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Board approves FY 2026‑27 local budget request and calendar changes after public pleas for staffing
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Summary
The board unanimously approved the district’s FY 2026‑27 local budget request and approved calendar changes (calendar vote was 8–1); public commenters urged more special‑education staff, bilingual personnel and that the board press the county and state for additional funding.
At the meeting’s conclusion the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools board approved two action items: recommended changes to the school calendar and the FY 2026‑27 local budget request.
The board voted to approve the recommended school‑calendar changes (motion carried 8–1). Later, the board approved the FY 2026‑27 local budget request to forward to county commissioners; the budget motion passed unanimously. During discussion a board member asked whether the FY27 request included $4 million to repay debt from the prior year and Phipps confirmed there is $4 million for debt repayment plus a $2 million reserve.
Superintendent Phipps had earlier presented a proposed local appropriation request outlining base county appropriation amounts (about $177 million in county allocations, approaching $180 million when fines and forfeitures are included) and an additional local request of approximately $33 million to raise the request to roughly $211–213 million. Phipps listed targeted additions the request would fund if approved: roughly 37 EC teacher positions (about $2.5M), 35 EC case managers (conversions and additions), 40 middle/high classroom teachers, 76 classified flex positions, restoration of 32 elementary instructional facilitator positions and other operational increases including bilingual assistance and technology refresh items.
Public commenters urged the board to adopt FCAE staffing recommendations — notably more special‑education teachers, teacher assistants and case managers — and asked that the board press county commissioners and the state for additional funding. Laurie Farrington (a teacher who identified herself from Mount Tabor High School) and others warned that planned absences around May 1 could reach the magnitude of prior years and urged the board to make protective decisions for student safety.
Board members asked staff to provide additional detail on central‑office reductions, furlough days, and the specific ledger lines behind categories such as "school leadership" and "financial and human resources" where the auditor showed large variances. Board members said they expect additional documentation from staff as county budget conversations progress.
What happens next: the approved local appropriation request will be forwarded to the county manager and county commissioners; the board said it will return to the budget if county action or the state budget changes the available funding.
