Winston-Salem Daily Brief: Schools Audit, Park Cell Tower, and Primary Results

Winston-Salem heads into March with schools, connectivity, and local elections all in the spotlight.

Schools finance report raises new red flags

A new follow-up review from the North Carolina State Auditor says Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools still has major gaps in budgeting and accounting practices after last year’s widely reported deficit. The report points to expenses that were not recorded for months, incomplete monthly reconciliations, and other control problems tied to fiscal year 2025. District leaders said they’ve taken corrective steps, including tighter oversight and routine budget tracking, and that the debt highlighted in the review has been addressed.

The bigger takeaway for families: this is less about one line item and more about whether the district can consistently show where money is going, month to month, in a way the public can easily follow.

City Council approves Shaffner Park cell tower

Winston-Salem City Council unanimously approved a new communications tower planned for Shaffner Park in the city’s West Ward. The project calls for a 120-foot tower aimed at improving service in areas where residents and visitors have reported weak coverage. Supporters say the goal is practical: fewer dropped calls and better day-to-day connectivity for nearby neighborhoods.

School board primary results narrow the field

Voters also weighed in on the crowded Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education primaries, with 13 candidates advancing to November’s general election from a field of 34. The leading vote-getters included Ronda Mays in the at-large Democratic primary, Lee Childress in the District 2 Democratic primary, and Bob Weiss in the District 2 Republican primary. Incumbent Trevonia Brown-Gaither also advanced from the District 1 Democratic primary.

Looking ahead

With the general election still months away, the immediate pressure point is transparency: how quickly the school system can turn audit findings into clear, routine financial reporting that’s understandable to the community.

Sources

https://www.wxii12.com/article/wsfcs-state-auditor-second-report-fy-25-severe-weaknesses/70620937
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/coastal/news/2026/03/05/winston-salem-forsyth-schools-audit
https://www.wfae.org/2026-03-03/winston-salem-city-council-oks-new-shaffner-park-cell-tower
https://www.bpr.org/2026-03-04/here-are-the-top-vote-getters-in-the-winston-salem-forsyth-county-board-of-education-races