[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6207494,"mediaKeyId","3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117","parentId",3754645,"title","District updates school‑based mental health plan, proposes therapy dog for crisis and alternative schools","audioSeconds",960,"startMs",7745000,"endMs",8705000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117&start=7745&end=8705","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117/thumbnail_7745000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207494/North-Carolina/District-updates-schoolbased-mental-health-plan-proposes-therapy-dog-for-crisis-and-alternative-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207494-fe0555f624d2c993c09d6d58f33d8266/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931575&Signature=B~2GAlSxAWZsV0qV5EzpCcyzrTtZEkYfHYO~AIK0alsFQxMQQBVvFG7d4pwVHXjQ5g-QQ1zFd207cQ8Qu~B5MZ6yCwI-fWFjDUiqx1GQKzgAbR5yLMTZKQtOhbk4vDub6M9NYPcoHuJ92Ty2ziWrkPFC3l3fEC7K7sCPSAMEEo59VilfrpbyF0vuhKk3pLhzNMlEWLz2Az5CIGYAk75eWBJmB7YmWFXniiDhdTJeR7svuEGxLReGXlhQvDxoKJ8ikT45xVNnsf3KmB7CpRKb4TC-QRq1cPSp7S82uqexYtN58AXbW7D5447QEs5~m44QqxO3q6oTJoHbv-QbQiqg6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, NC","date","2025-06-11T04:40:57.987Z","article","Dr. Heather Schwickbracht, director of psychological services, and Dr. Frederica Stokes, assistant superintendent for student services, presented an update and a request for adoption of the district’s school‑based mental health plan on June 10, summarizing expanded community partnerships, increased assessments and a grant‑funded therapy dog pilot.

Dr. Schwickbracht said the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction required districts to adopt school‑based mental health plans; Winston‑Salem/Forsyth’s plan was initially approved in 2021 and updated to reflect new data and requirements. The district has increased its number of agency memoranda of understanding (MOUs) for school‑based mental health from five to 15 agencies, and staff described a rise in referrals for services, suicide safety assessments and behavior threat assessments this year. Schwickbracht told the board that through three quarters the district completed 447 suicide safety assessments (up from 424 last year) and about 100 behavior threat assessments (similar to last year).

The presenters said the district secured a federal or state school‑based mental health grant that funded three additional social workers, one additional school counselor and a mental‑health clinician (Keisha Horton) who the district identified as the candidate to handler a therapy dog if the board endorses the plan. A representative from Partners Behavioral Health (the local LME‑MCO) offered a grant that would provide a trained therapy dog plus crates, food for a year and training at no cost to the district. Schwickbracht and Stokes said Southside Animal Hospital and North Forsyth High School’s animal science program have offered veterinary care and grooming partnerships.

Dr. Stokes said the district now uses ECATS for documenting suicide and threat assessments and that access to sensitive modules is restricted to appropriate student services staff. The presenters also described expanded professional development, more robust reentry supports for students returning from hospitalization or residential treatment, and a new SISP annual report requirement that collects data from counselors, social workers, psychologists and nurses.

Board members asked whether the therapy dog requires separate approval; staff said Partners needs a board confirmation so it will release the dog to the district and that there is no cost to the district for the dog or initial supplies. Vice Chair Buchanan asked whether the board must approve the dog; staff said the trainer and handler home were approved and that the district needs a board‑level nod to accept the grant‑supported animal.

Ending: Staff recommended board adoption of the updated school‑based mental health plan and a district acceptance of the grant‑funded therapy dog pilot; the board asked for a formal agenda item to approve the plan and dog and for written MOUs with veterinary and community partners before final acceptance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 6-10-2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff said the state required a school mental health plan and described expanded agency MOUs, increased suicide safety and behavior threat assessments, and a no‑cost grant opportunity for a trained therapy dog to support transition and crisis services.","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},6207498,"District presents SRO and after‑hours security contract changes that cut roughly $813,918 from safety contracts",713,2999000,3712000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117&start=2999&end=3712","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117/thumbnail_2999000.jpg","/articles/6207498/North-Carolina/District-presents-SRO-and-afterhours-security-contract-changes-that-cut-roughly-813918-from-safety-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207498-c51b98a8f39ed10842d1b40cea080720/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931575&Signature=V7aX16uedimcbhaI8TGF4RExo327E394RkUu5Ody~HYWKG6E8gNc2L9~lSWXJMLp-isjZFQn4snlYpwVvjQ-tVWrXVQxmZ7JDEyzFrBJIJdf3Kf7rB44BgvIXPamnTutCuwx0ZoU5OrBWdSS7CQpWOo3eqjxyAXBBXiWTla5JF08suUACxxWts9GktulXJEpwtsz7U76IJGWtmzkcwXTuFfQbbXMLqhHMHP9lOtjMEMlZmTRE-Hl5YMphDOuwHj0MUJRV0MTej-CZbjzuwJV4vdw4HVrQkwX8c5iLB6IJqTFw-PnpoU0OzBvBQ1gG4zolztbkgxi6PcmdwR7ZhPRkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chad Williams, the district’s director of security, briefed the board on June 10 about fiscal‑year 2025‑26 contracts for school resource officers with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Kernersville Police Department, and the after‑hours security contract with North State.

Williams said the sheriff’s office contract for SROs would drop from an initial FY24‑25 value of $4,732,610 to a proposed FY25‑26 figure of $4,088,136, a projected savings of $644,474. The Kernersville Police Department contract would fall from $717,264 to $602,421 (savings of $114,843). The district is also moving from a 12‑month to a 10‑month contract for those law enforcement positions, which Williams said better matched the school calendar and reduced cost. For its after‑hours contract, the district proposes switching North State from a company police officer model (armed company officer with arrest powers under contract) to unarmed security officers for routine overnight patrols, retaining company police officers only for board meetings and special events. That change was projected to reduce the North State cost from $180,091 to $125,490 (savings ~$54,601). Combined, Williams said the three contract changes represent a $813,918 reduction for 2025‑26.

Board members asked operational questions: Vice Chair Bohannon asked for the North State nightly hours and whether the contract covered seven nights per week; Williams said the guard works a 7 p.m.–5 a.m. shift and currently the district has transitioned from two officers per night to a single officer on many nights. Board member Kane pressed about how many sites the overnight officer visits and whether that staff answers alarms; Williams said the officer responds to alarm calls and late‑to‑close notices and otherwise patrols properties, and that the contractor is expected to prioritize alarm responses when they occur. Williams said the use of North State has reduced vandalism and burglaries since it started.

Board member Kane asked about mechanisms for timely communication between law enforcement and the district when arrests or incidents occur outside school hours; Williams said informal daily or near‑daily information exchanges occur between district staff and law enforcement partners and that sometimes the district hears of arrests in the middle of the night via texts or calls from sheriff’s office personnel.

Board members also asked whether pepper fogger (chemical dispersal) language was in the sheriff’s contract; Williams confirmed the sheriff’s contract includes language describing fogger use and that sheriff’s personnel have reduced use of foggers compared with prior years while continuing to treat them as a law‑enforcement tool of last resort.

Ending: Williams recommended the board approve the contracts to realize the projected savings; board members said they wanted incident‑rate metrics, patrol coverage data and continued follow‑up on fogger use as part of their oversight.","Security director said the district negotiated contract changes that convert North State patrols from two to one overnight officer, shift to 10‑month SRO contracts and move some positions to unarmed security; staff presented savings estimates and answered questions about incident rates and pepper‑fogger language in contracts.",{"_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},6207503,"Board approves managed‑services contract for related itinerant and nursing providers over board concerns",1253,10772000,12025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117&start=10772&end=12025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117/thumbnail_10772000.jpg","/articles/6207503/North-Carolina/Board-approves-managedservices-contract-for-related-itinerant-and-nursing-providers-over-board-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207503-0efcb10d636fbbc2f4ea784d90853da8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931575&Signature=bLAIu8cGsR3gIdcQ~dWjqAQN8x57dL0CgC5z5uG5M05WagRQ6pyv8zGEUX7ZSfEXhATlmuTUIHCg7Y1X4ojRaxCJmFLtKpL3b6G62Yq13Wizy1NgdAnggMSm5Ym1OXmfv5AW9FjQVRZ-jpxZb65gWzvfrtGfQaEm3lWlJD-zM3Qfzd19FIIwfIs9flbR50gYIspGPOedlOGkQFW5jcR-Q8dKZNni4wc18nRzMG2nipdhslrGMlewTpp8w~3F3ihLuKJVdjLFDY8N7me0e3BrMLtXl927l1T7cD24rXXEV7QB5eT4MNurwAgmqsMvCl8PbO-bqH-1VFk7VBZMjOAhig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools board voted 6–3 on June 10 to approve a managed‑services contract intended to centralize and staff related itinerant services (speech‑language pathologists, sign language interpreters, and other specialists) and nursing support.

District staff said the contract is intended to streamline procurement, invoicing and provider availability for about 165 related and itinerant providers who support special education and EC programs. Special Education officials told the board that the current mix of many small vendors and individual contracted providers made it difficult to ensure consistent staffing and timely start‑of‑school services; the managed model is designed to provide a larger pool of available full‑time providers and centralized payroll/invoicing.

Several board members and public commenters raised concerns that a managed vendor model requires participating independent agencies or contractors to pay a management fee (up to 5 percent was cited during discussion) and that the arrangement could reduce take‑home pay for individual providers. Board member Kim asked whether the district could instead increase direct pay to attract more direct hires; staff replied that total direct‑hire cost (including retirement and benefits) versus contractor pay packages can make recruiting certain specialized classifications difficult, and that some providers prefer contractor arrangements for personal reasons.

Vice Chair Bohannon, who moved the motion, emphasized operational benefits: reducing the number of vendors the district must pay and consolidating billing could reduce administrative work and shorten vendor payment cycles during a period when the district has faced delayed payments. Opponents said the arrangement risks shrinking provider earnings and argued the district should prioritize direct hiring. Staff said they will phase direct hires where possible and will report back on conversions.

The board required transition reporting and directed staff to provide a follow‑up report with: numbers of direct hires versus contracted positions, the timeline for transitioning providers, invoicing and payment performance metrics, and assurances about continuity of care for students. The motion passed 6–3.

Ending: Staff will execute the contract and return to the board with a transition report by mid‑August that lists providers by status and documents the plan to preserve or increase full‑time direct employment where feasible.","The board approved a managed‑service contract to coordinate related itinerant and nursing providers after debate about vendor fees, provider pay and district oversight; vote was 6–3 and members asked for transition reporting.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6207507,"Board hears multilingual‑learner update; district to use Title III funds to renew Elevate platform",740,2040000,2780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117&start=2040&end=2780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117/thumbnail_2040000.jpg","/articles/6207507/North-Carolina/Board-hears-multilinguallearner-update-district-to-use-Title-III-funds-to-renew-Elevate-platform","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207507-9c20150c2750f84f2ea6ab55126f0f8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931575&Signature=ZyReqTaYHSrPHQmDPN9pxVxvRFMl-6LoXabTLKNagvZCtRkikzfeM4ADGDlYp~0rImWSbmy~8ECJwWJ5ULibYQ9zgnTIjbikI3fiLfH7KkvwpoU8WQnAMPmKsXxS2UZ8ahjcJiwgN8x2naPifP27KeWaRpkP~MEINN0a2cpVfMZvDeItPnEhVf0GaLMf~9mmLdf5nvWYfsD4w8JEVgqu8XQJDaJfBaMqJ5MPnvUsjAedCcqinUJIOlD-UyuO6dV4fC~~e-ZpwINNz4w~HiEO7paj1puASsRoMUvu3y95pIVXAXMU-1uX0UOjqTP1b-QtREOZZjOAvPjBkRYihA1yqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Yamil Bullock, the district’s Title III multilingual director, briefed the board on June 10 about updated state policy for English learners and asked the board to approve continued use of the Elevate platform to manage multilingual learner (ML) data and services.

Bullock said that the North Carolina State Board of Education approved a standardized home language survey and revised access exit criteria in December 2024, and the U.S. Department of Education approved lowering the WIDA ACCESS composite exit threshold from 4.8 to 4.5. He said Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools will use the standardized home language survey and implement the new ACCESS exit criteria (4.5 composite) in identification, screening and annual assessments.

Bullock described Elevate as a centralized, research‑aligned digital platform used to store EL student data, generate notifications to parents in more than 40 languages, populate individualized learner profiles, and produce state‑required reports. He said Elevate supports about 8,727 students receiving direct English language development services and 317 students monitored after exit; the platform is used by roughly 3,594 educators and staff districtwide. Bullock said the proposed contract renewal for Elevate would cost about $135,000 for the coming school year and that staff intends to fund it with Title III federal funds.

Board members asked for more detail before final approval. Vice Chair Bohannon asked for a language breakdown within the 8,727 student total and for a plan to direct additional ESL support to schools with very high concentrations of multilingual learners; Bullock said those reports can be generated from Elevate. Board member Barr asked whether Title III has been used historically for Elevate; Bullock replied Elevate had been funded locally and by the state in past years and that Title III would be the funding source this year.

Bullock also described family literacy expansion supported by a grant from the National Center for Families Learning and a local ‘‘Activate Local’’ graduation of parents who led school projects. He said the multilingual department will continue summer family literacy programs and community outreach.

Ending: The board did not vote on the Elevate renewal during the June 10 meeting; staff said they will return with the funding source documentation and requested reports (language breakdown by school and lists of students by language) to support the Title III appropriation request.","The district’s multilingual director said the North Carolina State Board of Education updated EL rules and the district will use Title III to fund Elevate (approx. $135,000); board members asked for language breakdowns and targeting for high‑need schools.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6207513,"Winston‑Salem/Forsyth board hears plan to close $42 million shortfall, considers transportation and school staffing cuts",1410,5672000,7082000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117&start=5672&end=7082","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754645-526c50755c5d7ce5f7dbab67a580e117/thumbnail_5672000.jpg","/articles/6207513/North-Carolina/WinstonSalemForsyth-board-hears-plan-to-close-42-million-shortfall-considers-transportation-and-school-staffing-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207513-57070a0b69fbdbd621fedcb3d464f4cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931575&Signature=n124ZCL-4hHLOY0BJWuKICLmzisAC~h6gzs3T4nReCoEqlVAfcZaR4vlOX3BkQ1hvGCRce~Ucbk1vgZjcyjLXL~Wwpnf3eYf5dQQ2FvKqShA0ml1BkjYCsa07~CC8I9~HM7OC5ygt-FIi9eTMqHrG6KIAKsIGWczepysMEFHksejPpDVTxigiZP5Vr009RteC8dMb6krOwSAAz~8FSmSePEus8EUpIMBYBkjOGDeapM1MrPsxejMcUXe6xB8OLu4Ch5hq6xZrAYswaAPdG-A6T~riARQvIhDF348DEubnbaJvDCdJKoxUb6A0-iq7RMaLVniEtEw~ZgzA9lBOwFRuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Superintendent Kathy Moore told the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education on June 10 that a post‑audit review and other reconciliations identified an approximately $42 million deficit for fiscal 2024‑25 and presented planned reductions for 2025‑26 intended to balance next year’s budget.

Moore said the $42 million figure was determined after a review done with an outside partner and a line‑by‑line look at allotments, invoices, charter payments and other items. She told the board that a combination of state allotment overspending (including PRC003 non‑instructional allotments), unbudgeted contract costs, underbudgeted charter school payments and rolled‑over invoices produced the shortfall. “All of these funds provided direct services to students,” she said, adding the shortfall reflected oversights and miscalculations.

Moore said staff has identified about $39 million in reductions and savings for 2025‑26 and additional one‑time items that together approach roughly $45 million in budget relief. The package includes: eliminating district‑funded transportation for students exercising school choice except for magnets and residential placements (projected savings about $3.5 million); a school‑based staffing reduction plan that the district estimates will reduce central and school positions (a planned $8.75 million reduction tied to allotment adjustments); converting some contracts and subscriptions to lower‑cost alternatives; a 10‑month rather than 12‑month contract for school resource officers; and other operational cuts. Moore said the reductions are within superintendent authority and are already in motion for items that do not require board approval.

Board members pressed for more detail on the potential community impact of cutting choice transportation. Board member Barr said he worries that removing transportation could reduce district enrollment because charter and private schools do not typically provide comparable transportation. Vice Chair Bohannon and others urged the board to weigh the likely effect on families who rely on choice buses. Moore noted approximately 5,500 students choose schools outside their residential zone at the elementary and middle levels; about 3,500 of those were registered for transportation and roughly 2,500 actually used the service this year.

Moore described other specific revenue actions to reduce the immediate cash shortfall: using roughly $2.8 million from available checking and money‑market transfers and expected reimbursements (Medicaid, grants, indirect cost recoveries) that she estimated could bring in another $4.5–$5.0 million by June 30. She also asked the board to authorize an interim appropriation to access the Child Nutrition enterprise fund balance — at least $4 million and up to $6 million — to help pay vendors in arrears, with a written repayment plan. The board approved the Child Nutrition fund request on a motion and subsequent vote.

School leaders and public commenters urged transparency and called for follow‑up: several members of the public blamed prior administration and asked for forensic review. Board members asked county officials for prior to consider whether one‑time county assistance should be requested again; Moore said county commissioners had declined a prior request and that further conversations would be needed. Moore said she would continue weekly budget updates to the board and community and proposed an interim budget resolution on June 24 to set staff authority to operate within the reduced 2025‑26 budget.

The board also voted on a sequence of budget‑related action items during the June 10 meeting, including approval of several budget amendments and transfers and authorization to use Child Nutrition fund balance (the board approved the Child Nutrition request unanimously). Moore said the goal is to have all vendors with current invoices paid by June 30, with exceptions for three large vendors (the ESS substitute management contract, custodial services contractor SSC, and county pass‑throughs) for which staff are negotiating payment plans.

Moore repeatedly emphasized that “we have to make decisions and choices” to restore the district’s financial stability and rebuild fund balance. She said that, if needed, staff would later request specific reinstatements of particular programs or positions with precise justifications rather than restoring items ad hoc.

The board’s discussion included several requests for follow‑up: more detail about the school‑level allotment model, a list of digital subscriptions proposed for elimination, the specific effect on individual schools of ending choice transportation, and documentation of the district’s PRC allotment calculations. Board members asked staff to return with more granular reports and requested the interim budget resolution on June 24 to set the district’s operating authority for July 1.

Moore also told the board she and the district are investigating possible federal withholdings owed to the IRS and other potential late payments that could add to the district’s obligations; the district has opened inquiries and said it will report findings when completed.

Ending: The board did not vote on restoring any of the proposed reductions on June 10. Moore said the next steps are weekly budget updates and adoption of an interim budget resolution at the June 24 meeting to begin operations within the reduced plan for 2025‑26 while continuing follow‑up with the county, auditors, and state officials.","Interim Superintendent Kathy Moore told the board the district faces a roughly $42 million shortfall for 2024‑25 and outlined about $39 million in proposed reductions for 2025‑26, including ending choice transportation and changes to school staffing allotments; the board discussed tradeoffs and approved several interim financial moves.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District updates school‑based mental health plan, proposes therapy dog for crisis and alternative schools

District presents SRO and after‑hours security contract changes that cut roughly $813,918 from safety contracts

Board approves managed‑services contract for related itinerant and nursing providers over board concerns

Board hears multilingual‑learner update; district to use Title III funds to renew Elevate platform

Winston‑Salem/Forsyth board hears plan to close $42 million shortfall, considers transportation and school staffing cuts