WJCC School Board Discusses Tuition Rates, Technology Plan Tuesday

By Amber Lester Kennedy Sunday, July 17, 2011

Williamsburg-James City County School Board will meet Tuesday for a packed work session, where they’ll discuss the Code of Conduct, tuition rates for non-residents, school lunch prices and more.

The work session has several housekeeping items on the agenda for the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers at the Stryker Building in Williamsburg.

The board will discuss proposed tuition costs for non-resident students who want to attend school in WJCC. The administration is proposing a basic tuition cost for regular education students of $8,927 and a tuition cost for special education students of $15,981. Additional per-hour charges would be applied for occupation therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, school/nursing therapy and other costs as determined by a student’s Individualized Education Plan.

The Virginia Department of Education has implemented a new Educational Technology plan and requires each school division approve and submit its own 5-year Educational Technology Plan. Virginia’s plan went into effect in January, and division plans must be in place for the upcoming school year. The board will hear a presentation Tuesday on WJCC’s technology plan and how teachers, students and administrators can embrace technology for teaching and learning.

The board will also consider adopting a policy regarding an athlete’s return to sports after a concussion. The goal of the policy is to ensure that coaches, staff, volunteers, athletes and parents are aware of the short-term and long-term effects of concussions; that concussed athletes are identified, removed from play and referred when appropriate; and that concussed athletes return to play only after having time to receive medical care, have healed and show no symptoms.

The division’s Department of Special Education wants to develop a curriculum and instruction program for reading, comprehension, writing, mathematics and critical thinking. The sensory-based program will include measures for monitoring progress that link initial assessments with current performance. The project also includes ongoing professional development. The board will be asked to approve a contract award of $468,601.75 to CompassLearning, which will develop the program by mid-fall.

Other topics for discussion include putting out invitations for bids on food and non-food items for Child Nutrition Services; payroll procedures and payday schedules; and salary reductions.

The board will have its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9 in the Stryker Building.