WJCC board trims FY26 requests after local funding falls short; multiple consent items approved

The Williamsburg-James City County School Board on Monday reviewed recommended reductions to its proposed fiscal year 2026 operating budget after local funding proposals left a multi‑million-dollar gap.

Acting Superintendent Dr. Keever told the board staff had prioritized compensation and supports for students with the greatest need when assembling the initial “budget of need,” but that local budget documents produced a $7.3 million shortfall relative to the board’s request.

Finance director Renee Ewing reviewed recommended adjustments that would reduce expenditures by about $4.565 million, narrowing the gap. Those changes include trimming some position requests (from 48.85 FTEs requested to an administration recommendation of 13.85 FTEs), reducing certain program additions such as AP exam funding and summer school sites, and increasing budgeted attrition savings. After the proposed reductions, the remaining shortfall was $2.8 million before expected state aid.

Ewing told the board the General Assembly’s adopted budget is expected to provide additional state revenue; the division estimated a likely range of $750,000 to $1.9 million. Factoring that in would reduce the final gap to between about $815,000 and $2.0 million, which would require either additional local revenue or further cuts.

On capital projects, staff noted differences between the school board’s capital improvement plan and the localities’ proposed CIP funding. James City County’s draft budget funded the county’s share of requested projects, while the City of Williamsburg proposed smaller allocations and moved some items into a later fiscal year. Board members highlighted a roughly $1.5 million gap on the Cooley Field turf project as an example of capital funding constraints.

The board also approved its consent agenda and several routine purchase requests and contract awards. The consent agenda passed by voice vote; a summary of the major motions follows.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve consent agenda as presented (items 7.01–7.08). Mover: Mr. Riffle; Second: Miss Chen. Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes (Mr. Riffle; Dr. Cavazos; Miss Chen; Mrs. Donner; Mr. Hossein; Mrs. Hundley; Mrs. Ortega). Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve personnel actions. Mover: Mr. Hossein; Second: Mrs. Hundley. Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve adoption and purchase request for secondary English/Language Arts curriculum. Mover: Mrs. Hundley; Second: Mr. Riffle. Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. (Amount as read in meeting was garbled in the transcript; record shows the purchase request was presented but the transcripted dollar figure is not reliable.) - Motion: Approve local Carl D. Perkins plan and budget for career and technical education (SY 2025–26). Mover: (moved during consent) Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve adoption and purchase request for K–5 math materials (Kiddom). Mover: Miss Chen; Second: (second recorded). Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. Amount presented: $534,191.52. - Motion: Approve purchase request to update aging analog phone systems across the division (annual contract). Mover: Mrs. Hundley; Second: Mr. Riffle. Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. Amount presented: the transcript reads a total of approximately $112,698 (as read); see official purchase order for final figure. - Motion: Approve controller upgrades at Stonehouse Elementary School. Mover: Mr. Hossein; Second: (second recorded). Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. Amount presented: $123,200. - Motion: Approve award of contract for Matthew Whaley Elementary HVAC replacement (IFB #202‑50720). Mover: Mrs. Donner; Second: (second recorded). Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. Amount presented: $4,335,000 (as read in meeting). - Motion: Approve purchase request for Berkeley Middle School walk‑in refrigerator replacement. Mover: Mr. Riffle; Second: Mrs. Hundley. Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved. Amount presented: $105,951.92. - Motion: Approve budget transfer request of $500,000 from transportation to operations and maintenance for utilities. Mover: Mr. Riffle; Second: Mrs. Hundley. Vote: Unanimous — 7 ayes. Outcome: approved.

Board members and staff emphasized that the division remains committed to prioritizing compensation and student supports, even as some requested positions and programs were recommended for reduction. “We believe that these positions continue to be necessary for the organization,” Ewing said, adding that the reductions were proposed to protect compensation increases and other higher priorities.

Dr. Keever said the administration will return to the board with any additional information after local budgets and the governor’s decisions are finalized; the board plans to consider any updates at its May meetings and adopt a final budget later in the month.

The FY26 budget and CIP remain subject to negotiation with the city and county funding partners and to final action after state aid figures are confirmed.