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CLEMMONS — It’s no secret that Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is in a rough spot with its budgetary crisis, and the West Forsyth High School Parent, Teacher, Student Association is asking the community to step up for its local teachers and students and cover some of the gaps that are left by budget cuts.

Nancy Brandon, president of the WFHS PTSA, said that she is trying to raise awareness of the organization’s work as the schools and communities around the district expect cuts.

“Budgets are going to get cut, when you’re out $45 million it’s going to have to come from somewhere. Lots of departments got funding cut last year as well. If I can get more parents in, we can kind of support those (teachers through the) shortfalls, repairing instruments for the band, helping with supplies for the art department, things like that,” said Brandon, who has one son who recently graduated from WFHS, a daughter who is a rising sophomore and another son who will be at the high school in a couple of years.

The PTSA is hosting a meeting for new families on Monday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Panera Bread, 3107 Gammon Lane, Clemmons. Brandon said that the meeting will offer the families of rising ninth graders or others who want to get involved an opportunity meet her and other officials from the organization as well as learn about future opportunities to get involved.

One thing the PTSA struggles with is lessening involvement from parents as their children move through the school system, said Brandon.

“When your child starts school in kindergarten, parents are climbing all over themselves to help. They want to be involved, support the teachers and that’s great. The school size is smaller, the resources are greater, a lot more parental involvement. Then you get to middle school, and that’s a transition, so there’s still support but it’s support at arm’s length. Parents are involved, but it’s more helping out with some of the events and there are sporting events for the first time,” said Brandon.

Once the students reach high school, however, they can become more independent, making parents feel like there could be less of a need for their involvement.

“If I can get some parents, they don’t have to chair a committee or become the president. I just need, if I say if I need a bunch of composition notebooks or beakers, I need help with that. Right now, we’re waiting on a list from the departments, saying ‘that’s what I need,’” said Brandon.

While the meet and greet is the closest upcoming event, Brandon said they are working on setting up spirit nights and other events throughout the year to continue to help with fundraising.

“We hear a lot of the time, before I was here, teachers say they didn’t get a lot of support. We had no money at the time, and I’ve been fortunate to get restaurants and other businesses around town to help out with our fundraisers,” said Brandon.

For now, however, Brandon said her focus was primarily on boosting the association’s membership and fundraising capabilities with the aim of getting West Forsyth High School teachers what they say they need.

“The teachers are really the ones on the frontlines who know a lot of (what students need). Things like feminine hygiene products, teachers want to keep some in their rooms and even want to keep them throughout their departments. We’re just trying to give them support and resources. Even for snacks, I’ve started a SignUp Genius (page) where people can sign up to bring in snacks for their departments. There’s a break room, but teachers don’t always have time to run down to the break room and grab a bite to eat,” said Brandon.

For more information on the WFHS PTSA, go to wsfcs.k12.nc.us/o/wfhs/page/welcome.