Superintendent Search
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education discussed their search for an interim superintendent during their meeting on Tuesday night.
To guarantee minimal disruption during the transition between superintendents, the district is following a fast timeline for the new hire. Applications will be open from Wednesday, August 26 through Wednesday, September 2. Then, resumes will be ranked based on several criteria, including experience with executive positions, managing large budgets, and working with districts comparable in size to WS/FCS.
Board members will have several days to make recommendations about criteria for the rubric and the weight they should carry. Once candidates are narrowed down, finalists will interview with the board in closed session in mid-September, with contract negotiations to follow shortly after.
No action was taken regarding the superintendent search during Tuesday night’s meeting. The board expects to swear in an interim superintendent during a special called meeting held between Monday, September 28 and Thursday, October 1.
Cost Sharing Agreement
Later in the meeting, the board members approved a cost sharing agreement for their Data Sharing Project with United Way of Forsyth County and Forsyth Futures.
The Data Sharing Project securely provides school district data on academic performance, attendance, demographics, and more to community-based partner programs, which helps them deliver more targeted, individualized supports to the students they serve. The project supports a shared vision of reducing the educational opportunity gap in Forsyth County.
The project is helmed by two employees whose salaries are jointly funded by the three participating partner organizations. This agreement was also in place last year at the same cost. The only change this year is that the employees, who were previously on the district’s payroll, are now officially employees of Forsyth Futures.
Safe and Civil Schools
The board also approved coaching engagement for 21 schools identified for CCEIS disproportionality as part of their partnership with Safe and Civil Schools.
At a previous meeting, the board approved the contract with Safe and Civil Schools to address disproportionately high rates of suspension for Black students, particularly those with disabilities. Safe and Civil Schools offers professional development for administrators on how to reduce disparities and keep students in the classroom for more total days.
Participant feedback from the initial training showed broad support for the program, but most participants felt they would benefit from more focused training on their campuses. This additional request will allow for more professional development in the schools where it’s needed most.
The Board of Education will meet again for a work session on Tuesday, September 8.