2026-27 Salary Schedule Adoption
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education adopted a new salary schedule for the 2026-27 school year during its meeting on Tuesday night.
The state government settled on a budget in July that included $12.5 billion in new funding for K-12 education. Notable among these investments were pay increases for K-12 employees, including an average 8% raise for teachers. The new salary schedule adopted on Tuesday aligns with the new budget.
Under the new salary schedule, starting teacher salaries will rise to $48,000 per year, or $59,000 per year for those with 25+ years of experience. Assistant principals will receive salary increases tied to the teacher salary schedule. Principals, central office staff, non-certified staff, and all other state-funded employees in the district will receive a 3% raise. This adoption will not affect local licensed supplements or Article 46 supplements.
Raises will take effect retroactively to July 1, 2026. For 12-month employees, the retroactive pay will be processed in August, while 10-month employees will see it in their first check of the new school year.
Further action regarding state bonus payments, teacher supplemental funds, and local longevity funds will take place at a later date. The full salary schedule can be viewed here.
2026-28 Strategic Plan
The board also approved a final draft of the district’s next strategic plan.
After several months of drafting and community feedback sessions, district staff presented the board with a plan that identified broad goals for the plan related to student, staff, family, and community engagement. Staff and board members also worked to define concrete metrics to strive towards over the next few years. These metrics cover EOG proficiency, graduation rates, reduced absenteeism, increased volunteering, higher staff retention rates, and much more.
Now that the plan has been adopted, the board will use it as a guide to shape policy through 2028. By keeping these goals in mind, district leaders hope to translate good intentions into tangible actions that prove the district’s commitment to its people.
“Each pillar reflects how we will show up for our students, support our staff, partner with families and the broader community, and build the systems that sustain it all,” reads the strategic plan’s introduction. “It is through intentional, transparent, and accountable actions that we will rebuild trust, restabilize, and create the conditions for a stronger, more sustainable future.”
The full strategic plan can be viewed here.
Safe & Civil Schools
The board also approved a contract with Safe & Civil Schools to provide the district with disciplinary practice support.
WS/FCS is seeking ways to address disproportionately high rates of suspension for Black students, particularly those with disabilities. Safe & Civil Schools offers professional development for administrators on how to reduce disparities and keep students in the classroom for more total days.
The district is required to allocate 15% of its FY26 IDEA Part B federal funds due to state disproportionality findings. The district’s total funding for CCEIS (Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services) is roughly $1.9 million, and it must be spent by September of 2027 to avoid penalties. This contract will cost $155,205.24 plus travel expenses.
Before the contract was approved, 60% of schools expressed interest in working with Safe & Civil Schools for this program. Multiple board members also attended sessions held by Safe & Civil Schools to become more familiar with their work, and they came away impressed with what they saw.
“I was able to join two sessions of training for this program, and the energy that was in the room was exciting and hopeful,” said Board Member Richard Watts. “I feel strongly that we should move forward with this as a district.”
The full contract can be viewed here.
WS/FCS Out of Debt
Superintendent Dr. Don Phipps announced at the meeting that WS/FCS had officially paid off its debt.
The announcement signifies a remarkable turnaround in the district’s financial situation. Towards the end of the 2025-26 school year, district leaders learned that WS/FCS was facing a budget shortfall of approximately $43.4 million.
During the past 14 months, the district has made significant spending cuts, instituted new financial control systems, and worked with a dedicated team of community partners to address the deficit. This whole community effort has made WS/FCS a more financially sustainable place to learn and work, and Dr. Phipps expressed his gratitude to everyone who made this moment possible.
“I’m excited and proud to say that we are in the process of what we call ‘Month 13,’ where our debt is going to be completely resolved,” Phipps said. “Thank you to our community for the support that has been provided.”
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Jonathan Wilson, chief officer of safety, security, and emergency management for WS/FCS, was recognized by the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the meeting. This award from the Governor of North Carolina honors individuals with a record of extraordinary service to the state.
Wilson began his career in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, where he was promoted several times. In 2014, he began to serve as a judicial district manager, overseeing probation operations in several counties.
In 2016, he joined WS/FCS as its first director of security. By 2021, he was promoted to executive director of safety, security, and emergency management and later became chief. As he prepares to retire, his achievements are widely celebrated.
“The best part of my career has been the last ten years here,” Wilson said. “It’s been an honor to serve the people of North Carolina, especially this county.”
The Board of Education will meet again on Tuesday, August 11 for a committee work session. Their next full meeting will be on Tuesday, August 25. Once posted, agendas will be available to view here.