The opinions expressed in this piece are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carolina Journal or its publisher.
The recent audit of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) is jarring, but not surprising. With over 311 budget overrides, $75 million in bonuses, and $332 million sitting unresolved in suspense accounts, the district now faces a $46 million deficit.
Of course, the district’s financial crisis isn’t occurring in a vacuum. Like many school systems across the country, WS/FCS is grappling with falling enrollment. Our child population has declined, and more families are exercising school choice — whether through private, charter, magnet, or homeschool alternatives. Two-thirds of schools nationwide now operate in a competitive educational landscape. Fewer students mean less state and federal funding, yet the district failed to make corresponding reductions in staffing and expenditures…