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Winston‑Salem/Forsyth board approves grants, contracts and new policies in June meeting
Summary
The board approved the CTE local application, a $14.6 million magnet schools grant, the West Forsyth auxiliary gym floor replacement, a Title II professional‑development contract, the revised cell phone policy and multiple capital and contract items. A substitute motion removed iReady from a diagnostic purchase.
The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education on June 25 approved a slate of grants, contracts and policy revisions covering career and technical education, school facilities, student assessments and district operations.
The board unanimously approved the 2024–26 CTE local application and then voted 8–1 to appropriate a five‑year Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant that district staff said totals $14.6 million and would fund roughly 15.5 full‑time equivalents across central office and schools. The board also approved a district purchase and capital projects including a recommended rubber composite replacement for West Forsyth High School’s auxiliary gym floor after staff reported the existing VCT tile contained asbestos.
On policy, the board adopted a revised cell phone rule that officials described as a consistent district standard: no use of phones in elementary and middle schools and a high‑school limit to lunchtime with devices powered down and out of sight the rest of the day. The board approved a Title II‑funded contract with Instructional Empowerment to provide professional learning in a nine‑school pilot to support deeper‑learning practices, and it approved other contract renewals and EC‑related agreements.
The meeting also resolved a long debate about district diagnostics. Following board discussion about cost and classroom fidelity, the board passed a substitute motion to remove iReady from the proposed diagnostic purchase and to authorize other tools (MCAS and NWEA), reducing the projected purchase cost in staff materials.
Board members also approved the Pepsi bottling contract after public comment raised concerns about unequal scholarship and tournament funding by gender; the motion passed 7–2. The board approved the 2024–25 SRO contract 8–1 amid questions about summer coverage and whether unused hours can be banked for after‑hours events.
"I also raised a concern about the contract, the scholarships, and I do agree that we could probably get leverage more for our schools," Board member Watts said during discussion of the Pepsi deal.
Votes at a glance (selected): - CTE local application (2024–26): approved, unanimous. - Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant appropriation ($14.6M): approved, 8–1. - West Forsyth auxiliary gym floor (rubber composite replacement): approved, unanimous. - Instructional Empowerment contract (Title II professional learning): approved, unanimous. - Cell phone policy revisions (no use for elementary/middle; HS at lunch, powered down): approved, unanimous. - Diagnostic resource purchase (substitute removing iReady; use MCAS/NWEA): approved, 8–1. - Pepsi bottling contract: approved, 7–2. - SRO contracts (2024–25): approved, 8–1.
What’s next: district staff said asbestos abatement work on the West Forsyth auxiliary gym VCT tile is scheduled to begin within weeks, Title II funds will support the instructional contract rollout to nine pilot schools, and the board will reconvene for its next regular meeting Aug. 13 to receive updates on implementation and staffing progress.
