WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Dental insurance reform emerged as a key topic at a school board meeting Tuesday evening, where officials outlined plans to address Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ $37 million budget deficit.
Interim Superintendent Katie Moore said repayment could come from one-time legislative support, loans, or further spending cuts.
“Repaying the debt may require further layoffs, reductions in local or non-personnel spending, salary supplements, classified payroll, long-term benefits, or extended furloughs,” Moore noted.
While the savings from recent layoffs are still being finalized, Moore expects to see results next month.
As a cost-saving measure, the board voted to switch employee dental insurance from district-funded to employee-paid, affecting both current and retired employees.
“Why eliminate dental insurance when we’re already deeply in debt and have no repayment plan?” asked Jeanne Easter, president of the Forsyth County Educators Association. “It’s one of the few meaningful benefits we have left for our employees.”
Before the vote, some board members, including Leah Crowley, inquired about alternatives. The answer: eliminating 33 jobs—saving about $2.5 million, which would amount to passing the cost of dental insurance on to employees.
