WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is weighing whether to close Cook Elementary as the district looks for ways to fix budget problems .

On Tuesday, staff presented a cost-saving plan that includes possibly shutting down the small elementary school. The district’s Grounds Committee has requested a public hearing for October 14 so families can share their thoughts.

Cook was built to hold 500 students. Today, only 189 are enrolled, meaning the school is operating at just 37% capacity. That gap has a big financial impact. District leaders say it costs about $300,000 a year to keep the building running, plus another $900,000 in non-teacher staff expenses.

There’s also the value of the land — estimated at $2.5 million — and the cost of maintaining an aging building.

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