The board of Williamsburg James City County Schools recently heard that all 16 schools in the division are fully accredited after the state released accreditation results. At the boards meeting on October 20, Superintendent Daniel Keever, Ph.D., said seven schools were designated as distinguished, eight schools meet expectations and one school is approaching expectations under the school performance and support framework. All schools improved their scores from last year by a range of 0.9 to 11.5 points. Three schools were federally identified for targeted support and improvement based on one or more student reporting group performance.
The board voted 7 to 0 to approve a contract with Hanover Research for an instructional audit at a total cost not to exceed $255,000. Chief Academic Officer Robin Ford said the audit will assess how curriculum expectations, instructional planning, high quality instructional materials, student assessment and classroom practices align to support student learning in kindergarten through 12th grade English language arts and mathematics. Findings and recommendations are anticipated by the end of March 2027. The board will receive the audit results in the spring.
Keever said information in September and October presentations highlighted areas of tremendous growth and celebration for the school division. He said the division also recognizes there are areas that need continued focus. The school performance and support framework compiles information from the previous school year that includes standards of learning performance and student achievement data, academic growth and attendance. Keever said he is proud of student growth and the tireless commitment of staff. (0:13:55)
Later during her comments, Ford said the school division has made significant investments in high quality instructional materials and professional learning over the past two years. The audit will identify effective practices and barriers to student progress and provide actionable recommendations to guide continued improvement and strengthen academic outcomes for all students. Funding will consist of $100,000 from the $427,000 in one-time additional state revenue set aside by the school board in the fiscal year 2027 amended budget approved in August 2026 for non-recurring expenses, with the remaining $155,000 funded through a budget transfer from instructional salary and benefit savings. (0:33:30)
Superintendent’s school division redistricting recommendation approved in 7-0 vote
The Williamsburg-James City County School Board voted 7-0 to approve Superintendent Daniel Keever’s recommendation for redistricting the school division’s attendance zones, according to the board’s agenda materials. Many elementary schools are at capacity, and eight of nine use portable classrooms. Two new pre-k centers expected to open in August 2027 will move pre-k students out of five elementary schools, leaving some space unoccupied while other space remains at or over capacity. The plan followed draft maps released May 12, community feedback and an Oct. 6 public hearing.
Purchase of 2,650 middle school laptops from Lenovo approved
The Williamsburg-James City County School Board voted 7-0 on Oct. 20 to approve a purchase request from Lenovo for 2,650 Windows laptops for middle school students, at a total cost of $2,306,825, according to the board’s agenda materials. The purchase includes extended warranty and services and is part of the division’s four-year refresh cycle, which replaces about a quarter of staff and student laptops each year. School policy requires board approval for purchases above $100,000. Funding includes $1,582,578 from the technology budget and $724,247 from a Virginia Public School Authority grant.
Fiscal 2027 grants fund budget amendment to $7.3 million approved
The Williamsburg-James City County School Board voted 7-0 on Oct. 20 to amend the fiscal 2027 Grants Fund budget to $7,300,848, according to the board’s agenda materials. The change reflects $100,848 in new grants and community contributions, including $37,958 in state career and technical education grants and $29,640 for the Open Outdoors for Kids program. The amendment lets the division spend the money for its intended purposes.
$840,000 transfer for special education contracted services approved
The Williamsburg-James City County School Board voted 7-0 on Oct. 20 to approve an $840,000 budget transfer to pay for contracted special education services, according to the board’s agenda materials. Continued staffing vacancies have left the division unable to fill all required services with its own employees, so it has relied on contracted personnel to maintain continuity and comply with students’ Individualized Education Programs. The money comes from salary and benefit accounts for vacant positions: $600,000 from attendance and health and $240,000 from instructional accounts. Those amounts move to matching contracted services accounts.
Matoaka Elementary HVAC design contract awarded to PACE Collaborative
The Williamsburg-James City County School Board voted 7-0 on Oct. 20 to award a $342,513 contract to PACE Collaborative for engineering services for the replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Matoaka Elementary School, according to the board’s agenda materials. The system was installed in 2007 and has reached the end of its useful life. The firm will produce designs, construction drawings and specifications and obtain regulatory approvals, under Request for Proposal #20261032. The adopted fiscal 2026 Capital Improvement Plan includes a total project budget of $480,000.
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