[{"_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",6139664,"mediaKeyId","5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f","parentId",5580655,"title","Superintendent updates: bus routing glitches, Open Gate security pilots and new state cell‑phone restrictions as school opens","audioSeconds",338,"startMs",520000,"endMs",858000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f&start=520&end=858","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f/thumbnail_520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6139664/North-Carolina/Superintendent-updates-bus-routing-glitches-Open-Gate-security-pilots-and-new-state-cellphone-restrictions-as-school-opens","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139664-039492d89a4909bc283489c92dd51b2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773548579&Signature=gYwkyfm1mHFKkkyvcokLg4AKovR9F0aL3YLHq1XDgX-Qo1aAqrff2ompepOed8rkh~-GC0gMu3RPfVZa5tj3srB9aQkdbrJOnIynl3cWSKwEM3MkQt98o7Yw5yFbTbc~cETQ4sVmWEMj29SuULiF2MHlAlR~~olGxGYLkc~ccxwo9pKgyap28-Kh~TBHqEe7Bm1KhBosWcHZBKBXVX9u3Vf~wf9yGA2I1ulWq0U~WjD0q5UMvwgMshGZmTaAvzXYdRUNBEV67G2zcDpclIv9wMX2tIAeZ2pkeOWzrAX3-GuZuuhulWktdRlmnXwJwyPdkJQARf8gRbvdOi3EIiWrow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, NC","date","2025-08-13T01:10:55Z","article","On Aug. 12 Interim Superintendent Caddy Moore gave the board a multi‑part back‑to‑school operations update covering transportation, campus screening technology, a clear‑bag pilot, cellphone rules and Advanced Placement participation.

Transportation: Moore said summer routing work reassigned many students after the district eliminated prior choice routes. A small number of kindergarten, sixth‑grade and ninth‑grade students were not assigned during the PowerSchool to Infinite Campus rollover; staff are processing parent requests and assigning stops. Families should check the district transportation portal; if a student has not received an assigned stop or a boarding pass, Moore said families must arrange transport to school and staff will attempt to issue a boarding pass while the child is at school.

Open Gate and event policies: The district has expanded use of portable Open Gate walkthrough screening units to all high schools and multiple middle schools through grant funding. Moore said the units are lighter and portable and that the district used one in the board meeting as a demonstration. The district also is enforcing a clear‑bag policy at athletic events and piloting a requirement for clear book bags at Mineral Springs Middle School and Paisley Middle School.

Cellphone policy: Moore described a change required by recent state law, House Bill 959, which prohibits students from using, displaying or having a wireless communication device turned on during instructional time; the district’s existing local policy had allowed devices if a teacher authorized them for instructional purposes, but Moore said the new law removes that teacher‑authorization exception and expands covered devices to include laptops and tablets when used for messaging.

Advanced Placement: Moore reported an increase in AP participation and pass rates districtwide: 6,200 students took AP exams in 2022–23; 6,820 students took APs in 2024–25 (an increase of about 600), and pass rates rose from 72% to 80% between those years.

Discussion versus decision: This was an informational update; the board did not take votes on operational items. Moore said the district will continue to adjust transportation assignments during the first weeks of school and will monitor the clear‑bag pilot and Open Gate deployment.

Ending: Moore asked families to consult the transportation portal and said the district will continue to communicate updates as routes and assignments settle during the opening weeks of school.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 8-12-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Interim Superintendent Caddy Moore told the board Aug. 12 that bus assignments remain in flux after a student‑data rollover, the district is rolling out portable Open Gate screening units and two middle schools are piloting clear book bags, and that a new state law prohibits student wireless devices during instructional time.","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},6139669,"Board hears renewal of Winston‑Salem Symphony partnership to bring orchestra concerts and after‑school music to students",412,3203000,3615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f&start=3203&end=3615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f/thumbnail_3203000.jpg","/articles/6139669/North-Carolina/Board-hears-renewal-of-WinstonSalem-Symphony-partnership-to-bring-orchestra-concerts-and-afterschool-music-to-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139669-ab31ac21aea4739dfdc9f89aa7e8369c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773548579&Signature=dvnG9~6lvrvMl3JnLBs840VUNjdYZdCxZUR7B4b1uK-ln-s4dxts3VIPCGQv3X-msa0DfB7pONsiUevUc1DBB6ZJRNY6EkFadfuYmzXqu1k-zyzr27A1ccn1mel3lR8MK~R0SH8RstDu9qoPO96dZInmJF9NIAdlgnbFHDLbxnosAgTZ2VvAimOWmA1fKenyjUAEf-d-mIcYOdBR-fBLUPywNrlpkEG851SmsbilzUjqcyY6CR01UsETUbbP5GJ-aU2tNlHFiqLK1cix-ByxUxsGv-lcksKdBQKpOksz6qmyW531HHOLg4e7TtyCrqVi0Z86oXW9mNYYWlKBKPNoBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff and a representative of the Winston‑Salem Symphony told the board Aug. 12 about a continuing partnership that provides students orchestra exposure and after‑school music programs.

The Mary Starling concert series brings every fourth‑ and fifth‑grade class to a symphony concert at Reynolds Auditorium, and the district’s youth orchestra offers string orchestra experiences from beginner to full symphony orchestra levels. The board heard that Play Music, an after‑school program introduced last year, continues through donor funding and currently serves a limited number of schools.

Rachel Watson, a Winston‑Salem Symphony representative, said some Play Music placements were established through earlier principal relationships and that expansion depends on additional donors. Staff said the program’s overall value exceeds $75,000 and that the symphony fundraises to offset district costs.

Board Member Brown Gaither asked staff to add an evening concert option at Cook School so working parents could attend; staff said they would work on scheduling at least one evening performance. Board members also asked whether principals know how to request play placements; the symphony representative said the program was initially placed through principal relationships and that symphony staff are rebuilding relationships amid principal turnover.

Discussion versus decision: This was an informational item; no contract amendments or votes were recorded on Aug. 12. Staff said the annual partnership has been pre‑audited and included in the local budget for the year.

Ending: Staff said they plan to explore multiyear agreements and donor development to expand Play Music to additional schools.
","Staff and Winston‑Salem Symphony representatives described an ongoing partnership that provides a Mary Starling concert series for fourth‑ and fifth‑graders, a youth orchestra pathway and donor‑funded after‑school Play Music programming; staff said the local investment is roughly $75,000 in value and the symphony fundraises to subsidize costs.",{"_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},6139674,"Board narrows superintendent search process after concerns about top‑scoring firm",238,2481000,2719000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f&start=2481&end=2719","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f/thumbnail_2481000.jpg","/articles/6139674/North-Carolina/Board-narrows-superintendent-search-process-after-concerns-about-topscoring-firm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139674-dd7a0b9165b18afc2c7cd31714eed678/orig.mp4?Expires=1773548579&Signature=DfckAX-nXL9dl2gxLkozrHPq~FgJ-OFUJvP9QBX9r63WnNwAuK8J6uqyNI324-ZyAQgNE-NRRMTUQPoj35J907UFpQaSg8bdaBXxEidjvTflteeAzhhPAl6jbr1P1s1Hhg~EqrpPadh~IhoXm2VNf7J~b3vLLiYTrqUAJyR9~09Gtx8shVlkxUBLUh927X-9nzDsm77wRxI9DJbCeOHWLcYaRq39ulqaXm4XfbQXGLj1eSCJjcsaoQagF18q4RzOvJvWBMbMyC9tRvQT6wJ9LvhNbIeLewcRwuOO8EBnqoEyS4gZ650xVO52eOm3i1nyrEs3UsFhfivn21SndID~dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board reviewed the results of a request‑for‑proposals to select a superintendent search firm and discussed next steps after nine submissions. Dion Jenkins, the district’s chief legal counsel, said board members scored the proposals anonymously and that the North Carolina School Boards Association received the highest total score.

Several board members raised concerns about perceived conflicts of interest and about uneven participation in the scoring process. Board Member Campbell noted discomfort because the board chair has a role on an NCSBA executive committee and said that earlier leadership choices by NCSBA had not worked out for this district. Vice Chair Bohannon and other members said the scoring pool appeared skewed by uneven participation and recommended a rapid follow‑up that would preserve the timeline for the superintendent search.

The board agreed on a compromise: staff will identify the top three firms (NCSBA, Summit, McPherson as the three highest scorers in the presentation), ask all nine board members to re‑rank those three and return rankings by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and then schedule interviews with the top contenders. Dion Jenkins said the board has not taken any final action and that a consulting agreement included in materials could be acted on if the board chooses.

Discussion versus decision: There was no final contract approval on Aug. 12. The board directed staff to resubmit a focused scoring step and to schedule interviews with the top three firms. No hiring decision was made.

Ending: Board members said they want the final choice to be objective and to avoid any appearance of closed‑network recruiting. Several members said they would call references and seek additional information during the expedited interview phase.","The board reviewed nine proposals and discussed rescoring and interviewing the top three firms after the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) led the scoring; members raised concerns about the chair’s affiliation with NCSBA and asked to resubmit rankings and interview the top three firms by Friday.",{"_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},6139680,"Board approves consolidated and individual contracts to secure special‑education services before school opens",413,3713000,4126000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f&start=3713&end=4126","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f/thumbnail_3713000.jpg","/articles/6139680/North-Carolina/Board-approves-consolidated-and-individual-contracts-to-secure-specialeducation-services-before-school-opens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139680-92b3c299b3413193b650a0d2b930b8af/orig.mp4?Expires=1773548579&Signature=SiEYK8cI6jA2YlytaGMo6HkZm3KaDVANR6ArnR6P3YcrW~llPAcEVsaksYtolch2dpxfdbklLNaVwhRIBcc-DeB7eu9AK3Ais534Sag6MVAJCAudyvpzD3~CRVMzAgHO7z6rMJQ~o7xQFmYm1cJbO~32t3J8lp4M3AnLuc~LtrRUKFr4v9qlsaTYEhtlHT77rFV~iY2SLUwA7BbQtUwElSapJgDItHL4loxfGFKHQGuYMqdJqV7Y2kzRSn5IsRmlDVbsphdXiNl8GEq~LOZv7P~JHW7orfAxYg5fYn0lz4Q8PrgCmQJXo0wGgcnXOUrfVg2PDZT5YH2kadOSzwMyaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved contracts Aug. 12 to ensure students with exceptional needs will receive required related services as the school year begins. The action authorizes a mix of a consolidated contract and individual contracts after some providers declined to participate in the consolidated agreement.

Dr. Paula Wilkins, the district’s chief financial officer (presenting for the item), told the board the district’s goal is to maintain continuity of services for speech‑language pathology, sign‑language interpreting, nursing, orientation and mobility, and related itinerant services. Wilkins said the overall contract amount does not change from the total the board approved in June but noted staff will begin issuing purchase orders at 50% of the price while the state budget situation is unresolved. “We are working towards that because we are waiting on a final approved budget by our state legislature,” she said.

Wilkins provided a staffing and service breakdown in the meeting materials and during the presentation: the combined contracts will cover multiple speech‑language pathologists and assistants, sign‑language interpreters, orientation and mobility services and nursing supports; she said nursing services increased by one student since initial materials were published (from 21 to 22 nursing supports). Wilkins also said some vendors declined to join the consolidated contract, requiring the district to sign individual contracts for particular providers.

Public commenter Jen Gallagher, speaking during public comment, asked the board to require a recruitment and retention plan from human resources so the district can reduce reliance on contracted vendors and build stable, in‑house staffing for mandated services.

Discussion versus decision: Board discussion acknowledged staff concerns about recruitment and the tradeoffs between contracting and internal hiring; the board approved the contracts by voice vote. The motion to approve the EC contracts was made by Board Member Wood and seconded by Board Member Miller; the board voted unanimously in favor.

Ending: Staff said they will provide a further breakout of which vendors joined the consolidated contract and which will be engaged under individual contracts. Wilkins said she would email the detailed vendor breakout to board members the next morning.","The board unanimously approved contracts and individual purchase orders so the district can provide speech, sign‑language, nursing and related services at the start of the school year; staff said the overall dollar total did not increase from the June approval and purchases will start at 50% pending state budget action.",{"_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},6139685,"Winston‑Salem/Forsyth schools report $46 million shortfall; board warned reductions could eliminate 300–350 positions",1803,5040000,6843000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f&start=5040&end=6843","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580655-0836ab902bef7e22fd3b2053a55c894f/thumbnail_5040000.jpg","/articles/6139685/North-Carolina/WinstonSalemForsyth-schools-report-46-million-shortfall-board-warned-reductions-could-eliminate-300350-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139685-fb71268931cc23ba5be03dcbd6909d40/orig.mp4?Expires=1773548579&Signature=l6P4y3n8rgvE2NJfy8s6GyfsSW~ZJWPpsJkheQF7WKxGf8eJrY3dF8BfK1iUSbRMd4kAu-FgpvYUPqBdgeACfsWiLjLtIKmrPa2O5LrFPaCiFc7aTMZIxrxtG3Qeimrybct21NLLeRFee7z1hn5Ljg4F2rZdJ0VrGJEByJ-niIsOoR51QVcWRL5ed48F4gbkPfSe3z4X3f9kNRNAHpsb0EcxpZ3ZMfG~JNYGNiqWyzDr4oyuN5JlqHAZyvY1-EIAutj1TnQMyjdqNljWkUgpBBOGKvcxuOrVlHuSX5zXZprlTpn6tBvOXX5QlRRLWxPun~Qx6CY3vzNbd3sZbVh2Mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Superintendent Caddy Moore told the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education on Aug. 12 that the district faces an approximately $46 million budget shortfall for the 2024–25 fiscal year and an urgent need for reductions to balance the 2025–26 budget. Moore said the district is recommending a minimum of $20 million in reductions for the coming year and that a formal reduction‑in‑force (RIF) could eliminate roughly 300–350 positions.

Moore said the $46 million shortfall includes multiple components: about $16.1 million the district owes three vendors (ESS, SSC and Forsyth County), a roughly $11.3 million adjustment from the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI), $2 million already accessed from Child Nutrition fund balance (the board previously approved up to $6 million), and an $8 million decrease in federal carryover. Moore added other accounting items tied to capital and grant fund balances push the total exposure higher, “somewhere between $60 to $65 million” depending on final audit reconciliations. “We cannot balance the budget without further reductions,” Moore said.

Why this matters: Payroll and benefits account for about 85% of the district’s budget, Moore said, which limits non‑personnel savings and forces the district to consider personnel reductions or changes to months of employment and benefits. Hill, an outside consultant retained to review the district’s 2025–26 budget, recommended notable cuts in central office administration, school non‑instructional support, exceptional‑children (EC) staffing, dental insurance policy changes, and assistant principal staffing.

Key reduction options presented by staff include:
- Central services staffing reductions and possible reduction of months of employment for 11‑ or 12‑month central staff (estimated $3–5 million);
- School‑based non‑instructional staffing reductions and similar month‑of‑employment adjustments (estimated $2–3 million);
- EC program staffing reductions including teachers and assistants (estimated $9–11 million);
- Revising assistant‑principal allotments (staff proposed reducing roughly 36 AP positions and moving many AP contracts to 10 months, estimated $4–5 million);
- Shifting employer‑paid dental premiums to employees beginning Jan. 1, 2026 (staff estimated roughly $1.3 million saved in 2025–26, $2.5 million in a full year);
- One‑time central office furlough days as a short‑term recoupment option (roughly $200,000 per central‑office furlough day).

Moore also reviewed recent actions and timelines related to last year’s debt: the district has sent materials to the Internal Revenue Service, is awaiting the Office of State Auditor’s investigative audit report, and has requested flexibility and possible funding from the Forsyth County commissioners (Moore said she asked for $8.5 million to address 2024–25 debt). She said the State Board of Education offers an appeal process for DPI actions and that the district plans to seek appeal where appropriate.

Public commenters, many of them district employees and parents, urged the board to seek more transparency, prioritize staff retention and recruitment, and press the county and state delegation for support. Jenny Easter, identified as president of the Federal Coalition of Area Educators (FCAE) and a district teacher, urged the board to “use every opportunity … to fight actively to prevent [cuts].” Harry Morley, an exceptional‑children’s teacher, said he appreciates the board’s advocacy to county commissioners and urged continued pressure on state lawmakers.

Board members expressed shock and frustration at the size and suddenness of the deficit. Several members urged that the district and board use the period before any layoffs to pursue alternatives and to ensure transparent communication with staff. The board set a special called meeting for Aug. 19 to consider RIF action; the regular meeting schedule includes Aug. 26.

Discussion versus decision: The board approved two separate actions later in the meeting (see related articles): the EC contract approvals and a request to the county commissioners to amend a local fund allocation. The RIF itself had not been approved on Aug. 12; staff asked the board to consider formal RIF action at the Aug. 19 special meeting.

Ending: Moore and board members warned that additional adjustments could come after DPI completes its allotment reconciliations and after the district’s audit is finalized this fall. The district said it will provide further details and an FAQ to staff before any formal RIF notifications are issued.","Interim superintendent Caddy Moore told the school board the district faces about a $46 million deficit for 2024–25 and recommended at least $20 million in reductions for 2025–26, including a possible reduction‑in‑force affecting roughly 300–350 positions. The board set a special meeting for Aug. 19 to consider the recommendation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent updates: bus routing glitches, Open Gate security pilots and new state cell‑phone restrictions as school opens

Board hears renewal of Winston‑Salem Symphony partnership to bring orchestra concerts and after‑school music to students

Board narrows superintendent search process after concerns about top‑scoring firm

Board approves consolidated and individual contracts to secure special‑education services before school opens

Winston‑Salem/Forsyth schools report $46 million shortfall; board warned reductions could eliminate 300–350 positions