Board approves Ashley Elementary construction documents after months of community input; staff to pursue CMAR procurement and follow up on funding

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education on April 22 approved construction documents for a new Ashley Elementary School and authorized staff to finalize bid packets and pursue a construction manager-at-risk (CMAR) procurement model, voting 7–2.

The action follows more than an hour of public comment urging the board to ensure local hiring, strong minority- and women-owned business (MWBE) participation, and a community benefits approach to the long-delayed East Winston project. “This would help with making certain that we continue to build equity,” said Rhonda Mays, who said she worked at Ashley Elementary for more than 12 years and urged a qualifications-based procurement process. Forsyth County Commissioner Melisha Woodbury urged the board to seek at least 30% MWBE participation and to press the County Commission for additional bond premium funds.

Board staff presented the project site plan and schedule. Daryl Walker, senior executive director of facility planning and construction, said construction documents were completed in March and that, if the board approved, staff would prepare bid packages and begin procurement. Walker said prior bond issuances and county allocations provide partial funding and that a CMAR would allow staff to obtain a more precise guaranteed-maximum-price (GMP) once under contract. “What that group could do…is bring back to our community a real number so that you know, we really know where our funding lies,” Walker said.

At the meeting staff said the design includes expanded community-oriented spaces—wraparound services, collaboration space, a food pantry and related areas—that increase the building’s square footage compared with standard elementary footprints. Board members and speakers debated whether the district should reduce square footage to lower cost or retain the community functions; staff cautioned that changes to construction documents at this stage typically incur additional expenses.

Staff also told the board they will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a CMAR once funding is confirmed and will include MWBE goal language and outreach. A staff member involved in procurement said the CMAR process “does enhance our cost controls, and it does reduce the project risk” and expressed confidence staff could pursue a 30% MWBE target and provide a breakdown between minority- and women-owned business participation when goals are presented.

Several community speakers urged the board to select CMAR over single-prime contracting so smaller and local firms could obtain subcontracting packages and apprenticeships. Reverend Paul Ford and Kelly Easton both called for a community benefits agreement and local hiring that ties construction work to workforce development and long-term community investment in East Winston. Eunice Campbell, representing community coalitions including NAACP and Coalition for Accountability in Public Education, said RFQ selection should identify partners who will “invest in the community, not just the project.”

During board discussion Vice Chair Alex Bohannon and other members pressed staff for clarity on the timeline, MWBE breakdowns and the funding gap. Board member Brown Gaither asked whether site and design documents could be re-evaluated to reduce square footage; staff replied that reducing square footage is the primary way to lower cost but that any redesign of completed construction documents would add cost and delay.

The formal motion to approve the construction documents passed 7–2. The motion directs staff to finalize bidding packages and to continue discussions with county officials about funding options and timing; staff also said they will return with MWBE goal breakdowns and, if a CMAR is selected, a control number/GMP for board review.

The board approved the construction documents even as some members and speakers urged caution and requested updated cost estimates from a CMAR before full procurement and guaranteed-price commitments.

Looking ahead, staff said a typical bid process will run roughly 30–45 days and, if a CMAR is engaged, construction would last about 16–18 months from groundbreaking. Staff will bring back a CMAR control number/GMP and more detailed MWBE targets and reporting when available.