WJCC Plans to Approve Budget Tonight

By Amber Lester Kennedy Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Williamsburg-James City County Schools administration will offer revisions to the proposed fiscal year 2012 budget before the School Board approves it during a special meeting Tuesday.

The School Board will review revised recommendations at their work session on Tuesday, then approve the budget in a “special call” meeting directly following the work session. The revisions incorporate the finalized revenue numbers from the General Assembly’s budget, which raise WJCC’s anticipated revenue of $109.5 million to $111 million.

WJCC will receive $928,870 more than previously expected, and the administration recommends putting the money toward teaching positions. In the first draft of Superintendent Steven Constantino’s proposed budget, the division recommended cutting funding for reserve positions; Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Scott Burckbuchler said the division typically uses about five reserve positions a year.

If approved, two high school positions would be added, at a cost of $142,900; three middle school positions would be added, for $214,350; and eight reserve positions would be budgeted for $571,620. In the proposal prepared for the work session, both administrators say allocating money for faculty positions now could help WJCC prepare for future budget revenue decreases.

The division could also save $500,000 originally expected to go toward the Virginia Retirement System. But the administration is recommending maintaining the current VRS budget, then reviewing the budget mid-year to see if funds are still available to pay for one-time bus replacements. If buses are purchased, the administration would like to buy alternative fuel vehicles, something the board has recommended pursuing in the past.

The administration also acknowledged the wishes of the board and their funding partners by removing additions to Berkeley and Lois Hornsby middle schools from the six-year Capital Improvement Plan budget. The new Capital Improvement Plan now includes an updated cost of $8.3 million to reopen and renovate James Blair Middle School (see the detailed list of costs here).

The board’s work session will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers at the Stryker Building, with the special call meeting directly following. The board will also vote on whether to change the scheduling of board meetings and method of agenda preparation during its special call meeting. Learn more about a proposed change to board meetings here.