THE CASH STUFF FOR MARCH 19,2026

STATE AUDITOR FINDS

MORE FISCAL PROBLEMS 

AT WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH SCHOOLS

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

A North Carolina public school district that in 2022-23, according to the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, had a 24% black student population that was over six times more likely than their white classmates to receive a short-term suspension and over there times less likely than white students to score “Career and College Ready" on final exams, is in trouble again for alleged fiscal mismanagement. 

The first investigation by the Office of the NC Auditor of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County System determined that there was an estimated $46 million budget deficit, caused primarily because of alleged fiscal mismanagement.

But now a followup “Rapid Response Special Report” finds that for fiscal year 2025 the school system reportedly delayed recording $15 million in expenditures.

“Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools remains far from having healthy budgeting practices in place,” said state Auditor Dave Boliek in a statement. “Approximately $15 million in expenditures were not properly recorded for months, and the school system yet again failed to complete monthly reconciliations.”

The followup investigation determined that the Winston-Salem/Forsyth School System waited until after fiscal year 2025 was over, in September of that year, to then charged those expenditures June 2025, the last one of that fiscal year.

The state Auditor’s Office found other alleged fiscal practices that it says contributed to the school system lack of sound budget practices.

“The additional findings of financial misconduct the team uncovered in our follow-up show a failure to keep their books straight,” state Auditor Boliek said. “Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools owes parents, teachers, and students accountability.”

One of the state’s largest public school systems, Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools has had fiscal mismanagement problems before, according to published reports. The student population has dropped by more than 3,000 students since 2018, even though has staffing has increased by 245 positions, causing per pupil enrollment funding problems.

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