[{"_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",6185992,"mediaKeyId","5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2","parentId",5078504,"title","Board directs staff to issue superintendent‑search RFP, with guidance to include North Carolina experience","audioSeconds",2888,"startMs",3043000,"endMs",5931000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2&start=3043&end=5931","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2/thumbnail_3043000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6185992/North-Carolina/Board-directs-staff-to-issue-superintendentsearch-RFP-with-guidance-to-include-North-Carolina-experience","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185992-069e6ea41613ee8580578fb92f0780bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867319&Signature=luK-FjUt1WsNdW5ToS-QvQ3soBwUKvdF1ezrZp31gvk7stDA5xfbnFx5TWh6m~mwMHvhcIjzS7uNZIDruDGeAbyYyYJPnQhnLTrt27UZ51dDzqGo4H-fJ90S4aJh-2zsGKi-gGaI4WOJL2MBr2IyDsi2YCG6nyNgqa81MOyNAFPHgNYhjovGqFUXR85JA1H0CP~1qcCZKdPLVtUORIJHZWX~2jzFBYhi7TrU2RhVPf4fnBvgFnhAkYM9dP8qL8jTs6uM3HG0WbfhnTylYCoKSs5snnrg8gomzNP5wP2tchoTWWnpm~O2QZijy1EyaXUAggQJ-vQ3ceh2mPjNerrk2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, NC","date","2025-06-25T02:05:42Z","article","The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education voted June 24 to issue a request for proposals seeking a firm to conduct the district’s superintendent search.

Board legal counsel presented a draft RFP that included background information about district demographics, a proposed scope of work, and candidate recruitment and evaluation requirements. The draft asked firms to describe their experience conducting superintendent searches and to provide references from districts where they had conducted searches in the past three to five years.

Vice Chair Bohannon and other board members requested the RFP stress experience with North Carolina searches and with districts of comparable size and socioeconomic complexity. Board Member Crowley asked staff to include additional demographic details — such as socioeconomic indicators, Exceptional Children and multilingual learner populations and the district’s annual budget — so firms can better assess recruitment reach and candidate fit.

The board approved issuing the RFP and directed staff to add suggested background details and a preference for firms with comparable‑size district experience for references. Board Member Miller moved the motion to issue the RFP; Board Member Rion Gaither seconded it. The vote was unanimous.

Staff proposed a submission deadline of July 11 to allow a 14‑day turnaround after posting; the board indicated it would finalize any scoring rubric and selection weights in follow‑up committee meetings during the summer.

The RFP authorizes firms to propose a search plan and fee schedule and asks for at least three references, especially from North Carolina districts when available. The board’s action clears staff to post the RFP and begin the vendor selection process for a search firm the board hopes can present finalists who could begin work in early 2026.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 6-24-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board approved issuance of a request for proposals for a superintendent search firm and directed staff to refine background information to emphasize district size, socioeconomic and special‑population data; the approval passed unanimously.","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},6185997,"Crosby Scholars and Forsyth Tech present expanded college‑access partnership; district briefed on MOU",247,2548000,2795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2&start=2548&end=2795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2/thumbnail_2548000.jpg","/articles/6185997/North-Carolina/Crosby-Scholars-and-Forsyth-Tech-present-expanded-collegeaccess-partnership-district-briefed-on-MOU","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185997-a013c8bf1cac8d551696653b872fc6c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867319&Signature=TFVXxzrLidf4XZfFMyJf5h7~gZylbCWWtCkOPVWuxVIyVTlYqZnnBwzlVWNcfKTXRCW6fmM3JF9T4anDlEC9qm087XkokTvkH3FazY9nIK-SJy6lsK46uax5DkhtmgUFL-gjnVjjR9Qjw3KxtcF4--a-FVGD2PUd-NLNg~3H7Txt9F5HfCaUUsqOgS~uGVIBdr1IA1cSZyFA5alrQQx~go-pIium4kw3wH1AN-vcN1A7kz8iLA10crHYjWp~ZVuyVNRRadQoUEa5Ff9fTqoymSTvhH7D9UxQv0GR3NtctgdfT5~WdEBkpND5yUmFnuYNnxeqsRHpsb6ODYKwG7QQkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crosby Scholars and Forsyth Technical Community College officials briefed the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education on June 24 about an updated memorandum of understanding that codifies college‑access work and expands student pathways.

Mona Lovell, CEO and president of Crosby Scholars, described Crosby’s college‑access services, which are available to public school students beginning in grade six and which include one‑on‑one advising and assistance with financial aid completion. “We graduated 906 seniors this year in the class of 2025 and they are going to over 121 different colleges and universities, military, directly into the workforce, and we have some that are doing gap year,” she said.

Forsyth Tech representatives described how the College Promise and Career & College Promise dual‑enrollment programs have grown and said the MOU being updated for state review adds formalized transfer pathways in teacher preparation, fine arts and pre‑health programs and incorporates partnerships such as College LIFT, which supports students at select Title I schools beginning in sixth grade.

Forsyth Tech said the vast majority of dual‑enrolled students access the program at little or no cost: the state covers tuition for Career & College Promise courses, Forsyth Tech’s trustees have voted to waive fees for most part‑time students, and the district has supported costs for required textbooks in fall and spring. The college reported robust FAFSA completion rates among seniors and widespread program participation across the district.

Board members thanked Crosby Scholars and Forsyth Tech for the program and for growing dual‑enrollment and early‑college opportunities. No board action on the MOU was recorded during the presentation; the matter was referenced in later items and related memorandums were listed on the consent agenda for the meeting.","Crosby Scholars and Forsyth Technical Community College updated the board on a long‑standing college‑access partnership and a memorandum of understanding that expands transfer pathways, reinforces advising and waives certain fees for dual‑enrollment students.",{"_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},6186002,"Board approves Brunson Elementary change order after public objections about contamination and cost",8424,1839000,10263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2&start=1839&end=10263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2/thumbnail_1839000.jpg","/articles/6186002/North-Carolina/Board-approves-Brunson-Elementary-change-order-after-public-objections-about-contamination-and-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186002-ad01edf85f73149f7d1e248429d09226/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867319&Signature=Go5mVvfT1zCyU-PZHdSUnkIshdnOVwgoX0CKxwUzmot6bCZox7pyiLBWZmPvKzRSuXawHSDARuFz8rjEUgIQbYzIl9aKf~BnjtJ35eOfAS1wpKm4SvIEAGZ9er94JUL1s-Y9xWR4V1DFHL1PSaZ-q92imkMz8gj5OTF0auKeLUGWCV13yAJh-3YvFZ8n2FH1TTzvsWeOHrf6OToIN1S5e8W03ZV0ZWX9OARmK1mHTHZ7~IYVlvPB9fiV8ox5lpdKItEoIeWL2t6JrqqQ51PCPuDZ7Wicx3eGPKcQaAqAhJg1Iw4HyPR2n3gMPIw2gAHgo9q-6eGDLKYVvx5ZObp-5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education voted 5–4 June 24 to approve a construction change order for the Brunson Elementary replacement project that covers removal and replacement of contaminated soil, a topic that drew sustained public scrutiny during the meeting.

Multiple public commenters said the site — purchased by the district for the new Brunson campus — has environmental risks that the board and staff previously understated. “This is the second change order in a month,” said Peter Antonazi, who told the board the new change order would add about $935,000 to project costs and described the work as “$935,000 to move dirt from Davidson County and spreading it around the construction site.” He urged the board to vote no.

Allen Daniel asked whether the requested $935,000 was for new work or to cover work already performed, and he questioned why testing costs were not included in the contract while removal and replacement costs were. Board members and staff explained the change order covers removal, testing and landfill/dump fees tied to historically contaminated material discovered on the site and the cost of approved replacement fill.

During the action item presentation, project staff confirmed the district’s environmental management plan requires testing for material removed and for replacement material brought on site. Staff also explained that landfill disposal fees are charged by weight, which composed a large portion of the change‑order cost.

A motion to approve the change order was made by Board Member Watts and seconded by Vice Chair Buchanan; the motion passed 5–4.

Board discussion referenced contingency allowances for construction projects and noted that many contingency estimates are percentages set for each project; the Brunson site included unexpected remediation after discovery of burned debris and other material in the ground.

The board’s approval allows contractors to proceed with removal of the material and placement of approved fill for the replacement campus. Speakers at the meeting urged additional transparency about the total project budget and warned that continued change orders could exhaust bond funds allocated for construction.

Board members asked staff to provide ongoing updates on the project budget and expected remaining contingency funds at upcoming meetings.","The board approved a change order for the Brunson Elementary replacement project that includes hauling contaminated soil offsite and bringing new fill, drawing public objections about cost and environmental risk; the vote passed 5–4.",{"_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},6186007,"Dozens of media coordinators and community members urge board to reinstate certified librarians",3357,826000,4183000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2&start=826&end=4183","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2/thumbnail_826000.jpg","/articles/6186007/North-Carolina/Dozens-of-media-coordinators-and-community-members-urge-board-to-reinstate-certified-librarians","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186007-c3620d9f11c7b1bd0e4d7bf9cb42bf61/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867319&Signature=A2Y-lZ5QeKdB9HXs5D8x2LV3wIThByDORYcPzufXTfU2KEKltyGSdouqFjk-7oj~xOcgBYvifMOn-aa2IGYqsi4ZwNFNUR3vN5dwZnhc9Szi5XJdfWdit4MzIcb-TTnastO93cWzWHfCRkdGmx1lunKHiYJtLqPkwNBgV92vTVvBH2ZsLxBO6mWkNMzTw9A703kznEzULPu1QeG0O5H8LtR1nEo~3phI30Xc7MUZ67TBhHXiaParGh7WHmNqq8xVRD7fXkw-iSSuwapRuRwf4f~7QHieMy~7sNFivtuDmaFzWwGaonFj4t-n3N~WzoDzR6nItrJmyK5MKM-Gt0vsZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of school library media coordinators, Bookmarks representatives and parents urged the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education June 24 to reverse new budget provisions that permit principals to reduce or eliminate certified media coordinator positions.

During the public comment period, current and former media coordinators described the role as central to reading, digital learning and technology management. “Media coordinators are not just book managers, they are instructional leaders who provide direct instruction to students, train staff in emerging lit technologies including AI, and curate collections that help students both see themselves and understand others,” said Walter Carmichael, media coordinator at Meadowlark Middle School.

Speakers cited research and state guidance in arguing for full‑time certified media coordinators. Sarah Beth Lewis, media coordinator at Southwest Elementary, warned that districts that dismantled media programs previously later had to invest heavily to rebuild them. “Cutting the media coordinator role is short sighted. It does not save money in the long run. It costs student achievement,” she said.

Several media coordinators recounted school‑level impacts: Forest Park Elementary reported a 98 percent increase in circulation after reinstating a full‑time certified librarian, Tiffany Ramey said. Vicky Haney, formerly at Northwest Middle School, said her building’s library contains more than $181,000 in books and that device inventories and federally funded instructional materials require trained staff to manage and track.

Nonprofit partners added testimony. Jamie Southern, executive director of Bookmarks, emphasized that author visits, free book distributions and literacy outreach hinge on school librarians: “The loss of a librarian is not just the loss of a person, it's the loss of a literacy leader, a technology guide, a safe space, and a spark for student imagination and engagement.”

Multiple speakers also warned of legal and compliance risks tied to material challenges and reporting requirements. Walter Carmichael referenced the district’s “policy 6161.3” and the NC Department of Public Instruction digital learning plan, noting that without a media coordinator a school “cannot be rated above developing” under state standards.

Board procedure: the general personnel report — which includes personnel separations tied to alternative licensure outcomes and other staff changes — was included on the consent agenda and approved as part of the consent slate later in the meeting. Public commentators said the personnel report’s termination category included names tied to alternative licensure coding, a point Interim Superintendent Amanda Moore clarified earlier in her update.

No board action to reinstate media coordinator positions occurred during the meeting. Speakers asked the board to direct staff to restore the requirement that every school employ a full‑time certified media coordinator and to track the financial and instructional impacts of recent changes.

The board did not take immediate action on that request during the June 24 session; the personnel report and consent agenda items that included the personnel report were approved as part of the consent slate processed later in the meeting.","More than a dozen media coordinators, authors and nonprofit partners told the Board of Education during public comment that recent budget decisions allowing schools to reduce or eliminate certified media coordinator positions will harm students’ literacy, technology management and state compliance.",{"_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},6186012,"Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools adopts interim budget as district faces state audit and vendor debts",3452,6443000,9895000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2&start=6443&end=9895","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078504-49ba0b74521349bc1414436b64e561c2/thumbnail_6443000.jpg","/articles/6186012/North-Carolina/Winston-SalemForsyth-County-Schools-adopts-interim-budget-as-district-faces-state-audit-and-vendor-debts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186012-23cd8b2bee56359c25c1045afb44c3d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867319&Signature=VO9yaBIMapLQQ8kWmK6rf5fgGzJGyYAEB1Ll9bzETAuR1CHc8844yjAtEuBBeuHjlJcBoWUI9PFRUnlTOxu8BKPVULqgamkXd7E-kbgvXjRR2z~nquhSA6tdnWjhd6LikLqlRL~xy8ZSn1NOXn7O0RRV3QJryjEJJBl7wNwSz1dXHVTQrEAqJ2anvAS~6MwBBv5r90yhwxTcT7YUQRqTXzhJNyzRs3O~gk2UcPEMG5yqhw0pfXgI5KeWegy5Vm8D4JiHYDch39CALYNXqjFBno5~vngtJ7SPPH54EL3GWL04rJHvlqeQNiGmIbLUO9gvDXC5Bcm7P3qOSfw54vcAEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education on June 24 approved an interim budget resolution to allow the district to operate after the fiscal year begins while state and federal funding decisions remain pending.

Superintendent Amanda Moore told the board the resolution is a stopgap while the North Carolina General Assembly completes its budget work and while the district continues reconciling vendor payments, IRS withholding questions and an investigative audit by the North Carolina Auditor’s Office.

Moore said the district faces a multi‑million dollar shortfall traced to overspending in prior periods and late or missing reporting. “Initial review indicates that some payments may have been late, and therefore penalties, interest, fines accrued on those payments,” she said about federal withholding; she said the district was working with an assigned revenue officer at the IRS to reconcile how payments were applied.

The superintendent also described an investigative audit opened in April by the North Carolina Auditor’s Office. Moore said auditors are reviewing purchase orders, payments and other records and that she expected the report to include findings on “insufficient processes and structures,” failures to follow procedures and “lack of oversight to prevent exceeding the budget.” She added the district will publicly respond to the Auditor’s Office report when it is issued.

On vendor payments, Moore said the district has paid roughly $2.6 million in recently printed checks and expected to mail additional vendor checks by June 30, excluding three large vendors (a substitute management vendor and custodial services among them) that are being prioritized in separate discussions. She reported a wire payment of about $800,000 to the district’s substitute management vendor this week.

Moore said staff and the county manager were discussing one‑time flexibility if the board requests it: the county is holding capital outlay reimbursements and bond interest earnings that might be eligible for a one‑time transfer to operating needs. Preliminary reconciliation suggested between roughly $3 million and $6 million available in outstanding county capital reimbursements and about $4 million in bond interest earnings, she said, and added that any request would need both board and county approval.

Moore reiterated that Article 46 sales‑tax supplement payments to teacher local supplements have fluctuated and that a $1.2 million “true up” could reduce next year’s Article 46 balance. She told the board the district will begin reporting Article 46 as a separate line on pay stubs to clarify what portions of local supplements are tied to that revenue stream.

The board unanimously approved the interim budget resolution. Board Member Barr moved the motion; Board Member Watts seconded.

Discussion next steps outlined by Moore included continuing reconciliation with the IRS, ongoing work with the Auditor’s Office, establishing a monthly budget calendar for finance committee reporting and finalizing vendor payback plans where necessary. The district also plans a phased rollout of a new enterprise resource planning system (Tyler) beginning July 1 for budgeting, accounts payable and purchasing; payroll and HR modules are scheduled for a January 2026 launch.

Moore said the district is preparing to reconcile outstanding obligations to the state tied to Program Resource Code overages (PRCs) and that preliminary planning is to prepare for an amount that could be in the tens of millions; she said interest on amounts owed to the state is assessed at roughly 1 percent.

The board’s approval of the interim budget allows staff to continue paying vendors and opening operations while the district completes reconciliations and awaits legislative action on state funding.

Less urgent procedural items on the June 24 agenda — including a slate of consent items and several memorandums of understanding — were handled separately.

Looking ahead, the superintendent recommended a board budget calendar that includes monthly financial reporting and an audit of carryover and school allotments so the board and community can monitor spending during the year.","The Board of Education approved an interim budget resolution June 24 as district leadership detailed a running fiscal shortfall, ongoing vendor payments, an investigative audit by the North Carolina Auditor's Office and possible use of county capital funds to plug gaps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board directs staff to issue superintendent‑search RFP, with guidance to include North Carolina experience

Crosby Scholars and Forsyth Tech present expanded college‑access partnership; district briefed on MOU

Board approves Brunson Elementary change order after public objections about contamination and cost

Dozens of media coordinators and community members urge board to reinstate certified librarians

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools adopts interim budget as district faces state audit and vendor debts