Executives for James City County and Williamsburg say the funding agreement for WJCC Schools is likely to expire before the localities reach a consensus.
But the county administrator and city manager don’t expect it to impact school operations next year.
“They will have money from us for operating and they will have money from the city for operating,” said Scott Stevens, county administrator.
The city and county formed the division in 1955. The two periodically renegotiate the agreement governing the operation and funding of WJCC Schools. The agreement was last updated in 2022 and ends before July.
With the localities looking to keep WJCC Schools together after exploring what it would take to decouple the division, both have different ideas for the next agreement.
Williamsburg wants to address achievement gaps for city students, which were highlighted in a feasibility study the city conducted when it looked into becoming independent. The approval of the study sparked talk of a break-up.
It found students from Williamsburg, who are more likely to be Black or Hispanic, English language learners and economically disadvantaged, graduate at a lower rate and perform worse than James City County students in every testing category.
“The City Council entered into this discussion of the school system open-minded to having to put more money into the education system, but it would be in return for performance gains, ” said City Manager Andrew Trivette. “The two are linked and can't be separated.”
Funding is a key concern for James City County. A funding formula determines how much each pays; James City County, the larger of the two, pays roughly 89% of local dollars to fund the division.
County Administrator Scott Stevens wants the next agreement to be a “per pupil model,” tying funding to the proportion of enrolled students and adjusting that based on the Local Composite Index – a state-determined formula that calculates a locality’s ability to pay for schools. Stevens’ proposal would also have the localities pay for capital improvements for buildings within their borders, split costs for shared facilities and pay more for special education or English language programs, and possibly others, based on where students live.
“I believe we, the county, had been paying a little more than we should have been toward the school division’s local cost,” Stevens said. “Our board believes we ought to pay our share and, likewise, the city should pay their share.”
Trivette said Williamsburg City Council is interested in amending the formula as well. He wants to budget for school operations based on a percentage of government revenue, similar to systems used in Virginia Beach, Hampton or Roanoke. Trivette believes that will make funding increases more predictable.
The city manager also thinks it’s time to include the school division in the joint agreement so that requests for new funds can be explicitly tied to desired performance gains for its students—currently, it is not involved in the agreement. That has put the city in a holding pattern until the School Board selects the new WJCC superintendent.
“To have a contract like we have now, where it’s just the city and the county, leaves out probably the most important partner – the one responsible for performance,” Trivette said.
If the localities do not reach a new agreement before the 2027 budget cycle, the city and county would make funding decisions without a formula.
However, both executives believe they can reach a fair agreement and make positive changes.
Stevens said top of mind is “the best interest of our community and our students.”
“I know they have an interest in making sure their students are doing well,” he said. “I’m optimistic we’ll get there.”
WJCC Schools is a member of HRETA, which owns WHRO's broadcast license.
