WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A non-profit mentoring group formerly hired by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools said it acted immediately upon learning about a mentor's inappropriate relationship with a student.
Action4Equity released a statement Tuesday, alleging errors in a recent WS/FCS letter sent out to district parents.
On June 30, the school district ended its partnership with the Action4Equity after the district said it was not notified of an inappropriate student relationship in a timely manner.
However, Action4Equity said they immediately informed the district, fired the employee, and looped in police.
Action4Equity is calling to reinstate its partnership with WS/FCS. The district hasn't responded to those efforts. WS/FCS had a $1.4 million contract with the mentor program.
The pilot mentoring program was approved by the Board of Education in December 2021 and was set to run through September 2022. It ran at four schools including Paisley Middle School, Philo-Hill Middle School, Parkland High School, and Reynolds High School offering mentorship opportunities to about 200 students and families.
The implementation of the mentor program came after the Mt. Tabor High School shooting in September 2021 that left one student dead and the community shaken. The district said the program was meant to prevent and reduce gang violence as well as address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that were leading to "negative behaviors."
In a letter to parents on July 6, 2022, WS/FCS said Action4Equitty terminated one of their mentors for having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
"As part of its termination notification to Action4Equity, WS/FCS expressed concern that the termination of the mentor and the reasons for the mentor’s removal were not shared with WS/FCS in a timely or suitable manner," read the parent letter. "Despite the benefits and potential of the Action4Equity mentoring program, WS/FCS will not tolerate any conduct that is in violation of WS/FCS Board policies and jeopardizes student safety.'
In the parent letter, district officials said they have partnered with seven community agencies to continue offering mentoring programs that will begin in the 2022-2023 school year.
In a statement on July 5, 2022, Action4Equity said it remains committed to its work "dismantling the patterns and practices that create inequities in our public schools.'
"Nothing is of greater importance to us than the safety of our students, and the safety of our children who we fight for daily and who we are so privileged to serve as part of the EMP (Embedded Mentoring Program)," read the statement.
News 2 has reached out to the Winston-Salem Police Department to find out more about any investigation into the mentor's alleged actions and whether there will be any charges.