Board votes to end Virtual Academy
During their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Educations voted 5-4 to do away with the Virtual Academy.
Virtual Academy was created at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-2021 school year. Currently WS/FCS offers two-virtual models, the Virtual Academy, a standalone school offering grades 3-8, and the Virtual Academy at Kennedy High School, which serves grades 9-12.
Last month, Chris Weikart, WS/FCS chief human resource officer, made recommendations to transition to a 6-12 model that will be embedded in Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy; and phasing out virtual learning for third and fourth grade over the next two years. With the approval of the recommendation, during the 2025-2026 school year Cook Literacy Elementary School will have two virtual classrooms, fourth and fifth grade. During the 2026-2027 school year and beyond, Cook will have one virtual fifth grade classroom. Currently there are 200-300 students across grades 6-12 and 60 in grades 4-5.
According to Weikart there were several factors that led to the proposed changes including enrollment declining in grades 3-5, and W-S Prep’s 6-12 configuration and magnet status that aligns with the virtual instructional format. He also mentioned that the changes will increase enrollment at W-S Prep and Cook, allow Kennedy to focus on its Career and Technical Education (CTE) Academy, and provide opportunity for additional elective course offerings
District leaders have also mentioned that the change will save the district more than $900,000 annually.
Teachers, staff members, and parents made their last plea to the board on Tuesday. Jennifer Chambers said the Virtual Academy has been a lifeline for students and teachers. Chambers was physically assaulted while teaching in 2020, which left her with permanent spinal injuries and unable to teach in a traditional setting.
“The virtual Academy has given me hope and purpose to do what I love to do which is to teach,” Chambers said. “Closing the Virtual Academy won’t just disrupt our children’s education; it will dismantle a vital support system for vulnerable students and dedicated educators alike.”
Chambers, who has two children who attend Virtual Academy, presented the board with a petition with 1,163 signatures of those who oppose the closing. “Please board, Ms. McManus, I urge you to not close the Virtual Academy. We are a safe space, we are a community, and we are a family,” she said.
Before the board voted on the future of the Virtual Academy, Superintendent Tricia McManus made it clear that the virtual learning option will not be leaving the district. However, changes are needed to create a sustainable program. McManus said although it was a tough decision for the board to make, when looking at the big picture and the uncertainty of the future, it’s necessary. School districts across the country are unclear about the future, with the Trump Administration looking to dismantle the Department of Education.
Board member Sabrina Coone said there has to be another option. She suggested creating a center within the district for students who need a non-traditional learning space.
“I know hard decisions like this are made across the country where they close schools and end programs. This is not the ending of a program, it is a transition into something that is more sustainable down the road,” McManus continued. “Meeting the needs of our students whatever it takes, anyway possible, will always be what we do. This is the closing of a school code and a continuation of a virtual program, just in two different settings.”
Board member Sabrina Coone said there has to be another option. She suggested creating a center within the district for students who need a non-traditional learning space. “It absolutely serves a purpose for our students, so I really feel like if there are any other options, we should be exploring them,” she said.
Board members Trevonia Brown-Gaither and Alex Bohannon raised questions about the future of the teachers. Richard Watts, who is the former principal at W-S Prep, suggested that they table the change for another year to see if there’s any changes in the enrollment numbers.
When it came time to vote, Bohannon, Susan Miller, Robert Barr, Leah Crowley and Deanna Kaplan voted in support of the change. Brown-Gaither, Watts, Coone, and Steve Wood voted against the change.
Now that a decision has been made, the district will start scheduling “connection meetings” for students, parents and new principals. Pre-registration for students in W-S Prep and Cook will begin shortly after that. Current virtual staff will have placement opportunities prior to the opening of the transfer window and have priority placement.
