Local School Boards Urge Lawmakers To Help With Funding Gaps

School districts across the state are grappling with how to safely reopen in the fall. The Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County School Board is sending a message to state lawmakers. 

The school board approved a resolution on Thursday. It requests that Gov. Cooper and the North Carolina General Assembly consider several issues regarding reopening plans and COVID-19.

The letter highlights the needs of the district and the problems it's facing. For example, they want flexibility with school calendars and support for virtual learning.

School system leaders say in order to comply with the social distancing, hygiene, and other requirements, the district will incur an additional $45 million in costs. Shai Woodbury, chair of the Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County School Board, says they need help now.

“We definitely want to put [forward] a resolution that brings home the point that to really reopen at any phase right now is not realistic based on the resources.”

Guilford County Schools recently approved a similar resolution that was sent to members of Congress. The letter says public schools expect a decline in revenues from the pandemic, which could lead to budget shortfalls.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

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