Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will soon get a big boost after voters approved a $350 million bond package on the November ballot. District officials are getting ready to start the first phase of projects.
Forsyth County voters approved the school bond measure by a wide margin. It will be used for repairs and the construction of six new school buildings. It's something that school leaders say is long overdue because there are more students.
The last bond referendum was approved 10 years ago and enrollment has increased by more than 6,000 students since then, especially in the western and southern parts of the county.
Assistant Superintendent Daryl Walker says the money will also provide every classroom in the district with a technology package. That includes things such as interactive whiteboards and 3-D printers.
“Never, ever in our history of our bond projects have we been able to do a district-wide rollout like this,” says Walker. “We've done some laptop rollouts before, but this is classrooms and it has impact on instructional services, so what this allows us to do is bring equity to everybody.”
Walker says the technology upgrades will take about five years to complete.
The school board is expected to review design plans for two new buildings in January: Konnoak Elementary and the new Paisley Magnet and Lowrance Middle school. Construction on those projects will start in the spring.
Walker says the school system is committed to hiring as many local contactors and businesses for the work as possible.
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