Mark Owens, the president of Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., told Forsyth County commissioners on Thursday that negative news about the financial troubles of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is causing some people to consider moving to other counties.
Commissioner Malishai Woodbury asked Owens about the possibility of putting together a study on the economic impact of the financial crisis, which has been in the news since early April.
Owens said that it might be too soon to track some of the impact, but he said he has heard from employers that some of their employees are considering moving to different counties so that their children can attend another school district.
“It’s crucial we have the best possible school system, not just for the future of our kids but also currently, as we continue to recruit,” Owens said.
Barring hard data, a report with anecdotal evidence about the importance of a strong school district could help Forsyth County residents understand the magnitude of the issue, Woodbury said.
“I just think we need to have a good sense of what happens economically when school districts fail,” Woodbury said.
At an education summit last month, Owens spoke with business and community leaders about supporting the school district during the financial crisis.
“We are recruiting companies from all over the world, and when they search ‘Winston-Salem, Forsyth County,’ it’s the top thing in a Google search,” Owens said.
He called on the community to end the “finger-pointing” and move to a “solution phase.”
lodonnell@wsjournal.com
336-727-7420
@lisaodonnellWSJ
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