May 1, 2024 – The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education approved their county budget request for the 2024-25 school year during their meeting on Tuesday night.
The board members spent much of their previous meeting deliberating on the budget, which accounts for the loss of Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding and other potential state-level constraints while still providing the best possible strategies for staff retention, quality instruction, improved health services, and more. Based on everything that’s been decided, Chief Financial Officer Thomas Kranz recommended a request for local funding totaling $20,148,036, representing about 12% of the $163,996,529 adopted budget. The request will be made during the Forsyth County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, May 9.
On another financial front, the board debated whether or not to approve the use of the reserve in Article 46 to increase teacher supplements. Several members raised concerns that the supplements might be unsustainable into next year if tax revenues fall, and that teachers might be blindsided by reductions in their paychecks in such a case. However, they ultimately decided to prioritize compensating educators as fairly as possible now and making difficult adjustments later if it becomes necessary.
“You’ll never have enough money, you’ll always have restrictions,” Kranz said. “By properly budgeting the revenues, it gives you the ability to do things which you need to do on the expense level.”
Also on the board’s agenda for the evening were:
- A robotics demonstration from students with RJR Robotics
- Recognitions for Khristian Mitchell’s win in the Daughters of the American Revolution Essay Contest, Volunteer Appreciation Month, School Lunch Hero Day, School Library Month, and School Nurse Day
- Updates on the Spring Panorama Survey and LEA Determinations Data
- Approval of Naming the M. Douglas Crater Hall of Champions, Press Box, Field House, and Goal Posts, a guaranteed maximum price for renovations at East Forsyth High School, revisions to Policy 1215 on parental involvement, and several other action items
The Board of Education will meet again on Tuesday, May 14.