Board OK's Schools' Opening, Frets About Blair Conversion

By Amber Lester Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Williamsburg-James City County School Board members support the scheduled opening of two new schools, but some expressed reservations about the planned conversion of James Blair Middle School during a Tuesday night work session.

As the board begins budget talks about how to make up an expected $5 million shortfall in funding, its members have said everything is on the table to be cut. At Tuesday’s three-hour session, much of the last hour was devoted to reexamining the board’s decision to open two new schools – J. Blaine Blayton Elementary School and Lois Hornsby Middle School – and convert James Blair Middle School into a central office and home for the Academy of Life and Learning.

Although the board does not vote in work sessions, the members did come to a unanimous consensus to support plans to open the new schools. The members cited overcrowding at elementary schools and the costs associated with leaving new buildings vacant as their reasons for moving forward.

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Robert Becker presented a letter from McDonough Bolyard Peck construction manager Kevin Wills, who explained the consequences of leaving the new buildings vacant. The district would lose their first-year warranty periods on several systems, along with user training time. The schools’ systems, including fire alarms, heating and plumbing, would still have to run while the schools were empty. Furthermore, insurance costs could rise with increased risks of vandalism and theft.

In a morning school liaison meeting, James City County Administrator Sandy Wanner added the schools would have to reapply for special use permits to house classes in trailers, which also would have to be rented for another year.

Because the staff and supplies from James Blair Middle would move to Lois Hornsby Middle, the opening of that new school isn’t expected to cost additional funds. Staffing J. Blaine Blayton Elementary was initially supposed to cost $2.5 million, but after shifting staff, the revised cost is $1.2 million. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Scott Burckbuchler told the board that money would likely go back to the personnel budget if not spent as planned.

While members Ruth Larson and Joe Fuentes said they felt many of the challenges presented by the MBP letter are surmountable, the board agreed the overcrowding issue has to be addressed. Stonehouse Elementary is currently over capacity by 200 students, said Chair James Nickols.

The members were not unanimous in their support to convert James Blair, however.

In July, the board voted 5-2, with members Elise Emanuel and John Alewynse dissenting, to approve the conversion plan. When the construction of Lois Hornsby Middle School was initially planned, the school was set to become the fourth middle school in the district. When enrollment projections showed a fourth school wouldn’t be needed yet, the administration proposed converting James Blair Middle School into a central office and housing the alternative education program in the school’s annex until a fourth middle school is needed. The administration estimates the school will have to be converted back into classrooms in six years.

Prompted by questions from constituents, Emanuel asked Becker if it would be possible to move ahead with a necessary HVAC upgrade at James Blair, but delay the conversion plan.

Becker, who had delivered a presentation on the necessity of opening the new schools, did not have prepared information for her. “It would be very difficult for me to recommend that,” he said.

He explained, however, that the approximately $2.8 million cost of the conversion would be paid for with funds already available. He emphasized that if the board delayed the conversion, the money would just go back into the capital improvement fund.

With construction companies happy to find work, the bid climate has been advantageous for the school system; Becker said the district has been able to save money from bids and several capital improvement projects coming under budget.

Members Larson, Alewynse and Joe Fuentes echoed Emanuel’s concerns, with Larson explaining, “We don’t want any citizen to think we have not done our due diligence.”

As the discussion continued, however, member Denise Koch reminded her fellow board members they had already voted in favor of this plan once before. “I’m confused … I thought this was already voted on,” she said, adding the conversion plan would save $150,000 in rental fees, boost central office efficiency, free up office space at the county complex and house the ALL program.

“How many times are we going to keep making this decision again and again?” Koch asked.

Nickols agreed, adding the board has already spent $50,000 on a feasibility study. “This train has left the station,” he said.