JAMES CITY COUNTY — James City County’s Board of Supervisors elected Tuesday to preemptively terminate the Contract for the Joint Operations between James City County and the City of Williamsburg.
The move will be effective at the close of the 2025-26 school year, the county said.
According to the county, the action was taken to ensure it has as much time as possible to prepare for the implications of a system split brought on by the action of the City of Williamsburg in June.
Williamsburg City Council voted unanimously last month to launch a feasibility study regarding the possibility of running its own school system, separate from James City County.
Wednesday, the city responded to the decision, saying, “We are aware of the decision made by the James City County Board of Supervisors regarding their intention to separate our joint school system. Obviously, separation is a possibility we have been studying, as announced in June, but we have not reached any final decisions regarding that issue.”
While the city and the county operate as independent government entities, they share many regional services including the school system.
According to James City County, the existing contract allows the agreement between the city and the county to be terminated at any point by either party, effective at the end of the following school year.
“While the county’s action does not change the city’s plan to thoroughly study the impacts of separation before making a decision, our study will now necessarily focus more acutely on what an independent school system may look like,” the city said.
The county said that depending on the conclusions of the feasibility study, the county could have found itself with as little as 13 months to plan for potentially displaced students and administrative logistics. It said terminating the contract now gives the county two years to prepare, as operating as an independent school division would require the county to ensure adequate capacity for all grade levels and require additional classroom space.
The city noted its priority continues to be putting the needs of students, families, and teachers first and reiterated that no changes would occur prior to the 2025-26 school year.
According to the county, it has approximately 10,000 students currently enrolled in the joint system, compared to approximately 1,000 from the city. Three schools and the school administration building are located within city limits, while 13 schools and the bus operations center are located in the county.
The Board said it remains willing to negotiate with the city for a new contract if both parties determine it is in the best interest of all students to remain under a joint system, adding any potential change in school operations should not impact employment opportunities for current teachers and staff.
The city said updates regarding the feasibility study would be posted on its website at williamsburgva.gov/feasibilitystudy.
“We understand as members of this community that parents, students, and teachers have many questions about what the future may hold,” the city said. “We want the community to be a part of this process, and the community will be a part of this process. That is the only way that this work can be successful, and we look forward to a robust conversation with our students, parents, teachers, and residents in the months to come.”
