WS/FCS to hold community input sessions on proposed boundary changes to diversify schools

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools officials are hosting a community input session on Wednesday to discuss proposed school boundary changes. 

The district received nearly $1 million in federal grant funding a couple of years ago to develop a plan to foster more diverse schools. 

At a recent school board meeting, Frank Pantano, one of the district’s leaders on the project, said there are two main goals for this initiative. 

“One of those goals was to update those residential boundaries so that they're more efficient from a transportation standpoint," Pantano said. "And also to try to make sure that our schools aren't becoming socio-economically segregated, try to make them more integrated.”

The district engaged with about 11,000 community members last year to gather input on what changes, if any, should be made.

Based on those meetings, officials created maps with updated school zones and will begin hosting sessions for feedback on their designs this week. The first is on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the M3 Innovation Center. 

Officials say they plan to host community meetings through June, refine the maps, and then bring them back for a second look before submitting a proposal to the school board. 

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.