Community Conversation on Schools Reconvenes Saturday

By Amber Lester Thursday, March 04, 2010

An education advocacy group is hosting its second community conversation to discuss Williamsburg-James City County schools on Saturday.

Citizens for Education’s second conversation, called “Engaging Students and the Community,” will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bruton Heights Education Center. The event was originally scheduled for Feb. 6, but was delayed because of inclement weather.  

Former Virginia Commissioner of Social Services Anthony Conyers will moderate the discussion. Prior to his statewide service, Conyers was James City County’s Community Services Manager for 22 years.

The event will expand on ideas presented in the group’s first community conversation, which brought more than 125 community members together to discuss discipline and literacy in WJCC schools. From that meeting, the group compiled a report of recommendations for the school division. Read more about the first community conversation here.

Saturday’s discussion will also be a chance for the community to discuss the coming budget cuts as a result of a state revenue shortfall of $4.2 billion. In a release, one of the organizers, Beth Haw, wrote, “With the coming budget shortfall, the community will need to prioritize needs more carefully. What services provided by WJCC do we consider absolutely essential? What absolutely essential services could be delivered more effectively with additional assistance from the community.”

The conference will feature two break-out sessions. During the first session, representatives from local agencies and nonprofits will talk about ways to reach out to all of the division’s parents. In the second session, panelists will join attendees to come up with strategies to engage students in the regional alternative schools.

As with the previous discussion, organizers hope to compile a report of community priorities to share with the School Board as they make their budget decisions. Superintendent Gary Mathews will present his proposed budget at 5:30 p.m. on March 10 in the Warhill High School auditorium.