
Internal Controls
Moore met with representatives of Mauldin & Jenkins to begin work on a review of the district’s financial internal controls.
The firm will work with the Finance Department and other staff to review processes and policies, including changes that have been implemented in the last six months. The firm has already provided an initial list of documents the district should produce.
The review will be completed by the end of December. A public report will be provided in the new year.