exceptional children

Roughly 30 parents and teachers of children with significant developmental needs urged the board not to relocate students, citing concerns about safety, continuity and belonging.

The district currently leases the spaces for The Special Children’s School and The Children’s Center. But officials are considering relocating students from the first site to a district-owned building to save money.

Commissioner Tonya McDaniel said the only way she might consider giving the district extra money, was if the school board promised to use it for the EC department.

Officials are considering relocating the roughly 150 students attending The Special Children’s School and The Children's Center into district-owned schools with available space.

Guilford and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school systems have listed increased exceptional children funding and positions as legislative priorities.

The EC department was hit hard with cuts amid the district’s financial crisis.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction found there were over 1,500 vacancies in this field across the state in the 2023-24 academic year.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has fewer employee vacancies overall so far this year compared to last. But officials are concerned about the level of staffing needs in the exceptional children department.

With less than a week before the start of the new academic year, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has made some progress in filling teacher vacancies.…

Dominique Gillespie's passion for working in the special needs community started with her nephew who was diagnosed with autism when he was three years…