WJCC Administrator to Lead Pulaski Schools, Position Will Not Be Filled

By Amber Lester Tuesday, March 16, 2010

A Williamsburg-James City County school administrator will be leaving the district at the end of the fiscal year to become a superintendent in Pulaski County.

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Bob Becker was approved as the southwest Virginia school division’s new superintendent on Monday, according to The Roanoke Times. He spent Monday and Tuesday with his future staff.

Becker was chosen by the board from a list of five finalists, out of 21 applicants. He replaces Don Stowers, who retired from the leadership role in December. Pulaski County schools serve 4,722 students, according to the Virginia Department of Education’s school division report card. The division has a preschool, five elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and is home to the Southwest Virginia Governor’s School for science and math.

Becker’s last day with WJCC will be June 30. At a joint meeting between the school board, Williamsburg City Council and James City County Board of Supervisors, WJCC superintendent Gary Mathews said Becker’s job will not be filled. Becker is responsible for the operations, technology, transportation, facilities, nutrition and custodial aspects of the division. His duties will be divided between the superintendent, who will attend weekly meetings with operations staff, and Alan Robertson, the facilities management coordinator.

Eliminating his position will save the division $155,409, including salary and benefits. In an e-mail, Mathews praised Becker’s work over the past five years.

“We are at a better place thanks to his conscientious discharge of duties and his devotion to the education of our children,” he said.