JAMES CITY COUNTY — At a recent meeting between the James City County Board of Supervisors (BoS) and the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC) School Board, a presentation was given for the WJCC Superintendent’s Proposed Budget for the Fiscal year 2023 (FY23).
The main emphasis of the Superintendent’s FY23 proposed budget is the ability of the WJCC school division to actively recruit and maintain talented staff and faculty.
“Our greatest resources in WJCC schools is our people,” said WJCC Superintendent Olwen Herron at the meeting. “Our teachers and administrators and staff have given all they have to sustain in-person learning this year. Retaining our excellent dedicated employees and attracting new employees is a primary focus of this year’s budget. Teachers, administrators, support employees all contribute to the positive environment that makes it possible for every student to learn.”
The FY23 budget took into account over 11,000 students, 395 pre-k students, 16 schools, and more than 1,900 employees within the school division.
The proposed budget includes an investment of over $7 million in its employees to position the school division’s competitiveness when it comes to attracting and retaining talented staff.
Superintendent Herron mentioned that in just this month alone there are 59 vacant positions across the organization.
“Seventeen instructional positions. Eight of those are teachers,” said Herron. “16 positions in transportation, bus drivers, and bus aides. 10 custodial positions. Several specialized services positions, such as speech-language pathologist, and other support positions posted and currently unfilled.”
The budget addresses goals in-line with WJCC’s strategic plan called Elevate Beyond Excellence.
Estimated costs in the Superintendents FY23 Budget is as follows:
- Academic Achievement/College & Career Readiness – Estimated Cost: $1,671,159
- Educational Equity – Estimated Cost: $595,00
- Safety & Security – Estimated Cost: $373,700
- Human Capital & Positive Culture – Estimated Cost: $7,677,041
- Organizational Efficiency & Effectiveness -Estimated Cost: $609,400
The full presentation can be found on James City County’s official YouTube page.
The next WJCC School board meeting will be held on March 15, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. at the James Blair Middle School Gymnasium.
