CEO, City, CIP, and April 10

3/19/07

Dear School Supporters,

A few updates for you.

GOOD NEWS about the Center for Educational Opportunities (CEO)

Last Tuesday the WJC School Board decided to reinstate CEO into its budget with the ultimate goal of having a program from long-term suspended and expelled students, and a separate alternative education program for students who are in serious need of an alternative setting in order to succeed in school. An extensive evaluation of CEO was conducted in 2004 and is posted here.

BAD NEWS about CEO

It was revealed on Tuesday that 104 students last year were long-term suspended or expelled and only 33 were able to attend CEO due to lack of openings. Others who needed a GED program were not able to participate due to lack of openings. Given this information it appears that the CEO and GED programs need to be expanded. The fact that WJC had over 100 dropouts last year is further indication that more must be done to help these kids be successful in school and graduate, or at least obtain a GED.

GOOD NEWS from the City

The Williamsburg City Council included in its budget FULL FUNDING for its share of WJC Schools' operating budget. In its capital budget, however, funding listed for the 4th middle school and 9th elementary are greatly reduced from last year. Perhaps a new city/county funding formula regarding new schools has been negotiated but not announced. We'll keep you posted.

WJC CIP Update

The WJC Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes new schools and projects over $50,000 to existing schools. (See this spreadsheet for details). Keep in mind WJC added new items and items in 2011-12 that the county will need to address in its upcoming CIP that were not in the county's CIP last year.

To the fully fund WJC's CIP over the next five years it appears an additional $32 million will be needed, based on what the county indicated it would fund in its budget last year.

For those interested, an extended discussion of the CIP that the School Board is slated to approve on March 20 is below.

APRIL 10, 7PM

Mark your calendars! This is the day and time and we need you to attend the James City County Board of Supervisors public hearind on the budget and encourage them to fully fund WJC's operating and capital budgets.

THE CURRENT SHORTFALL in the operating budget is $3.3 MILLION, plus whatever costs are necessary for a CEO facility!

In order to get the funds needed, every voice in support of our schools must be heard! In addition to showing up, if you have not already, send the supervisors an email, too.

Thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick

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CIP Extended Analysis

Fortunately much of WJC's CIP had previously been funded by the county and city, but there are a few items to note:

1. Clara Byrd Baker's parking lot expansion (recommended in a facilities study) that was to be done this year was moved back two years by WJC to 08-09.
2. Rebricking the entrance at Matthew Whaley (recommended in a facilities study) has been on the CIP for years and was removed by WJC this year. Last year there were to be discussions about how this could be handled. It is unclear at this time if any action was taken.
3. Berkeley's cafeteria was to be expanded (recommended in a facilities study) in 07-08 and the county funded it, but the project was removed completely by WJC.
4. Berkeley and Blair's refurbishments were funded but now estimated costs have increased, and Blair's refurbishment is a year later than WJC is requesting as is Blair's HVAC replacement and bus parking resurfacing.
5. Cooley Field's lighting and renovation plans are currently not funded.
6. Toano's exploratory classrooms and auditorium expansion (recommended in a facilities study) were removed by WJC.
7. Jamestown's media system was to be replaced in 07-08 and the county funded the project, but it has been removed by WJC.
8. Jamestown's field lighting is currently unfunded.
9. Lafayette's 900 building that houses career and technical programs was to be renovated in 07-08 and the county funded the project, but it was removed by WJC.
10. Lafayette's refurbishment was funded but estimated costs have increased.
11. "Mulitpurpose Spaces" (for athletics and other activities) for each high school are requested by WJC.
12. WJC's school bus request of $1.3 million over two years that the county planned to fund has been removed due to the tiered busing proposal, though one might expect some new buses would be needed to accommodate growth.
13. WJC's technology plan is slated to begin in 08-09 after a year of evaluating the use of the technology at Matoaka and Warhill.
14. WJC had requested $5.6 million for a multipurpose building last year to house CEO, Student Services, Adult Ed, Purchasing and Storage and the county funded $2.3 million of it. Those funds were diverted to cover increased costs at Matoaka, and new central office complex has been requested instead of a multipurpose building.

There may be good reasons why WJC removed some of these items and why the county has not funded them. But if you have any concerns about these changes, contact School Board members ASAP.