Auditor: Financially embattled public school district still struggling

(The Center Square) – Buried last fall in a $46 million budget hole and saying it welcomed state auditor help, North Carolina’s fourth largest public school district remains far from compliance and accountability.

In a report to the governor, General Assembly leaders and the superintendent and Board of Education for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek said his reports shows the district “has not made significant progress in fixing its financial issues and restoring public trust in the school system.”

“Most concerning were the substantial costs kept off the books,” Boliek wrote in his letter. “Our report found approximately $15 million of expenditures incurred during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, were not recorded until September 2025. This was a serious point of discussion during our exit conference with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education and system administration.”

The district told The Center Square in September t...