A message from our Executive Director per our partnership with WS/FCS
CFEC Partnership Update: Commitment to Continuity, Growth, and the Children We Serve
Message from the Executive Director - posted May 11th 2026
Nicholas McCoy, Executive Director of the Centers for Exceptional Children
For more than 70 years, The Centers for Exceptional Children (CFEC) has been a trusted community partner, welcoming thousands of children through our doors and providing the specialized supports, programs, and facilities needed for our families and their children to thrive. Our mission remains steadfast: to educate, nurture, and support children with special needs to reach their highest potential intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. We see possibilities where others may only see challenges. CFEC is an independent non-profit organization with a clear purpose and with deep roots within the Winston-Salem community. Our legacy is one of leadership, and we will continue to lead with what has always made CFEC strong: partnership, working side by side with families, educators, and community leaders to deliver the highest quality, most tailored services possible.
Recently, there has been public discussion regarding Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) February 19, 2026 announcement to conduct a formal review of its long-standing Operating Agreement with CFEC, including consideration of whether Developmental Day services at The Centers for Exceptional Children could be transitioned to other district-owned facilities in the future. As the WS/FCS Board of Education (BoE) reviews and deliberates any proposed transition strategy of moving 154 students to other facilities, no decision has yet been made. Under the current agreement’s notice requirements, the earliest potential implementation of any major transition would be July 1, 2027, and only if WS/FCS provides notice to CFEC of its intent to vacate CFEC’s premises by June 30, 2026. It is anticipated that the BoE will take a formal decision at their June 30th 2026 meeting. In the meantime, we are actively engaging with district leadership to evaluate options that maintain stability for students and families under any proposed transition plan. CFEC values collaboration and remains committed to working constructively with WS/FCS throughout this process.
While our partnership with WS/FCS may change, CFEC is focused on protecting what matters most: continuity of care, safe and purpose-built learning environments, and continuing to provide the specialized supports our students require. As this process unfolds, CFEC is actively evaluating options that may preserve a meaningful public school footprint within our Centers, while concurrently maintaining the level of services our families depend on at CFEC. At the same time, CFEC is moving forward with purpose. We have been, and will continue to be, proactive in building and strengthening both existing and new partnerships that align with our mission. We are actively advancing opportunities that will expand and grow our programs for 2026 and beyond, ensuring that we not only sustain but enhance the services available to children, regardless of any decision taken by WS/FCS in the coming weeks. Even if WS/FCS ultimately reduces its on-site presence, CFEC will remain, and we will do what we have always done: adapt, strengthen, and grow.
For over 70 years, CFEC has been a pillar of this community, and we are not going anywhere. CFEC will continue to advocate for what is in the best interest of our children and families by listening closely, elevating parent and stakeholder voices, and planning responsibly for every scenario. We value our long-standing partnership with WS/FCS and look forward to continued dialogue focused on minimizing disruption and supporting students and families across both organizations throughout this process.
— Nicholas McCoy, Executive Director
