The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education voted to transition virtual instruction during its meeting on Tuesday night.
WS/FCS currently offers two-school virtual models of instruction at the Virtual Academy (grades 3-8) and John F. Kennedy High School (grades 9-12). The recommendation was to keep virtual instruction as an option, but to move JFK grades 9-12 and Virtual Academy grades 6-8 to Winston Salem Preparatory Academy, which offers grade 6-12. The district will phase out elementary virtual instruction over the next two years. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, Virtual Academy students in grades 4-5 will receive virtual instruction under Cook Literacy Model School. No new third grade virtual students will be enrolled next school year.
Several reasons were offered for the changes, including concerns about the efficacy of virtual instruction for elementary students, declining enrollment in the virtual academy, and an opportunity to streamline the district’s spending. The move is also expected to increase enrollment at Cook, Prep, and JFK, as well as boosting JFK’s CTE Academy.
Superintendent Tricia McManus emphasized that high-quality virtual instruction will still be available to students going forward, just in a different format. She recognizes that virtual instruction is the right option for many families and promised that providing every student with the right approach to schooling for them will remain a top priority for the district.
“This is not the end of a program – this is a transition into something that’s more sustainable down the road,” McManus said. “Meeting the needs of our students, whatever it takes, in any way possible, will always be what we do.”
Also on the board’s agenda for the evening were:
- A performance by the Carver High School Concert Band
- An update on the timeline for the Fostering Diverse Schools initiative
- Approval of a boiler replacement contract for Jefferson Middle School, the Child Nutrition Procurement Plan, and several budget amendments and transfers
The Board of Education will meet again on Tuesday, February 25 at 6:30 pm.