Bill To Stagger Terms On WS/FC School Board Surprises Some Members

A statehouse bill introduced last week would mandate staggered terms for members of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. This came as news to some board members.

The bill was introduced by Reps. Donny Lambeth and Lee Zachary. It comes at a time when all nine members of the school board are up for election during the four-year election cycle. 

Lambeth served 18 years on the school board before running for his seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He says that having districts stagger terms is a common practice, and calls it “good public policy to not have all board members elected at the same time.” 

He says he's discussed the legislation with Superintendent Tricia McManus and several board members.

But the Winston-Salem Journal reports at least five board members say Lambeth never told them about the bill. Member Elisabeth Motsinger told the newspaper that while she supports the idea, all board members should have been notified, calling it an issue of respect.

The legislation, which would only affect Forsyth County,  is expected to go before a committee in the next few weeks. The next election is in 2022.