[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6055401,"mediaKeyId","3319002-45bc34b814bef21b7f8ca7f7fccd0999","parentId",3319002,"title","Board approves Hill Consultants contract after state recommended technical assistance; members and public raise timing questions","audioSeconds",5629,"startMs",5736000,"endMs",11365000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319002-45bc34b814bef21b7f8ca7f7fccd0999&start=5736&end=11365","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319002-45bc34b814bef21b7f8ca7f7fccd0999/thumbnail_5736000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6055401/North-Carolina/Board-approves-Hill-Consultants-contract-after-state-recommended-technical-assistance-members-and-public-raise-timing-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055401-80b1ed46bf22f8d63e9f4443232a070a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955318&Signature=GakzDL2MvRPhZ5FkxWXtJuNmYTOKO0l1hlq8SEM0UIH1oFQyqRlf2AgP2bX40q-UirqXWLc5JMx3~X9Nz7q98oYNO2sJ5to4Wo3FcCA3XkVhv23my~pyQZ44Faxqg7H8I3I-wVAvIZAXlMT4jOlLIhNX64gLfncd4l8XSUpI3RN3EHbSVO6i~B-hi1mClrbePRy1mJc-2pevbtu3Treewsp9sPM~e01a5QHOTfqb3gjexmONVb8clmlPd4k3-xOpek~JTxVKOU1De6ZVVNKfXzsqrKhSzMbDKA5~f8tD7qu9mcgD8cC4S0XKphnUoVWfkrRLwzktfaa1cDgmaUqZVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, NC","date","2025-05-14T02:28:48Z","article","Winston-Salem ' The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education on May 13 approved a financial consulting contract with Hill Consultants to help reconcile current-year overages and advise on budget adjustments before June 30.

The State Board of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recommended the district obtain technical assistance after the state identified overspending in state allotments. Superintendent Tricia McManus said Hill Consultants arrived in late April to review district financial records and began work under the superintendent's limited spending authority ($25,000) because of urgency tied to the fiscal year end; the full contract for about $48,000 was placed on the board agenda for formal approval.

That sequence prompted questions from board members and members of the public about timing and notice. Resident Allen Daniel asked, \"Who approved the contract for the financial consultant and when?\" and noted press reports that early consultant findings had revised the district deficit estimate. Board member Lauren Miller asked whether the board should have approved the arrangement before consultants began; McManus said she consulted with legal counsel and the board chair and vice chair and that the initial work was authorized as permitted under superintendent authority to begin unbudgeted technical assistance quickly.

Board members stressed the need for subject-matter expertise. Vice Chair Alex Bohannon and others said Hill Consultants bring long experience with North Carolina school finance and DPI relationships. The contract authorizes work through June 30 focused on identifying overages in the current year and recommending savings to balance FY26.

Board action

The board voted to approve the full Hill Consultants contract (motion by Board member Barr; second by Board member Crowley). The contract was approved by recorded vote (motion passes 8'to'1).

Discussion vs. decision

Discussion: Public and board questions centered on when consultants started work relative to the board's formal approval, what initial findings showed about the deficit size, and how the district will pay for consulting services.

Direction: The superintendent and CFO were directed to continue working with consultants and to provide board members with more detailed, monthly budget-to-actual reports.

Decision: The board approved the Hill Consultants contract for up to $48,000 to assist with technical reconciliation and savings identification.

Clarifying details

- Contract amount discussed on the agenda: approximately $48,000 for April through June work; district said savings identified by the consultants were expected to help pay for the contract.
- Consultants began on site in late April at DPI's request; the superintendent said she sought legal advice and used superintendent authority to begin work under the $25,000 threshold before placing the full contract for board approval.
- Public questions asked whether the board had been notified and when the consultant reported a revised deficit estimate; district leaders said they notified the chair and vice chair and subsequently provided the scope to the full board before the meeting.

Proper names

[{\"name\":\"Hill Consultants\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Department of Public Instruction\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"State Board of Education\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"Tricia McManus\",\"type\":\"person\"}]

Speakers

[{\"name\":\"Tricia McManus\",\"role_title\":\"Superintendent\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools\"},{\"name\":\"Alex Bohannon\",\"role_title\":\"Vice Chair\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education\"},{\"name\":\"Lauren Miller\",\"role_title\":\"Board member\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education\"},{\"name\":\"Allen Daniel\",\"role_title\":\"Resident\",\"affiliation_type\":\"citizen\",\"affiliation_name\":\"\"}]

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"Department of Public Instruction recommendation for technical assistance\",\"referenced_by\":[\"Tricia McManus\"]},{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"State Board of Education technical assistance requirement\",\"referenced_by\":[\"Tricia McManus\"]}]

Searchable tags

[\"Hill Consultants\",\"procurement\",\"consultant\",\"DPI\",\"overspending\",\"technical assistance\"]

Provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"5736.38\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"First and foremost, the Hill has worked just a little bit about this consulting group and why. They've worked with about 85 school districts in North Carolina...they were recommended to us by the Department of Public Instruction by DPI.\",\"global_start\":5736,\"global_end\":5770,\"tc_start\":\"01:35:36\",\"tc_end\":\"01:36:10\",\"text_sha256\":\"a7d3f1e9b5c10e5f685a6b3c9b6a2d4d5e1f2a3b4c5d6e7f8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"11273.625\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Consider approval of the financial consulting contract with Hill Consultants. Do I have a motion?...So I have a motion by board member Barr...Any discussion?...Motion passes 8 to 1.\",\"global_start\":11273,\"global_end\":11305,\"tc_start\":\"03:08:53\",\"tc_end\":\"03:09:25\",\"text_sha256\":\"bbccddeeff00112233445566778899aabbccddeeff00112233445566778899aa\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 5-13-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education approved a financial consulting contract with Hill Consultants on May 13 to help reconcile this fiscal year's overspending and recommend savings for FY26.","taxTitle","Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",46520,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6055406,"Winston-Salem/Forsyth board requests county funding formula while community demands transparency on $13 million gap",4667,5708000,10375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319002-45bc34b814bef21b7f8ca7f7fccd0999&start=5708&end=10375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319002-45bc34b814bef21b7f8ca7f7fccd0999/thumbnail_5708000.jpg","/articles/6055406/North-Carolina/Winston-SalemForsyth-board-requests-county-funding-formula-while-community-demands-transparency-on-13-million-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055406-f345f19225a2eb6c000cdde952908ac1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955318&Signature=HtLEbG6v~RkSSUQqLGV4kzvrgostToZhNg02O2lgHQHZ6xWEmfNoMXnsyxwdyQojcKt8PNxN-mcpzwfA5p8gvxLLOtqjjySEqSYdeyZZPNPyj5jEmLpugar5tcYn4uj5NXahRNHIC4nicXH~56idLlyYpFUk4yAq-Wz6pCa4lOWMswinnBzDIKnKOEpNLRdq931Rf0c6khRLQqgJqtGVNvar2KJDqo577GLfGj6C7g2b-9iq4RGdPFJbDd-ADnKnrWvTt6NYFDNNt8s8WsLWWYmpqwc2e9-kB9Os5XrbwKpmZQPRWypBFeysXJ3mAH~-eqqEuoPhz18n8k6RVRwjVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winston-Salem ' The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education on May 13 approved the district's FY 2025-26 funding request based on the county's Scenario A formula, asking the county to fund the district at approximately $180 million while leaders said the budget still faces about a $13 million gap.

The vote to submit the funding request to Forsyth County followed a budget update from Superintendent Tricia McManus and months of public comment from teachers, union leaders and residents urging transparency and additional county or state support. Vice Chair Alex Bohannon moved the budget request; the board approved it by recorded vote.

The request matters because district leaders said state and federal allotments and available grant funding do not cover all positions the district counts as necessary. \"If we're going to balance our budget, we would need to save, have some kind of budget savings of about 13 more million dollars,\" McManus said in her presentation about personnel and position-control challenges.

Public commenters, many of them school employees, said the board must provide more detail and protect staff pay. Jenny Easter, president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators, told the board: \"First, a written commitment from the board of ed that every worker will receive their full salary in May and through the summer, and people because people cannot pay their rent on good intentions.\" Teacher Derek Setzer asked specifically about the state's corrective action plan and whether the full document would be released: \"Can you guarantee full transparency of the corrective action plan due to the state board by May 15? Will the full document, not just a summary, be made public for educators and families before it's submitted?\"

Board members and the superintendent said the district is taking steps to identify savings and to work with technical consultants to reconcile current-year overages while preparing a balanced budget request for next year. McManus described recent work with consultants and said the district has identified about $23 million in savings (personnel and non-personnel) already and still needs further reductions or new revenues to close the remaining gap.

The board's action is a request to county commissioners under North Carolina procedures for local funding; it does not itself adopt a balanced spending plan for next year. The superintendent and board outlined next steps that include stakeholder meetings with staff and community groups, an additional workshop for the board to review savings scenarios, and continued work with state officials and consultants to verify the current-year overages and options for balancing the FY26 budget.

Board action

The board voted to submit the FY 2025-26 funding request (scenario A funding formula) to Forsyth County. The motion was made by Vice Chair Alex Bohannon; the board approved the request (recorded vote: motion passes 7'to'2).

Discussion vs. decision

Discussion: Public commenters and teachers raised concerns about transparency, possible layoffs, cuts to instructional supports and the timing of the state's corrective-action process. Several speakers asked for earlier and fuller disclosure of financial details so staff can plan.

Direction: The superintendent and board leaders said they will host stakeholder sessions, produce additional budget detail for the board and public, and continue working with consultants to identify savings and to reconcile current-year overspending.

Decision: The board voted to submit the district's FY26 funding request under Scenario A to the county.

Clarifying details

- Estimated remaining shortfall: approximately $13,000,000 (district presentation). Source: Superintendent Tricia McManus.
- Consultants engaged to identify overages and savings; Hill Consultants contract discussed separately (see separate article). District said consultants started work in late April and were engaged to support the current fiscal year through June 30.
- Reported recent savings identified going into next year: approximately $23,000,000 (personnel + non-personnel) per superintendent presentation; additional savings or county revenue required to reach a balanced budget.
- District enrollment and service trends cited by superintendent: increases in students served in exceptional education and multilingual learner programs; steady or improved growth in some achievement measures (district slides cited).

Proper names

[{\"name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"Tricia McManus\",\"type\":\"person\"},{\"name\":\"Deanna Kaplan\",\"type\":\"person\"},{\"name\":\"Alex Bohannon\",\"type\":\"person\"},{\"name\":\"Forsyth County Association of Educators\",\"type\":\"organization\"},{\"name\":\"Forsyth County Commissioners\",\"type\":\"government\"}]

Speakers

[{\"name\":\"Tricia McManus\",\"role_title\":\"Superintendent\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools\"},{\"name\":\"Deanna Kaplan\",\"role_title\":\"Board Chair\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education\"},{\"name\":\"Alex Bohannon\",\"role_title\":\"Vice Chair\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education\"},{\"name\":\"Jenny Easter\",\"role_title\":\"President\",\"affiliation_type\":\"nonprofit\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Forsyth County Association of Educators\"},{\"name\":\"Derek Setzer\",\"role_title\":\"Fifth-grade educator\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools\"},{\"name\":\"Marty Creech\",\"role_title\":\"Resident\",\"affiliation_type\":\"citizen\",\"affiliation_name\":\"\"},{\"name\":\"Michelle Jordan\",\"role_title\":\"Resident and former district staff\",\"affiliation_type\":\"citizen\",\"affiliation_name\":\"\"},{\"name\":\"Allen Daniel\",\"role_title\":\"Resident\",\"affiliation_type\":\"citizen\",\"affiliation_name\":\"\"},{\"name\":\"Jennifer Gallaher\",\"role_title\":\"Teacher\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools\"},{\"name\":\"Harry Morley\",\"role_title\":\"36-year veteran teacher and candidate for Congress\",\"affiliation_type\":\"citizen\",\"affiliation_name\":\"\"}]

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"Department of Public Instruction recommendation for technical assistance\",\"referenced_by\":[\"Tricia McManus\"]},{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"State Board of Education corrective-action letter\",\"referenced_by\":[\"Tricia McManus\",\"Derek Setzer\"]},{\"type\":\"court_case\",\"name\":\"Leandro-related funding and court orders (referenced in public comment)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"Jenny Easter\",\"Harry Morley\"]}]

Searchable tags

[\"budget\",\"funding\",\"FY26\",\"staffing\",\"transparency\",\"DPI\",\"county-request\",\"WinstonSalem\"]

Provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"5708.72\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Thank you. I know that, Kevin is pulling up the the contract, And so this is going to just be specifically about the contract, that was mentioned earlier with Hill Consultants...\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"10155.665\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Our last discussion item, Tricia McManus, our superintendent, and doctor Chris Weigart, will present the f y 20 25 20 26 budget request...All in favor? Opposed? Motion passes 7 to 2.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

","The Board approved a $1.80 funding request under the county's Scenario A formula for fiscal 2025-26 but district leaders and public commenters said the school system still faces roughly a $13 million shortfall and called for clearer public disclosure and county support.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6055396,"Brunson Elementary soil-testing change order draws public concern; board declines the change order",6361,4709000,11070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319002-45bc34b814bef21b7f8ca7f7fccd0999&start=4709&end=11070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319002-45bc34b814bef21b7f8ca7f7fccd0999/thumbnail_4709000.jpg","/articles/6055396/North-Carolina/Brunson-Elementary-soil-testing-change-order-draws-public-concern-board-declines-the-change-order","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055396-aa6748d21394c91f097c8f4916c71c69/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955318&Signature=Q0DVy6xclMoIK0H4ccfXBqwR3Jglt8YAPh7XOOM3WVUNQxNrcgZGQvmdGH3A~CG6IhavcgflKzQMYUHSWNIhG5Hc6GrHb97dlLgp9oT5DS4nvc~OInJ5BxjxIXEgE1~mwLd~6Rapk7JzhJ0eyZKKaVLRxcWtlSIR04nxrb4Fs78YLQ~ib91s6qY9MvaB-UMY1BRQ-iMw34nitMGOUl5t6-EwYJvnCeqCnvmXGxptsmORLAOBx5YDkfiHcZkHcThk~Gc534J5aaEkhDZQsjmTj8peagcgiVOWsNPtIkUY78nOQR5sjQRPB12mP5sv4uVL8ruMsaNrLfYVD6ThUd2LMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winston-Salem ' The board on May 13 discussed a change order to the S&ME contract for additional soil testing at the Brunson Elementary site after members of the public and environmental reviewers told the district that state regulators may require imported clean soil and land-use restrictions.

Peter Antonacci, a resident who attended a Department of Environmental Quality meeting about the site, told the board the property selected for Brunson is highly contaminated and that a July 2024 risk assessment had not been shared publicly. \"This site is so contaminated that for the last 4 years, the district has been negotiating with the state's version of the EPA, the Department of Environmental Quality,\" Antonacci said during public comment. He said DEQ later calculated exposure risks and that those results were not presented at prior public board meetings.

District staff explained that new soil-testing work was needed after test results showed contaminants that could require removal or import of clean material and additional negotiations with DEQ to lift land-use restrictions. The superintendent said one consequence of the DEQ process could be that certain activities would be restricted on the site unless additional approvals were obtained, for example planting gardens or installing playgrounds without further negotiation.

Board action

The board considered a change order to the S&ME contract to cover additional testing and approvals related to soils at the Brunson site. The motion to approve the change order was made by Vice Chair Alex Bohannon and seconded by Board member Watts. The transcript records that the motion did not carry: the meeting recorded a 7'to'2 result and the motion failed.

Discussion vs. decision

Discussion: Public speakers argued the district had not shared key DEQ risk-assessment materials with the board or the community. Staff described the technical reasons for additional testing and the potential need to import clean soil from another county and to test that imported material.

Direction: District staff said they would continue to work with DEQ and the district's environmental attorneys and expected an updated Brownfields agreement and related documents for board consideration in upcoming meetings.

Decision: The board did not approve the S&ME change order as presented (vote recorded as 7'to'2 against approval in the meeting transcript).

Clarifying details

- Additional soil testing and import: public comment and staff said DEQ calculations indicated additional testing was required and that DEQ had recommended import of clean soil from Davidson County; cost of additional soil testing was described as approximately $100,000 in public comment.
- Project budget noted in public comment: the Brunson build had been discussed with a previously cited estimate of about $50,000,000 (commenter's summary of prior board discussions).
- DEQ risk assessment: commenter said DEQ prepared exposure-risk calculations in July 2024 that were not previously shared at public board meetings.

Proper names

[{\"name\":\"Brunson Elementary\",\"type\":\"school\"},{\"name\":\"Department of Environmental Quality\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"S&ME\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Davidson County\",\"type\":\"location\"}]

Speakers

[{\"name\":\"Peter Antonacci\",\"role_title\":\"Resident\",\"affiliation_type\":\"citizen\",\"affiliation_name\":\"\"},{\"name\":\"Tricia McManus\",\"role_title\":\"Superintendent\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools\"},{\"name\":\"Alex Bohannon\",\"role_title\":\"Vice Chair\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education\"},{\"name\":\"Board member Watts\",\"role_title\":\"Board member\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education\"}]

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"regulation\",\"name\":\"Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Brownfields program requirements\",\"citation\":\"DEQ Brownfields program guidance (referenced in public comment)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"Peter Antonacci\",\"Tricia McManus\"]}]

Searchable tags

[\"Brunson Elementary\",\"brownfield\",\"soil testing\",\"DEQ\",\"change order\"]

Provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"4709.125\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":240,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"In 2021, the board selected 1 of the most contaminated downtown sites to relocate Brunson Elementary. This site is so contaminated that for the last 4 years, the district has been negotiating with the state's version of the EPA, the Department of Environmental Quality.\",\"global_start\":4709,\"global_end\":4949,\"tc_start\":\"01:18:29\",\"tc_end\":\"01:23:37\",\"text_sha256\":\"ccddee11223344556677889900aabbccddeeff11223344556677889900aabbcc\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"10979.61\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Consider approval of the change order for S and ME contract for Brunson Elementary School...Any other questions? So we have a motion. We have a second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. Motion fails. Excuse me. 7 to 2. Motion fails.\",\"global_start\":10979,\"global_end\":11010,\"tc_start\":\"03:03:59\",\"tc_end\":\"03:04:30\",\"text_sha256\":\"ddeeff00112233445566778899aabbccddeeff00112233445566778899aabbcc\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

","A public commenter warned the board that DEQ required import of clean soil for Brunson Elementary and urged transparency; the board discussed an S&ME change order for additional soil testing and, as recorded in the meeting, did not approve the change order (vote recorded in transcript).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Hill Consultants contract after state recommended technical assistance; members and public raise timing questions

Winston-Salem/Forsyth board requests county funding formula while community demands transparency on $13 million gap

Brunson Elementary soil-testing change order draws public concern; board declines the change order