Winston-Salem/Forsyth board approves RIF plan after months of public pleas for funding

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education voted 5-3 on April 8 to implement a reduction in force (RIF) for the 2025–26 school year after a night of public comments pressing the board to seek more local funding rather than cut staff.

Board Chair Deanna Kaplan called the motion; Board Member Wood moved and Board Member Miller seconded the motion. The vote followed public remarks from dozens of parents, teachers and advocates who urged the board to present a no-cut, no-formula budget to the Forsyth County commissioners and to keep classroom and student-facing positions intact.

The superintendent’s recommendation and HR presentation laid out why district leaders said reductions were necessary now. Superintendent Tricia McManus and Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Chris Weichardt told the board the district faces an ongoing mismatch between revenues and personnel costs. McManus said the district used about $13 million from fund balance last year and that continuing past spending patterns would leave the district at risk entering FY2026. Weichardt said the package the board approved includes 81 position changes overall, of which 42 are current employees who would be reassigned, demoted or otherwise impacted under the RIF protocol; the district projects roughly $7 million in total savings from the package and about $4.2 million in direct personnel savings tied to…