Residential Boundary Implementation
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education heard an update on the implementation plan for new residential boundaries during its meeting on Tuesday night.
Boundary revisions will place about 11.7% of all student addresses in new zones, and affected families will be notified by October 1, 2026. Those families can opt to stay at their current school by November 1 if they can provide their own transportation. The new maps will be used for the first time in the 2027-28 school year.
The district got a $948,688 Fostering Diverse Schools Grant that had to be used for revising residential boundaries. The current residential zones have been in place for about 30 years, and population shifts have made those zones less efficient and less diverse. The new maps will save an average of 1.19 miles per bus route, reduce feeder splits by 31%, and improve socioeconomic diversity by 5.1%, all without forcing any student to leave their current school.
“This work is necessary maintenance on out-of-date boundaries that will aid in any future changes to the landscape of our district,” said Executive Director of Choice and Magnet Frank Pantano.
More information on the boundary revision project can be found here.
Developmental Day Options
During the Curriculum Committee meeting, the board heard an update on developmental day programming at The Children’s Center and The Special Children’s School.
Starting next school year, NCDPI policy changes will end licensure and funding for students ages 7-12 in developmental day centers like TCC and TSCS. These schools currently have 154 students between them, and it may make sense to transfer those students to campuses that the district owns.
Early feedback from staff members, families, and community partners at these centers has indicated a preference for maintaining a dedicated wing on whatever campus they operate on, creating a “school within a school”. Respondents also said that touring schools, getting to know school leadership, and maintaining high safety and hygiene standards were priorities for them before moving to a new campus.
Policy 6135 outlines criteria for a study to identify suitable campuses, including facility age, condition, operating costs, and student population. Superintendent Don Phipps expects to present findings from that study at the next meeting of the Building and Grounds Committee on Tuesday, May 12. Public comment on the matter would open between May 26 and June 23, and final plans would have to be decided on by June 30.
Budget Matters
During the Finance Committee Meeting, the board reviewed the most recent budget-to-actuals report and approved a budget amendment to account for extra balance on Magnet School Assistance Grant funds. The full budget-to-actuals report can be found here.
For the latest board decisions regarding the 2026-27 budget, check the Community Budget Update page.
The Board of Education will meet again on Tuesday, May 12.
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