Strategic Plan Update
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education heard an update on the district’s 2026-28 Strategic Plan during their meeting on Tuesday night.
The plan is meant to guide policy making decisions for the district over the next two years with a focus on improving student success metrics, operational efficiency, and engagement with families and the broader community. The district is currently soliciting feedback from stakeholders about specific goals to include in the plan, with hopes of presenting a draft plan to the board this spring. Community members can weigh in on the plan in person during the community input session next Tuesday, February 17. RSVP here.
The board members emphasized the importance of clear communication between staff and the board about how the plan is being developed and implemented, as well as making sure that the goals included in the plan are specific, measurable, and realistic.
“In our past strategic plan, our goals were extremely lofty,” said Board Member Trevonia Brown-Gaither. “I want to make sure that when we do this, and when we’re talking to stakeholders, that our goals are achievable.”
RFQ for Central Office Reorganization
The board also heard details about a request for qualifications for companies to perform for an organizational audit of the central office.
Based on feedback from the Board of Education and recommendations from the Mauldin & Jenkins audit, along with input from district leadership, the district is seeking an evaluation of operational efficiency at the central office. This audit could be funded by private donations, as well as potential support from the State Board of Education and NCDPI.
While the board members were amenable to the audit, they asked that the request for qualifications be edited to express clearer expectations and metrics for success to avoid any disappointments in the final product.
“We’re trying to get to a point where this audit can help us with central office,” said Board Member Richard Watts. “The more specific we are in our requests, the better we can align with finding a company or a resource that can help us move forward.”
Budget Update
The board continues to hear regular updates on budget matters. Highlights from Tuesday’s meetings included:
Steady repayment of the district’s debts, which are down from $43.7 million outstanding a year ago to $6.4 million now.
Maintenance of 305 frozen positions and 184 reverted positions, which should ensure a balanced budget and prevent further staffing reductions in Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Ongoing interviews for financial leadership roles, including CFO, payroll director, and executive director of finance.
Digital platform conversion to Tyler ERP for payroll and Red Rover for time and attendance.
Assembly of an audit advisory committee from local applicants with financial experience, who will be selected later this month and could begin meeting in March.
Continued cooperation with the State Auditor and Mauldin & Jenkins to reinforce the district’s financial control protocols.
Attendance Boundary Reviews
During their Policy Committee Meeting, the board discussed a proposed administrative rule that would guarantee residential boundaries are reevaluated at least once every five years. The proposal arose during WS/FCS’ recent redistricting efforts as a way to keep pace with changing demographics, account for school openings and consolidations, and improvement of transportation. New boundary maps would go through a comprehensive public input process before being approved by the board.
Capital Project Outlay
During their Buildings & Grounds Committee Meeting, the board reviewed its six-year report to the county detailing upcoming capital outlay projects. WS/FCS has identified $453 million worth of infrastructure needs to be addressed over the next 10 years that could be added to the report, including building new schools, making repairs to cracking walls, replacing outdated appliances, and ensuring ADA compliance.
This reporting method is used by several other county agencies to record capital needs. It is not a request for funds, a commitment to projects, or an allocation of funds to specific projects.
The Board of Education will meet again on Tuesday, February 24.