WS Chronicle

Part one of a series on the slow progress of replacement of aging school 

Last October the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) Board of Education voted to allocate $46 million in bond money to replace one of the oldest schools in the city, Ashley Elementary. For those who have been on the front lines battling for Ashley, the vote from the board of education and the nod of approval from the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners marked a significant moment in a decade-long fight. 

With budget talks currently underway between the county manager and superintendent, and with the district planning to put the project out for bid in coming months, over the next five weeks The Chronicle will revisit some key moments in the ongoing fight to replace the aging school, while also discussing plans for the future to ensure that the new Ashley prioritizes the students and the growth and development of the East Winston community.  

We’ll begin our series with a brief history of the school itself.  

Originally known as Fairview Elementary when it was first built before integration, the school was for white students. As the community around the school started to change, so did the demographics of the school. Before long the school was predominantly Black and at times, all Black.  

After the name of the school was changed to honor John D. Ashley, who served as principal at the historic 14th Street School, Ashley operated as a middle school until it closed in the 1980s. In the mid-’90s Ashley reopened as an elementary school serving residential students in East Winston.  

As you would expect in a building that’s nearly 50 years, with no major renovations, by the mid-2000s the age of the structure started to show. In 2016 voters approved an education bond that included several projects throughout the district, including Ashley Elementary.  

Although Ashley was listed in the 2016 Education Bond, according to district leaders it only included funding for the design and not construction. This raised criticism from supporters who had been pushing for a new Ashley for years.  

In many ways, not including funding for construction for a new Ashley Elementary in 2016 led to the distrust between the school district and community advocates leading the push.  

This series will continue over the new few weeks. Look for updates in upcoming issues of The Chronicle.