Update: The special call meeting was cancelled because the Code of Virginia does not permit the WJCC School Board to raise it salaries this year, according to Board Clerk Janet Cerza.
Original Story: Members of the Williamsburg-James City County School Board may vote to raise their annual salaries by more than $1,000 tonight.
The five James City County members will convene for a special call meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at the James City County Government Complex. The meeting will include an opportunity for citizen comment.
During the March 1 Board meeting, Vice Chairwoman Kyra Cook (City of Williamsburg) suggested a starting salary of $7,000 for School Board members. Board chairman Jim Kelly (Jamestown) suggested $8,500 total for the chairman.
The current salary is $5,500 annually for Board members, plus an additional $1,100 for the Board chairperson.
Board members are paid by the locality they represent, which would be James City County or the City of Williamsburg.
Cook asked for the item to be added to the agenda after she had read a Daily Press article that stated YCSD School Board members are paid $3,500 more each year than WJCC School Board members, even though their enrollment is only 1,400 students greater.
“Because of that article, I just thought the timing was good to suggest to the James City County Board that they convene a special call meeting to consider taking action on this topic,” Cook said.
The last time the School Board raised its salaries was in 2005. If the James City County members agree to a raise, the salaries of City of Williamsburg members will automatically increase.
A salary increase would not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2017.
