Monday, November 11, 2024

WJCC Schools ‘Deconsolidation’ Feasibility Study and Transition Plan Presented to JCC Board

(screenshot of from the June Board of Supervisors Board of Supervisors business meeting)

JAMES CITY COUNTY — The James City County Board of Supervisors was presented with a Feasibility Study and Transition Plan for creating a separate Pre-K-12 school division ahead of possible deconsolidation of the joint Williamsburg-James City School division at its June 25 meeting.

This follows the City of Williamsburg’s Independent School System Feasibility Study reported during the March Williamsburg City Council meeting.

Established in 1965 through a joint agreement, the independent localities of James City County (JCC) and Williamsburg have had one operating school system. In June of 2023, Williamsburg’s city council announced its desire to explore the potential of operating its own school system.

The study was performed by David Gaston of Gaston Educational Consulting, who noted that a deconstruction of school divisions has never occurred in Virginia, bringing a series of challenges for the county to consider, stating, ” After nine or ten months of really hard work and digging deep into this major question that is before us — what happens next?”

The presentation was to provide background for what is contained within the study.

During the presentation to the board, Gaston pointed out that the JCC Feasibility Study looks at three overarching questions for the county:

  1. How would the process of dividing a joint school division work?
  2. Who would be the major players in the process?
  3. What would be the specific and feasible action steps and timeline to establish a separate JCC school division should separation be a reality?

Gaston explained the process of separation is governed by the Virginia Board of Education.

(Screenshot from the June James City County Board of Supervisors business meeting)

The report is a roadmap and guide that represents the best prediction of various steps and stages involved and does not provide detailed or projected financial analysis.

Some items included in the study include the procedures creation of a new school board, allocation and division of current resources, staffing challenges, student transition, redistricting and space and cost for a new middle school, as well as a central office.

“I think they (the citizens of the county and the city) will find (the Gaston Consulting study) to be very different from the report the city’s consultants did — which was more focused on the issues of performance in the City of Williamsburg residence versus county residence,” stated Board member John McGlennon.

“This is a process that doesn’t really exist but I especially appreciated getting an understanding of the factors that are taken into account by the Board of Education,” McGlennon continued, “The real challenge right now, I think, is simply that we are in a limbo and that makes it exceptionally difficult on our school system to know what to do and to understand exactly how to proceed.”

Board Chair Ruth Larson said, “I do not want anyone in James City County or the City of Williamsburg to question our commitment to education. We want the very best for all students whether it is continuing with a consolidated system or changing to two independent school systems. We are looking forward to hearing from our citizenry in public meetings this fall.”

The report is available to the public and according to the James City County Board of Supervisors, citizen input sessions will be scheduled.

A presentation is planned for the November James City County Board of Supervisors meeting to update the members and community to determine the next steps in the process.

Watch the full meeting here.

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