WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) Board of Education voted 6-3 on Tuesday to approve a reduction in force, a move that will eliminate 340 jobs and impact more than 250 employees across the district.
“This is messy, and it hurts,” said Chris Weikart, WS/FCS Chief Human Resources Officer. “There’s nothing that’s good about this situation.”
The plan also includes furloughs for more than 600 central office staff members. While some employees losing their jobs may be placed in existing vacancies, officials admit that such opportunities are limited.
Employee Protections
Under district policy, affected employees will be placed on a preferred hiring list for three years, giving them priority consideration should new positions open in the future.
Breakdown of Eliminated Positions
The reduction covers a wide range of roles, including administrative, instructional, and support staff. The cuts include:
- 36 Assistant Principal positions
- 9 Assistant Principal positions from trade-ins
- 11 Central Administration positions
- 6 District-Based Licensed Staff
- 33 District-Based Non-Instructional Support positions
- 52 School-Based Non-Instructional Support positions
- 37.75 Testing Coordinator positions
- 61.9 Exceptional Children Teachers
- 97 Exceptional Children Teacher Assistants
Financial Impact
District leaders estimate the cuts will save $18.3 million, money they say is necessary to stabilize finances and avoid more severe consequences.
“This represents the known amount of money the district must save,” said Interim Superintendent Catty Moore, noting that failure to act could place the district in a deeper financial crisis.
What Comes Next
The WS/FCS board and administration emphasized that while the decision was difficult, it was driven by financial necessity. The district will continue to monitor its budget closely while navigating the impact of these staffing changes.