FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) -- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Tricia McManus sat down with FOX8 to address questions and concerns about the $5 million budget shortfall announced earlier this week at a board of education meeting. FOX8 asked McManus if the district prepared ade quately for the ESSER funding to end. ESSER is the acronym for the emergency funds awarded to schools as a result of the pandemic. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools budget shortfall draws questions with few answers “We knew the ESSER funding was coming to an end ... We prepared,” she said. “We’ve probably needed to make more reductions. Even had we not gotten ESSER dollars, we would have gotten to this place." The district is faced with dissolving vacant positions, demoting people or offering to reassign them, which affects 116 jobs. “As you compare our central office and the size of our district, and you’re looking at other districts, we are trying to get within what we can maintain over time, and this is just a necessity right now,” McManus said. She said some central office workers could end up in classrooms if they're licensed, but many probably do not want to make that change. "There might be some that could be OK with it,” McManus said. She also said some employees prefer the versatility of their role since they get to travel to different schools to help train teachers. After the audit revealed the shortfall, there was also a note in the report indicating the district needed to address a staffing void, and she confirmed they are looking to fill a director of finance position. If positions are eliminated at the school level, that is not because of the budget. It’s because of the state algorithm involving enrollment, which determines how many positions are funded. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has $5 million budget deficit, could cut jobs, superintendent says Moving forward, McManus says there are guardrails in place, and finances will be reviewed every two weeks by not only her but the board as well. She understands people are concerned and are watching closely. “The buck stops with me, and I take everything personally. I absorb everything, and I take it on my shoulders because I do believe ... if something goes wrong anywhere, it is my responsibility,” McManus said. She went on to say that at the end of the day, the district’s responsibility is the education of its students. The next board meeting is on April 8. ...read more read less