A committee of 17 people has started exploring options for a fourth middle school in Williamsburg-James City County’s school district.
Last fall, the WJCC School Board approved plans to study what spaces will be needed to house the administration and the middle school population, estimated to outgrow the existing three middle schools by 2017.
The administration conducted an internal audit, determining it will need approximately 44,386 square feet of office and meeting space. Superintendent Steve Constantino recommended a separate committee be established to study the learning needs of middle school students. The committee met for the first time on Feb. 21. To see information shared with the committee, click here.
The committee is tasked with researching the future learning needs of middle school students, reviewing enrollment projections and examining research on the impact of school size on academic performance and school climate.
As part of its review, the committee will also study how the former James Blair Middle School property might fulfill some or all of the division’s needs. The committee is asked to determine if the property could be appropriate for building a new middle school; if the existing building could be reconfigured or adapted to meet the needs of future middle-schoolers; or if the existing building could be adapted to meet the needs of both the Central Office and middle school students.
By May, the committee is expected to recommend up to three options to Constantino. Each option must focus on meeting future learning needs and resolve future housing issues; ensure the recommendations conform to the current Capital Improvement Plan projections and are fiscally responsible; and consider the Board-approved square footage needed for administrative and School Board space.
Once the committee has suggested options, Constantino will present recommendations to the School Board over the summer and the board will solicit public comment. At its Aug. 20 meeting, the School Board will review and discuss his recommendation, and choose their preferred option. At that time, the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) will be amended to reflect the decision.
Since 2009, the future of James Blair Middle School has been in limbo. A building boom several years ago led the administration to project the division would need four middle schools, and plans began to construct what’s now Hornsby Middle School. But by the time Hornsby neared completion, the recession had slowed new home construction and the enrollment projections were lower than expected. In addition, tighter budgets meant the division couldn’t afford to operate four middle schools.
In 2009, the school board approved a plan to convert James Blair, through use of removable walls, into a Central Office, to save the costs of renting office space. To reopen the facility as a school, the division would need to invest up to $6 million in refurbishment and renovation costs, along with an additional $2.2 million to operate the school, according to an estimate provided to the board in 2011.
At the 2012 joint work session between the school board, City Council and the James City County Board of Supervisors, Constantino shared one idea of how to fulfill the needs for a Central Office and fourth middle school on the James Blair property.
He proposed continuing to use James Blair as a central office and building a fourth middle school on the same property, saving the cost to purchase land. He said it could be an opportunity to build a unique, forward-thinking school, possibly with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and the arts or an alternative for nontraditional learners, he said.
The Middle School Committee members are:
Parent/Community Representatives
- Alan Graham, Superintendent’s Business & Community Advisory Committee
- Donna Jones, parent of students at J. Blaine Blayton Elementary and Lois Hornsby Middle
- Beth Kluger, parent of students at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary and Berkeley Middle
- Gina Kuniewicz, parent of students at Stonehouse Elementary and Toano Middle
- Ruth Larson, chair of School Board
- Jim White, Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs/Education Committee
School Representatives:
- Jennifer Brungot, social studies teacher at Toano
- Selena Chamblee, math teacher at Berkeley
- Shandra Dunn, science teacher at Berkeley
- Avory Harman, World Languages teacher at Toano
- Sherry Smeland, English teacher at Hornsby
- Karen Swan, principal at Berkeley
Central Office Liaisons
- Scott Burckbuchler, chief financial officer and committee co-chair
- Olwen Herron, deputy superintendent and committee co-chair
- Terri Roettinger, K-12 math coordinator
- Marcellus Snipes, senior director of operations
- Kristi Wagner, K-12 science coordinator
