RALEIGH, N.C. — Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools announced Tuesday it has paid off the $11.4 million it owed to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, a major step in addressing its financial crisis .

"It's a huge weight lifted. It's just such a positive step toward getting us all back in good financial health," said Deanna Kaplan, the WS/FCS Board Chair.

Kaplan and Vice Chair of the school board Alex Bohnannon presented updates on the district's ongoing debt repayment plan to the State Board of Education. They confirmed that the district has made significant progress, already having reduced its remaining debt from an estimated $46 million to about $22 million.

“I feel like everyone knows the importance of getting our school system back in good fiscal health, because

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