Small Business Funding

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County board members voted 6-3 to build a new Brunson Elementary. The bid is from Shelco LLC to build the school for about $36.4 million.Much of the funding for a new school is coming from a 2016 bond allocating more than $27 million.The current school building on Hawthorne Road was built in 1959 and was built on a flood plain. In the past, teachers and parents have addressed issues with mold, roof leaks, standing water, and a dated building. “I’m in a stem class with no sink. So I have to do everything outside with a hose if I’m doing anything in my room.” Michele Jordan, a teacher at Brunson Elementary School, said.The future Brunson Elementary will be built at the former Thomasville furniture plant on North Patterson Avenue.Its a brownfield site which is an area that has had a threat of environmental concerns. District leaders and Brunson staff say they feel secure that everyone who enters the future school will be safe.”They wouldn’t be putting us anywhere that is not safe. And what they’re doing is voluntarily making it even safer,” Jordan said. “We got a couple engineers in this, so we’re very confident that the data is there,” Darrell Walker, chief planning and construction officer. “We’re safe, we’re doing the right thing, we’re following the environmental management plan and that’s the key to it all, so we’re excited about that.”With this approval, district leaders plan to start construction at the new site in the coming weeks. The new school is scheduled to be complete for the fall 2026 school year.