WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Forsyth County Schools are trying a new approach to help employees impacted by recent layoffs. The district hosted what it called a reverse job fair today, connecting staff with open positions in nearby school systems and county departments.
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools are trying to connect recently laid-off employees with new opportunities. Today, the district held a reverse job fair, bringing county departments, community partners, and other school systems into one room to meet face-to-face with staff affected by budget cuts that eliminated 340 jobs, impacting more than 250 employees.
"We are prepared to make some job offers today again, like I was saying, we have several departments that are here today, so we are committed to trying to place people where we can," said Forsyth County Government Human Resource Officer Shannon Hutchins.
Instead of employees walking from booth to booth, they came prepared to recruit on the spot, offering openings for teachers, speech therapists, bus drivers, and even HVAC technicians. While the event aims to provide an opportunity, some teachers think the fair comes at a cost.
"I've personally never heard of one. I think that it's great that we have other districts throughout the state that want to try to keep these individuals in education. But also, the ripple effect of this is going to be devastating in the long run," said WS/FCS Exceptional Children's teacher Stephanie Trillo.
District leaders aim to make the process as smooth as possible by offering on-site applications. Still, many educators say the cuts could leave a lasting impact.
"It's heartbreaking. You know, the longer I'm in it, the E.C. Community is very tight-knit. I can email a teacher from a different school and ask for some assistance in trying to effectively figure out how to best serve a student," said Trillo.
Some worry the layoffs may also push families away from the district, affecting the system even further.
"A lot of parents out there are thinking how their children's education will be once the cuts come. And I think that will be a ripple effect where they could possibly be moving more into private education, which will just decrease the amount of funds we are being given," said Trillo.
The district says that while today's fair was just one step, it hopes this will help employees find placements quickly, filling critical roles across the region. The last day of work for impacted Forsyth County educators will be September 12th.