After months of discussion, Williamsburg-James City County Schools can move forward with a plan for a fourth middle school.
The Williamsburg City Council approved the school division’s plan for a new middle school by a 4-0 vote Thursday, with Councilman Scott Foster absent.
WJCC Superintendent Steve Constantino presented the plan recommended by the school board, which calls for the construction of a 950-seat middle school on the site of the James Blair administrative offices over two phases at a total cost of $61 million through 2024.
Newly installed School Board Chairman Jim Kelly (Jamestown), and City of Williamsburg school board representatives Kyra Cook and Elise Emanuel were also in attendance.
The City Council approved Phase 1 of the plan, which would construct a 650-seat middle school at the James Blair site, while retaining the central office in a modified wing of the existing building.
The James City County Board of Supervisors passed a similar resolution in November 2014 to approve Phase 1 of the plan, which is expected to cost about $30 million. The two localities still have to negotiate the final terms of the project.
The four council members present for the meeting came out in support of the plan, but acknowledged it was not an ideal option given the lengthy nature of the discussion.
“The longer we wait, it’s the students that suffer,” Councilman Doug Pons said. “This I don’t think is the most optimum solution. I think it’s kind of pennywise today but pound foolish tomorrow. But, that said, it’s the best opportunity we have today.”
Each of the five members of the City Council had previously backed James Blair-centered plans, but the board had not voted on a proposal to date.
The Board of Supervisors rejected a similar plan in March 2014 that would have constructed a 950-seat middle school on the James Blair site at a total cost of $49 million.
In June, the supervisors budgeted $28.5 million for “classroom expansion,” forcing Constantino to “reverse-engineer” a plan to fit the dollar figure.
The result was the two-phase James Blair plan, which the School Board voted to recommend Oct. 21, although several board members said they did so “reluctantly.”
Neither locality addressed funding Phase 2 of middle school construction, which is required to reach the 950 seats recommended by the school board.
Constantino said the initial phase would be sufficient to meet the school division’s needs for the time being.
“Phase 2 comes way down the road,” he said.
Constantino said the school division hoped to select a design firm for the project by April, with construction tentatively scheduled to begin July 2016.
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