This story was reported and written by WHRO media partner Williamsburg Watch.
The Williamsburg-James City County school board approved moving forward with a $220 million budget Monday. And it will ask local taxpayers for an extra $1.225 million to fund some optional programs such as lacrosse.
The $220 million budget, approved unanimously at the board’s work session Monday, includes money from various grants and nutritional programs, and is up 6.3% from last year.
It works out to $19,212 in spending per student.
Williamsburg and James City County pay for 59.4% of the budget. The state pays 31.2%, sales taxes provide another 8.9% and federal and other sources contribute.
Superintendent Daniel Keever noted the budget is based on the state contribution proposed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin and may change before it is finalized.
The additional $1.225 million the board is requesting from the two local governments would pay for several more staff including two more safety officers and a gifted resources teacher, as well as adding lacrosse and an expanded JROTC program.
Keever will send a letter to the local governments asking for the whole amount rather than breaking it out by line item that some government officials might decide to cut.
