The James City County Board of Supervisors, the Williamsburg City Council and the Williamsburg–James City County School board on Oct. 10 adopted a joint resolution authorizing local officials to execute a modernized contract to continue the joint operation of the Williamsburg–James City County Public Schools.

The resolution directs the county administrator, the city manager and the superintendent to execute documents necessary to enter the contract, a step officials described at the meeting as designed to provide predictable annual funding, a clearer enrollment-based cost allocation for specialized programs and a simplified approach to capital funding between the two localities.

Why it matters: The contract restates and updates a long-standing interlocal agreement that has governed the jointly operated division since 1955 and that has been revised multiple times since then. Supporters said the new language is intended to stabilize funding, improve transparency on how students and specialized services are attributed to each locality, and restructure joint meeting schedules so divisionwide and locality-specific performance data can better drive budget requests.

Key provisions described at the meeting included a timetable for budget planning and revenue estimates: localities will provide estimated revenue information in October, the superintendent will release an estimate of needs in early February, and the division will present proposed capital projects in December of the budget cycle. Presenters also said the contract will adjust annually for enrollment and more accurately assign costs for specialized programming to the student’s locality of residence.

Presenters named specific local funding commitments for the 2027 funding year. According to the presentation, James City County will commit $104,500,000 and the City of Williamsburg will commit $14,450,000 for the 2027 funding year. Officials said those figures are intended to give the division predictable baseline funding for planning; additional funding requests tied to performance or student needs could still be made through the normal budgeting processes.

The contract also restores the school board as a formal party to the agreement and gives the James City County Board of Supervisors the option to vote to add two additional school board members to address population and enrollment growth in the county, a structural change discussed during the presentation.

Formal actions: After the presentation and the reading of the joint resolution, each governing body voted in favor. The Board of Supervisors’ roll call recorded five ayes (Hippel, Null, Larson, McLennan, Eisner). The City Council approved the same resolution by recorded ayes from Miss Williams, Miss Kernchear, Miss Ramsey, Vice Mayor Dent and Mayor Ponds. The Williamsburg–James City County School Board approved the resolution with a roll call of members recorded as ayes (Donner, Hosang, Henley, Riffle, Cavazos, Chen, Ortega). Each body’s clerk was authorized to execute the necessary documents.

What officials said: City manager Trivette and county administrator Stevens described the agreement’s funding and operational features in a joint presentation. Superintendent Dr. Keever thanked the negotiating group and read the joint resolution to the bodies, saying the document would "settle all disputes under the prior contract and continue the joint school division with a modernized approach for operating and capital cost with improved student outcomes." (Reading excerpted from the resolution.)

Next steps and limits: Presenters said the contract creates a schedule for joint meetings and budget planning but does not itself appropriate funds beyond the described funding commitments; actual budget appropriations will follow each locality’s budget process. Officials also said additional funding requests tied to student performance could still be made during the budgeting cycle. The presentation described the contract as a framework; implementation will require administrative follow-through by the county administrator, city manager and superintendent as authorized by the resolution.

Votes at a glance: Board of Supervisors — motion to adopt joint resolution (mover: not specified; second: not specified); roll call: Hippel (aye), Null (aye), Larson (aye), McLennan (aye), Eisner (aye). Outcome: approved. City Council — motion to adopt joint resolution (mover: not specified; second: not specified); roll call: Williams (aye), Kernchear (aye), Ramsey (aye), Vice Mayor Dent (aye), Mayor Ponds (aye). Outcome: approved. Williamsburg–James City County School Board — motion to adopt joint resolution (mover: Missus Donner; second: Missus Henley); roll call: Donner (aye), Hosang (aye), Henley (aye), Riffle (aye), Cavazos (aye), Chen (aye), Ortega (aye). Outcome: approved.

The bodies recessed briefly after the votes and reconvened for an academic achievement presentation by the superintendent.