Forsyth County delays vote on Ashley Elementary site purchase and $505,000 transfer amid price, design questions

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 23 voted to postpone until Nov. 6 a decision on approving Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools spending to acquire a 0.13‑acre parcel needed for the planned new Ashley Elementary School and on a related transfer of $505,000 from county budget reserves.

The motion to postpone passed 6–1. Commissioner James McDaniel moved to postpone; the motion carried with six in favor and one opposed, after several commissioners said they needed more time to review updated price and design details.

The item on the agenda combined two related actions: approval of the amount to be spent by the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education to buy the site and an amendment to the Education Capital Projects Ordinance to transfer $505,000 from budget reserve to the Ashley Elementary project. Daryl Walker, a representative for Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools, told commissioners the seller reduced his asking price by 10% during recent conversations, “which brings the cost of the property to $45,000.” Walker said that the district did not originally include that small parcel in earlier…