The Williamsburg James City County School Board is meeting with Williamsburg City Council and the James City County Board of Supervisors to discuss the upcoming budget — and a requested $6.5 million funding increase.
The two localities will meet with school officials at 9 a.m. Friday at Legacy Hall, located at 4301 New Town Ave.
Superintendent Olwen Herron is proposing a fiscal year 2019 budget totaling $137.8 million, an increase of $6.5 million, or five percent above the 2018 budget.
The $6.5 million increase accounts for a 3 percent raise for teachers, administration and support staff and increased staffing for James Blair Middle School, which will open in September.
The fiscal year 2019 budget spans from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
This year is Herron’s second budget season since being appointed superintendent in February 2017. Last year’s budget totaled $131.3 million.
At the beginning of last year’s budget season, Herron requested a nearly $5 million increase in funding.
The 2018-2019 budget also includes funding to add four special education teachers for $300,000, a behavioral intervention specialist for $75,000 and three English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers for $225,000.
“As has been our goal in the past, our aim is to strike a balance between available resources and support of important division priorities. Our focus continues to be on student achievement, equity, and a quality workforce,” Herron said in a Feb. 20 memo to the school board.
Because the WJCC school division covers both Williamsburg and James City County, both localities fund the school budget. WJCC is comprised of nine elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools.
The City of Williamsburg will fund about 9 percent of the budget and the county will cover the rest. The localities’ funding amount is determined by the student population breakdown between the city and county.
After the joint work session, the school’s budget will be sent to the county Board of Supervisors and City Council for approval. From there a final version will be approved by the school board in May.
