COMMENTARY: Elephant in The Classroom
Funding formula change might be sticking point for new WJCC joint operating contract
Early last week, the Williamsburg-James City County School Board approved a proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2026 without mention of negotiations concerning the ongoing joint school contract between Williamsburg and James City County. The WJCC requested budget totals $197,090,500, representing an overall increase of $16,310,500, or 9.0% over the previous FY25 budget. For FY26, the school system specifically asked for an additional $5.7M from James City County, a nearly 6% increase. Yet, later in the week, James City County responded with a proposed FY26 budget of their own, slashing the school system’s request, increasing the County’s funding for schools by less than 3%. The budget will still need to be voted on by the Board which will take place at its meeting on May 13. (A schedule of meetings for public input is here.)
Certainly, slowing increases in property assessments and higher costs overall are partly behind the funding decision. As Digby Solomon reported in Williamsburg Watch, James City County Administrator Scott Stevens spoke at the time about a tight budget and how that affects taxes, fees and spending priorities. But it also may be that the County took a step towards implementing a potential new funding formula, one that is being considered as part of a new joint school operating contract between Williamsburg and James City County.
It’s been 660 days (or 1 year, 9 months, 21 days) since Williamsburg approved a feasibility study for an independent school system, and still very little is known about the status of negotiations. Though the City Council ultimately decided to stay in the joint schools system, it is now becoming increasingly clear that either way, Williamsburg faces paying a higher percentage of costs if it wants to address the needs of its students.
With their proposed budget, it seems like the WJCC School Board has done exactly what the City asked, trying to increase the number or teachers as well as staff for student support services. For example, the additional funding requested by the school system includes paying for 48 new positions, as well as filling multiple empty positions. Though some are administrative support and maintenance related, many are focused on instructional services. The proposed hiring includes elementary and high school teachers needed to maintain service levels, as well as teachers’ aids, behavior support staff, services for English language learners, and staff for the “restorative center” which helps students who were suspended from their regular school to stay in a learning environment.
Currently, the joint school system determines funding requests based on a 3 year rolling average of the number of students from each locality. The new funding formula being considered would not be based on this proportion, but rather utilize what the school system describes as “weighted funding,” which they say would be “based on the current year’s enrollment and weighted funding for the following populations: English as a Second Language, Special Education, Preschool, and Gifted and Talented students.” The school system noted that this formula would also account for the money each jurisdiction receives from the State for schools.
Williamsburg’s school split feasibility study clearly indicated that costs to run an independent schools system would be just as high as part of the joint system, if not significantly higher. For example, the WJCC School Board’s proposed FY26 budget puts Williamsburg’s contribution to school operations at $11,418,062. The City’s own rosy feasibility study indicates that operational costs for an independent school district would be similar.
Yet, there’s also the possibility that Williamsburg will see its costs increase whether they continue with the joint system or proceed with becoming an independent system. In fact, Williamsburg’s feasibility study noted that many Williamsburg students lag those from James City County in reading, math and science. The study also found that Williamsburg students have higher rates of chronic absenteeism, lower on-time graduation rates and a higher dropout rate. So while James City County students make up the vast majority of students in the system, Williamsburg students need a disproportionate amount of specialized services to help close achievement gaps with their peers.
This issue of how funding is determined might very well be the sticking point to the negotiation of a joint school contract. James City County doesn’t seem inclined to pay the for the bulk of the increased costs to serve Williamsburg students. In fact, based on James City County’s proposed contribution for FY26, Williamsburg would need to pay an additional $2.9M to make up the school funding gap, or almost 28% more than the school system’s requested funding from Williamsburg in FY26.
When the Williamsburg City Council approved the school split study, they remarked in a joint statement on what they believed to be several justifications, including financial and student performance issues. For example, in May 2024, before the results of the feasibility study were released publicly, Ryan Murphy of WHRO reported that Williamsburg City Council member Stacy Kern-Sheerer commented on the decision regarding the potential school split saying, “we can’t have the data and the information we have now and just pretend we don't.”
In June 2024, Williamsburg City Manager Andrew Trivette went even further with the City’s demands of the school system, writing: “On behalf of the Williamsburg City Council, I am requesting that the Williamsburg-James City County School Board and administration review, consider, and respond to the Williamsburg City Council's desire to improve WJCC student performance metrics by providing a plan for action, a timeline for implementing that plan and achieving the desired results, and any associated in-kind or monetary expense by July 31, 2024 … The City Council expects to provide a stellar education system for our students, parents, and teachers - an expectation that aligns with our vision of One Williamsburg, in which all people who live, work, and visit the City of Williamsburg have the opportunity to thrive. This vision requires courageous leadership, including in education. The City Council's 2023-2024 strategic plan established objectives related to improved pre-kindergarten opportunities and reimagined K- 12 models that remove hurdles to career readiness through higher education, certificate, or job placement pathways.”
Now, instead of fostering a collaborative approach to weather potential financial shortfalls and help all the kids served by the system, Williamsburg has created a climate of doubt. The County’s response seems to be “show me the money.”
Editor’s Note: A Google AI tool called NotebookLM was used (but not relied upon) to review and compile information from 15 sources, including 6 meeting videos and over 600 pages.
Editor’s Note: Clarification on proposed budget by James City County, public input and date of adoption vote.
George Arbogust is Founder and Editor of the Williamsburg Independent. He wakes up too early, so please consider buying him a cup of coffee.