COMMENTARY: Costs to Address Williamsburg Student Achievement Gaps Come into Focus
School budget battle brews as potential WJCC shortfall pits County vs. City, new hiring vs. employee raises and health care costs
In a working session this week, the WJCC School Board continued their annual budgeting discussions for Fiscal Year 2026. This year, the School Board appears poised to ask for even more from their local funding partners. Potentially to the tune of an extra $13.8M, according to the presentation given this week by the Acting Superintendent, Daniel Keever. It’s important to note the number is preliminary and could decrease if state funding turns out to be higher than currently announced, or the Board decides to cut some of the requested amount.
Yet it’s still likely to be higher than last year’s ask either way. According to reporting from the Daily Press last year, the budget for FY25 was nearly $180M and included 3% pay raises system-wide. The paper also reported that to afford the additional spending, the school system requested an extra $8M in additional funding from James City County and the City of Williamsburg during the budget process last year.
Of the potential $13.8M shortfall this year, the majority stems from giving employees a 3% system-wide salary increase, as well as continuing to cover 70% of employees’ rising healthcare costs. These expenses, which are mostly associated with taking care of existing employees, will most certainly come up against the presented need to fund and hire new staff. Keep in mind, this push for more resources comes at a time when the County and City are actively renegotiating a new school contract.
The City’s arguments about student achievement gaps are bolstered by its recent school separation feasibility study that identifies multiple ways in which Williamsburg students lag behind their peers from James City County. Yet, Williamsburg typically pays just a little over 10% of the system’s total local contributions, with JCC shouldering almost 90%. From the perspective of the JCC Board of Supervisors, one might easily conclude that in order for Williamsburg students to do better, Williamsburg needs to cover a bigger share of the total costs. Paying a couple million more for additional staffing for struggling students probably seems like a good place to start.
That’s why I anticipate that Williamsburg is ultimately going to need to cover a bigger share of the costs in order to get a deal done that delivers the improvements they want. A review of school documents related to the budget process, as well as statements from members of the School Board, indicate as much, even if the City isn’t talking much.
Clearly, many of the new staff positions are in response to the demands of the City Council to create better outcomes for Williamsburg students. In fact, school administrators proposed adding nearly 49 FTE at a cost of over $3.1M annually. And most of that can probably be put at the feet of the Williamsburg City Council, because the majority is for “school based staff” and “school support staff." The breakdown by positions as listed by the school system are:
School Based Staff - $2.2M - 39FTE
High School Teachers (4)
Elementary School Teachers (3)
Gifted & Talented Resource (GTRT) Teachers (2)
Counselor (1)
Special Education Aides (6)
Elementary School Teacher’s Aides for Behavior Support (9)
Restorative Center staff (4)
PreK Assistant Principal (1)
Elementary School Security (9)
School Support Staff - $464K - 4.85 FTE
K-5 Literacy Coordinator (.85)
Speech Language Pathologists (4)
Central Support Staff - $410k - 5 FTE
HR Coordinator (1)
Accountant (1)
Sr. Payroll Specialist (1)
Maintenance Assistant (2)
A straw vote by the School Board passed 5-2, advising the system’s administration to proceed with building a budget which included the $13.8M funding request. Yet, in discussion leading up to the vote, several Members pointed out that their personal preference was likely for a smaller request. For example, Board Vice Chair and Williamsburg representative, Andrea Donnor said she agreed to move forward with the $13.8 M request as a starting point, but anticipated further discussion about potential cuts.
Yet, during the work session, several other School Board members justified the total $13.8M additional funding request by commenting indirectly on Williamsburg leadership’s frequent statements about improving the school system’s quality. For example, School Board Chair and Jamestown District representative, Sarah Ortego acknowledged the multiple demands placed on the system’s stakeholders, yet gently prodded them to see the bigger picture. “Our funding partners have been generous with us. We know that they want to support teachers, schools, and students. And we know, from what they told us, that our funding partners want excellent, top-notch schools. And they want teachers to want to work here, and live here and be happy here,” she said.
Randy Riffle, the School Board Member representing the Berkeley District was a bit more direct when he remarked, “I’m not afraid to ask funding partners for $13M because they’ve been asking us to kind of step up to the next level, and this is what it takes. It comes back to the argument that you can’t say these things and not do it … and whether you want to hear from me, but that’s what you’ve been asking for and that’s what our community’s been asking for.”
Board Member Michael Hosang, Stonehouse District joined Dr. Daniel Cavazos, Roberts District, in voting against the additional budget request. Participating in the meeting remotely, Hosang voiced concerns about adding additional staff, providing a preview of skepticism likely shared by the James City County Board of Supervisors. He pointed out that many positions within the school system are currently unfilled. “So trying now to say that we need more employees, I don’t think is going to be a good selling point,” he said. He noted that while he didn’t support adding new staff, he supported trying to secure resources for people serving in roles currently funded by expiring grants.
My guess is there will be a similar line drawn in the sand for the JCC Supervisors too. If so, that likely leaves Williamsburg holding the bag to fund what they have claimed are necessary school and support staff increases. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a sticking point in current negotiations between Williamsburg and James City County right now. And if Williamsburg leadership ultimately balks at footing the bill, one could question what they were thinking from the very beginning, when they decided to shake up the existing contract without a realistic goal in place.
George Arbogust is Founder and Editor of the Williamsburg Independent. You can contribute too! Email tips and story ideas: contact@williamsburgindependent.com
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