The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education discussed their classified compensation plan during their meeting on Tuesday night.
Throughout the last two years of budgeting, the district has been working on a compensation plan to present to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners using comparative data from Guilford County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Wake County Schools, and NCDPI. Average market rates for comparable positions were established based on the data, and the cost of bringing WS/FCS up to the average for the five entities surveyed was determined to be $2,452,000.
Matching compensation from Durham Public Schools would take $4,880,392, while matching Wake County Public Schools would take $9,455,250, but those goals aren’t likely to be attainable. The county commissioners have so far designated $500,000 for the compensation plan, and WS/FCS Chief Financial Officer Thomas Kranz believes that the current plan based around that number will allow the district to sustain salary increases in perpetuity with careful budgeting in future fiscal years.
“I believe that what we’ve put together, while it’s not even close to being perfect, is really the best option that we’ve got if you want to pursue the use of the $500,000,” Kranz said.
The board members acknowledged and thanked the county for going above and beyond its responsibilities in the past to help keep local public schools thriving. However, they still resolved to request $2,452,000 to make sure that no classified employee goes undervalued due to financial constraints and that the district remains as competitive in hiring and retention as possible.
“We’re not asking to beat Raleigh, that would be absurd,” said Board Member Leah Crowley. “We’re also not asking to beat Charlotte, that would be equally as absurd. But to ask to be somewhere in the middle of five other districts, and still below Durham, which we are larger than, I think is absolutely reasonable.”
The board unanimously approved a request for $2,452,000 to fund the classified compensation plan.
Also on the board’s agenda for the evening were:
A trumpet performance by Malcolm Turner from Clemmons Middle School
A proclamation supporting School Psychology Awareness Week
Recognitions for Cadet Jack Harrison from West Forsyth High School winning the JROTC Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Outstanding Achievement, Paisley Middle School Media Coordinator Ameriki Somers winning the Governor’s Educator Discovery Award, Cook Literacy Model School’s Restart Achievement Scores, and schools and principals who achieved Top 50% growth in North Carolina for the 2023-24 school year
Updates on the School Improvement Plan, the Equity Centered Pipeline Initiative, and new course requests for the 2025-26 school year
Approval of a grant of easement for Fair Share Farm adjacent to Reagan High School, a contract with RedRover Time and Attendance Software, HVAC and lighting upgrades at Jefferson Middle School, and several other action items
Tabling of a proposal regarding recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses and supplements
The Board of Education will meet again on Tuesday, November 19 at 6:30 pm.