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Teachers and community members press board for staffing and a clearer budget as superintendent warns of funding gap
Summary
At the March 31 WSFCS board meeting teachers and community leaders urged the board to prioritize hiring and retention amid understaffing and budget uncertainty; Superintendent Phipps outlined priorities and warned a 1,550‑student ADM loss could reduce state funds about $11 million for 2026‑27.
At the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education meeting on March 31, teachers and community members urged the board to present a budget that addresses ongoing staffing shortages and prevents further turnover.
"Will you choose to be a champion for our profession?" asked Riley Barnes, a third‑grade teacher at Kimmel Farm Elementary and FCAE building leader, during the public comment period. Barnes said staff are "dropping like flies," described loss of custodial staff, counselors and administrators, and called on Superintendent Phipps and board members to approve a budget that restores positions and supports retention.
Several other teachers and association leaders reiterated that theme. Jenny Easter, president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators, said the community expected three distinct budget proposals to be published so residents can compare options and engage; Heather Morgan and Abby Brooks urged full funding of classrooms and Exceptional Children (EC) supports, with Brooks warning that what the district currently calls "inclusion" lacks adequate adult support.
Nut graf: Superintendent Phipps responded with a budget update that outlined stakeholder priorities and near‑term timing: the board will review narrowed scenarios in next week’s budget workshop, Phipps will deliver a presentation on April 14, and the district will transmit a budget to the county for its process. Phipps said the district’s official average daily membership (ADM) is down by about 1,550 students compared with last year, which under the state’s funding‑in‑arrears model could reduce state allotments by roughly $11 million for 2026‑27.
Phipps listed five top priorities drawn from surveys and focus groups: restore full‑time assistant principal positions, expand support for students receiving Exceptional Children services, address mental‑health needs with wellness and outside partnerships, target additional resources to lower‑performing schools, and continue debt‑reduction planning. He also announced new finance staff hires (Executive Director of Finance Stacy Long and Director of Payroll Jennifer Dallas Rosario) and said the independent audit was submitted in February and will be presented to the board April 14.
Board members asked how the district plans to recover lost enrollment and whether the audit advisory committee can be convened quickly to review findings. Vice Chair Bohannon and others suggested using the audit advisory committee’s expertise beyond compliance review to create practical reports and analyses; Phipps said staff will work with legal and committee members to schedule a kickoff by mid‑April.
Speakers representing teachers and families pressed for more transparency and timing: FCAE asked that all three budget options be available with enough time for public comment; Peter Antonacci and Alan Daniel raised concerns about last year’s reported $46 million deficit and the timing and availability of the external audit.
Why it matters: State funding uncertainty plus local decisions determine how many positions can be restored. Phipps stressed many variables remain unknown — including the state budget, teacher salary decisions and retirement and hospitalization costs — and said the district is narrowing multiple scenarios to two or three to present to the board.
Quote highlights: "Our students deserve a school system that attracts, retains, and supports highly effective professionals," Barnes said. "Our official ADM this year is more than 1,550 students lower than it was last year," Phipps said, linking the decline to an estimated $11 million reduction under the state's funding model.
Next steps: The board held a budget workshop the week after this meeting and Phipps scheduled a full presentation for April 14; the county commission will review whatever budget the board forwards and must adopt their budget by June 30 under state law.
Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this article are listed in the article’s speaker roster below. All quoted attributions follow the public record of the March 31 board meeting.
