Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Schools Debt And Accountability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Forsyth County approves use of privately raised funds to prioritize ESS debt; superintendent briefs board on academic gaps and audits
Summary
The board approved using privately raised funds (Futures/Winston‑Salem Foundation: $4,165,281 reported) to prioritize payment of ESS Southeast LLC debt; Interim Superintendent Cathy Moore delivered an extended update on school performance, fiscal controls and debt‑repayment plans.
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted 5–2 on Nov. 20 to authorize the use of privately raised funds to address Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools debt, prioritizing payment to ESS Southeast LLC, staff said. The Winston‑Salem Foundation reported $4,165,281 raised to date for this purpose.
Commissioners divided over principle and precedent. One commissioner said she would vote against forgiveness again, noting taxpayers previously provided $8.3 million reallocated for the schools and arguing property owners deserve recognition for that contribution. Supporters said leveraging private donations avoids additional property tax burdens and helps stabilize the school system.
Interim Superintendent Cathy Moore, appearing later in the agenda, gave a broad update on academic and fiscal accountability. Moore said growth metrics for 2024–25 show 38% of schools did not meet growth and 19% of schools were rated F under the state accountability model. She described district actions to improve outcomes, including rebooting professional learning teams, monitored walkthroughs, targeted supports for persistently low‑performing schools and a leadership pipeline for principals.
On fiscal issues, Moore summarized three concurrent financial engagements: the office of the state auditor rapid report (Aug. 14), the annual financial statement audit, and an internal controls review commissioned by the State Board of Education and LGC, to be conducted by Malden & Jenkins with on‑site work in December and a public report expected by February. Moore outlined debt and repayment updates: a preliminary fiscal year 2024‑25 negative fund balance of approximately $33.5 million, subsequent payments and private donations that reduced the vendor debt to about $3.9 million, and a budgeted recurring amount of $3.5 million to begin debt payments in December.
Moore said the school system has scheduled payments to ESS (the largest vendor debt) and child nutrition obligations and described monitoring steps to ensure implementation of audit recommendations. She emphasized the need for accountability and for policy changes to prevent recurrence.
What's next: the county‑board action authorizes prioritizing ESS debt repayment with privately raised funds; the school system will continue the internal controls review and post its public report in February.
