A contract for the operation of the Williamsburg-James City County school division was approved on Friday after nearly a year of negotiations.
The Williamsburg City Council, James City County Board of Supervisors and the WJCC School Board all agreed to the deal during their joint meeting at the county recreation center. The contract aims to provide “predictable and planned annual funding” to provide the division the resources it needs, according to a news release announcing the contract.
After going into effect Friday, the contract cannot be modified until January 2030.
“This new agreement affirms we are stronger when we work together to support our students,” school board Chair Sarah Ortego said in the release. “As we move forward, we remain united in purpose — pursuing excellence and championing the success of every student.”
The approval comes nearly a year after the city agreed to begin negotiations with the county for a new contract. The previous accord expired in June, but the debate goes back to June 2023, when City Council launched a study to see if it could operate as an independent school system. The county in turn terminated the joint contract, which had existed since 1955.
After the city’s study showed that a potential split would disrupt thousands of students and cost city taxpayers more, the city said it wanted to remain in a joint school system. This led to negotiations between the city and county — the school division’s two funding partners — over a new joint contract.
Among the key changes from the old contract, the school board is now added as a party, which gives members a say on how money is spent and schools are run, Ortego said. Prior to the new contract, all three parties prepared individual budgets — now, the city and county will be required to provide an operating cost budget to the division each October.
The division will then develop its own operating budget. The school administration will be able to request additional funds for strategies that would enhance student performance, such as additional assessments, fields trips and family learning activities.
The contract requires more funds from the city and county. Both funding partners’ contributions for fiscal year 2027 are now set for $104.5 million from the county and $14.45 million from the city. Previously, the county’s contribution was $100.25 million and the city’s $12.65 million. Starting in fiscal year 2028, locality contributions will be adjusted based on the increase or decrease in their respective student enrollment.
The agreement also highlights a focus on investment in student outcomes. The study commissioned by the city showed a marked disparity in testing rates between city and county students. Council members have previously said they wanted to closely consider how to address the performance of students.
“To ensure the best possible educational opportunities and outcomes for all city and county students, WJCC Schools needs the appropriate resources to establish competitive teacher pay, innovate beyond Standards of Quality to improve student performance, and enhance student support for those who need it most,” the release said.
Capital funding has been simplified by having each locality responsible for funding its own capital projects and project costs for schools in its area. Costs for shared-use facilities will be split in accordance based on an operational funding formula. The contract also splits operational costs accounting for the actual cost of educating students in each locality.
“After we reached, what I would call an agreement and principle, it took quite a while to get the language crafted so that it did what we wanted to do,” Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Icenhour said.
The contract also gives the Board of Supervisors the option to add two new seats to the seven-member school board to reflect the county’s potential population growth. Currently, James City County names five members of the board while City Council appoints two. Two more county representatives would allow more equitable representation of county and city residents.
With the contract signed and both funding partners in agreement that there is a need for more funding, they now have to find out how provide it, said Mayor Douglas Pons, who said they will “make the budget work.” Ortego said she and the board are grateful for both parties, for the extra funding and for the ability to forecast earlier what the funding will look like.
“Now we’re focused on academic achievement, closing achievement gaps, meeting the needs of all the students in both localities,” Ortego said. “We are excited to see what the future holds for us.”
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
