Support Schools Now

2010-02-23T17:42:00.002-05:00

Dear Child Advocates,

The Virginia Senate and House have prepared their final budgets for fiscal years 2012-2013. The recommendations will cut

· $750 million dollars from public education

· $33. 8 million from children’s health Insurance.

· $ 7 million from Virginia Early Childhood Foundation

· $9.8 million from Healthy Families.

This isn’t due to a lack of funding, but a choice made to maintaining

· $950 million dollar redistribution of state revenue to the wealthiest localities.

· $500 million additional to advertise tourism when it is off by more than 25%.

· $230 million to create tax credits for Hollywood film makers

Tell your elected officials if you do not believe these are wise choices in tough economies,

The care tax reimbursement to goes disproportionately to the wealthiest counties while teachers are laid off in 137 districts across the state Is this a decision you would make?

$500 million to media companies while children loose health insurance. . Is this a decision you would make?

$230 million giving tax credits to Hollywood filmmakers while Virginia teachers lose their jobs. Is this a decision you would make?

Contact your legislator to tell them what you think!

http://legis.virginia.gov/1_cit_guide/contacting_my.html

You may call the Constituent Viewpoint operators at (800) 889-0229 (outside Richmond) or 698-1990 (Richmond area) to express your opinion on a legislative issue.

Write your Senator to stop Delegate Massie's $20 Million Voucher Plan

2010-02-23T08:22:00.000-05:00

Stop Voucher Bill - HB599
Cuts to Public Schools/Vouchers for Private Schools

Take Action! Visit this page:
http://capwiz.com/nea/va/issues/alert/?alertid=14716916&queueid=4712981126

Please send a message to your Senator urging opposition to HB599,
a bill which provides private school vouchers at public expense.

One Teacher tells us her concerns and asks for our help!

2010-02-21T15:38:00.002-05:00

The Williamsburg James City County Education Association would like all to be aware of the impact the current budget crisis will have our partners in educating our children. Please assist is any way you can. One cent incease of the local tax rate can provide $1,000,000 in new revenue. Unlike poor communities WJCC funds about 80% of school costs. WJCC recieves a greater portion of the care tax refund to localities than other poorer communities. Fortunately or unfortunately, WJCC has a history of higher sales tax, restauant tax, and tourism reciepts. Those higher revneues has permitted a low real estate tax rate during the good economic times.

Now we can ask WJCC to increase the tax rate 1 cent to save our neighbors jobs! The cost to a homeowner is about $30 for the year. While times are tough and we are all reducing our expenses, the lost of jobs by teachers, aides, custodians,and bus drivers can harm this community for years. The tax increase would save jobs, provide a more stable tax base, maintain the bond rating.

Good evening all:

As some of you might now or not, I am the WJCEA building representative for D J Montague along with Heather Cline. If you do not know what the WJCEA is or what it does please let me and Heather know so we can tell you want it does. I am a very passive person by nature but when I am passionate about something I have to make my voice heard. And I am passionate about teaching and having a school environment that is conducive to learning. To have this we need to have support from our government, which requires us to provide high quality education but then says that it is going to take away the funding to accomplish this goal. I am urging everyone to read this email and do what you can. To me the prospects of less pay, overcrowding of rooms, reduced support staff to provide the needed resources to our neediest children, along with the reduction of essential school personnel is heartbreaking.

The news that is being passed along about the state government and federal government cuts are staggering. It does not appear to be over. When you consider that estimates are at this moment that 30,000 teachers across Virginia, are going to lose their jobs this year along with thousands more aides, support staff, custodial workers, and the list could keep going, it is enough to make you have a panic attack.

Time is now for action. The call was given to the representatives to take back to their buildings to ask everyone to do something. You can not be silent anymore. This is not a VEA or WJCEA issue. This is an EVERYBODY issue. The people in charge take silence as acceptance. The general assembly is not kind when it comes to cutting education. We have seen this time and time again. Anytime they can cut education funding THEY DO!!!! Teachers are not known for taking a stand and do not show up to be heard. At the end of this email I will provide you ways you can be heard and it will only take a moment to do. Please do not really on someone else to do what you should do to fight for high quality education for all WJCC students. Doing nothing is not the answer. These cuts are going to change everything about what you will face in your day to day job and for some the loss of a job. The forecast for next year’s budget cuts is going to be even more severe. Please do not wait until you feel you livelihood or colleague’s livelihood and the education of the children here in WJCC are threaten. Trust me it already is.

So now the action part:

I have been a cyber lobbyist. I get emails anytime there is a bill for or against education. I get told to send an email to my delegate. I just click on the link provided in the email, enter my vote district information and click send. The email is already generated for you by the VEA. You can add to it if you want to or make changes but it can not get any simpler than that. A very notable politician in Richmond said that they are counting how many emails they get for or against a bill. They’re not asking directly what each person said- just the count so many for versus so many against. So just by sending an email to them your voice is being heard. This is a numbers game. If 20 do send an email when 200 could have-- this is telling them that only 20 people here are concerned.

Here is the link to sign up. You sign up at the NEA website but you do not have to be a member to be a cyber lobbyist!!!! It asks if you are but you do not have to check the box that you are.

*(Some of you ask what your WJCEA dues go for and this is what it goes to. This is the only teacher organization that lobbies for education. They have a whole section of their website set aside to make you aware of these legislative issues.)

TO sign up to be a cyber lobbyist:

First click on the link below

http://www.nea.org/home/LegislativeActionCenter.html

Then

Scroll down the page below the highlights box and click in the middle where it says

Make your voice heard! Become a cyber-lobbyist and subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter

Fill in your information- it is necessary to ensure that you are contacting the appropriate delegate- and click sign up. It should take less than 30 seconds.

Once you sign up there is a take action call with a letter already generated to be sent to the governor asking him to try to minimize the cuts to education. I believe our governor deserves emails for his unfreezing of the local composite index this year when it will drastically affect more localities then it will benefit. We are facing 1.5 billion dollars in tax cuts in education and to take more away to benefit the few is absurd.

Also below are the delegates as provided by Dr. Matthews the other day:

Ø Senator Tommy Norment (District Office #: 757-259-7810; E-Mail Address: senatornorment@widowmaker.com)

Ø Delegate Robin Abbott (District Office #: 757-256-7722; E-Mail Address: DelRAbbott@house.virginia.gov)

Ø Delegate William Barlow (District Office #: 757-357-9720: E-Mail Address: DelWBarlow@house.virginia.gov)

Ø Delegate Brenda Pogge (District Office #: 757-223-9690; E-Mail Address: DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov)

Along with contacting our representatives in government we also need to be in contact with the School board members, show up at school board meetings, and to those who are brave -speaking at those meetings.

If you only need to contact a select board member you can find their contact information under the school board tab on the Williamsburg James City County Website. I am providing the email address if your issue is for the whole school board to respond to : SchoolboardMembers@wjcc.k12.va.us

This too is a numbers game. I went to a school board meeting two years ago when they were arguing over giving us a 4.5 or 4.25 raise ( I know who can remember that now). Well guess what we got a 4.25 raise because besides myself there was maybe only 20 other teachers and staff that showed up to be heard that night. Might I add, most of them had come directly from the WJCEA meeting and the WJCEA president spoke up for us. Ask yourself where were you?

Imagine if there had been standing room only in there, we might have gotten our raise. It’s a lot harder to make those decisions when you’re staring at a flood of people that you will be directly affecting versus a puddle. We are not talking about raises this time this is much more serious. We are talking about fighting for jobs and high quality education that is fully funded. What are you willing to fight for? They are going to have tough decisions this budget and next year’s budget. Make sure your voice gets heard this time.

The board of supervisors contact information is also being provided. They could have a say in what effect the local composite index is going to have on that 3.3 projected additional budget cut. Let them know that they should be helping to fund the education of this county.

Here is the link to see all of the school board members’ information and emails.

http://www.jccegov.com/bos/

If you want to express concerns to the whole board here is the email address:

Email the Board - jccboard@james-city.va.us

Please pass this on to anyone that you know that wants to stand up for education and all those who are involved.

Sincerely,

Melissa Sessoms

Kindergarten Teacher

DJ Montague WJCEA Building Rep.

Message from the Alliance for Virginia Students

2010-02-18T11:01:00.000-05:00

Virginia's students need you. Click here to send an urgent message to your Senator and Delegate.

As a friend of Virginia's students, I know that you are concerned about how the recession is going to impact the quality of education in Virginia.

Here is the bad news. Experts are predicting that proposed cuts to state funding for education will lead to school teacher and staff layoffs in the tens of thousands. This means higher class sizes, and less individual attention from teachers. Cuts to teacher pay and benefits will make it hard for Virginia schools to hire the best teachers. Preschool classrooms serving Virginia's most vulnerable students could be forced to close their doors.

But here's some good news: there's something you can do to help! Click here to send a message to your Delegate and Senator! It takes just a moment of your time.

Your message will help minimize the impact of the recession on Virginia's students, and on the quality of education in our Commonwealth. Click here to send the message now.

Or, if you'd prefer, call your Delegate and Senator with your message to support students! Click here to access the Alliance for Virginia's Students talking points on the education budget. We have also produced talking points on the proven value of the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI). Click here to access the "VPI Works!" talking points. Access the "Who's My Legislator?" tool to enter your address and locate your legislators' phone numbers. Be sure to call them at their Richmond Capitol office phone number. If your delegate or senator is not available, ask to speak to his or her aide.

This is a crucial week for Virginia's students, as the House and Senate make important budget decisions. Together, our voices can make a difference.

Thank you for your dedication to Virginia's students.

GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX FOR COMING FISCAL YEAR TO MEAN FURTHER 2010-11 BUDGET CUTS FOR W-JCC

2010-02-09T14:31:00.000-05:00

Gov. Bob McDonnell's announcement Monday that he will support updating the Local Composite Index, with implementation in the upcoming fiscal year, will mean a reduction of at least another $2.3 million in W-JCC's 2010-11 operating budget, Superintendent Gary Mathews said.

"In total, and given further cuts anticipated out of the General Assembly, we're looking at about $8.6 million in budget cuts per the superintendent's proposed budget for 2010-11," Dr. Mathews said. "As echoed by many educators throughout the state, these cuts will change education and school operations for years to come."

Former Gov. Timothy Kaine, before leaving office, had proposed freezing the LCI at its current level in his proposed budget. The LCI has historically always been adjusted every two years to account for changing local economic conditions. McDonnell said the proposal to freeze the Index was unprecedented, and would have cost certain localities in Northern Virginia $128.3 million in state education funding.

"Our most conservative estimate as to the impact this decision will have on W-JCC's 2010-11 budget is that we will see reductions of at least $2.3 million, and more given the state's budget crisis," Dr. Mathews said. "Therefore, in consultation with Board Chairman Jim Nickols, the special budget retreat originally scheduled for this coming Saturday at Thomas Nelson Community College has been cancelled so that our senior leadership team can reassess the budget situation and make new recommendations to the Board."

2010-01-24T16:20:00.003-05:00

CLICK HERE to particpate in an online survey

2010-01-24T16:19:00.002-05:00

Helping Children Succeed: Community Conversation
February 6, 2010
Bruton Heights Education Center.
2 pm.

Budget reductions; community conversations and Helping students succeed

2010-01-24T16:17:00.000-05:00

The budget outlook for WJCC Schools is bleak. The impact of the national recession, declining tourism, retail sales and new home construction has impacted this community. While the unemployment figures are below national averages the numbers of under-employed families seeking assistance with debt, mortgage, health care, child care and utilities is rising. Those who used assets to fund their homes, travel and retirement are also making unanticipated adjustments to spending patterns.

A very wise member of the nonprofit world said that “These are the times that show the community’s values and who are the coalition builders”. It is important that each of us engage in the conversations about education, community services and quality of life. Budget reductions that do not build for the future of the community, rather inhibit recovery should be place aside.

Is it smart governance to release your most experienced professionals while creating the message that there will be no shared sacrifice? Will increasing class size to 25-30 in primary grades prepare lifelong learners? What will be the future cost for remediation of children who do not develop basic skills? Will outsourcing services to contractors who then provide minimum wage and no benefits improve the economic status of the most vulnerable in the community? Are shared services as economic as shared insurance pools? Are fee reductions for services because of age rather than income wise? Can parents, cultural arts, civic and athletic groups find resources to support the areas outside of instruction that add value to education a whole child? Is the cost of assessment as valuable as the cost of solid instruction in developing young children?
Please ask your teaching staff, custodial staff, to ask the School Board to consider these and other questions before backing into the superintendent’s proposed budget. We will be here to recover from the economic downturn, let’s make sure the decisions made reflect this community’s values.

Sincerely
Mary Minor

2009-12-22T19:58:00.003-05:00

HIT "F" KEY TO VIEW SLIDESHOW FULL SCREEN

2009-12-22T19:53:00.003-05:00

HIT "F" KEY TO VIEW SLIDESHOW FULL SCREEN

PRESS RELEASE

2009-11-24T12:12:00.001-05:00

     Support Schools Now is re-emerging to start a conversation about school priorities in tough and changing times.
    The conversations regarding the Williamsburg James City County Schools often have the dynamic of the many talk shows on the airways. The point–counterpoint provides heat with little information, argument without resolution. As the political wars are over it is time to engage our community in the conversation about Williamsburg James City County Schools that are inclusive of all community stakeholders; taxpayers, parents, teachers , administrators, elected officials, business and academics. It is this reason that Support Schools Now did not enter the political fray to endorse a candidate, but rather to encourage engagement in the conversations about our children’s success.
How does this community wish to measure children’s or schools’ success as measured just by the positive indicators of achievement, graduation rates, and preparation for post high schools activities? Or is the community interested in a 360 degree evaluation that includes the negative indicators of attendance rates, discipline rates, suspension rates, class failures, and the ultimate indicator of failure drop out rates? Are our schools better if we spend less? Is high spending a promise good student for outcomes? Are funds directed at too many interventions without consideration of the effective interventions?
     As an advocate for schools, that believes our children must have access to the tools they need for individual success, I would like to hear what are your views about how WJCC measures success and what tools are needed to accomplish success for each child? In the next week you will receive a survey monkey to measure the thoughts of the community on WJCC schools. While the survey is not scientific, it can give an insight into some community expectations for our children’s success.
Please join Support Schools Now. Sign up to the survey monkey; receive email alerts on resources and best practices to meet the diverse needs of our children. It takes commitment to have each child reach full potential.

Mary Minor
Support School Now PAC VASBE - 015-035

BUILD SCHOOLS NOW

2008-09-21T22:59:00.003-04:00

Dear School Supporters,

The WJC Education Foundation issued this powerful statement (found at the bottom of this message) regarding the proposed new elementary and middle schools. The Foundation's assessment is "spot-on" and if you agree also please take a moment to contact the James City County Board of Supervisors (CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL TO THE JCC BOARD) to tell them so.

It is imperative to contact the JCC Board NOW because they will be discussing this matter on Tuesday, September 23.

To add a little to the WJCEF's statement, it must be understood that WJC’s class size guidelines are MAXIMUM guidelines: meaning that we don’t want classes in grades K-2 larger than 20 students; or larger than 25 students, grades 3-5. These are sound guidelines informed by research. If some in the community are disappointed that WJC is not “meeting its own standards” then they just don’t get that these class size standards are not ones to meet, but ones NOT TO EXCEED.

Following WJC’s class size guidelines, it makes sense that the formula used to calculate “effective capacity” in K-3 classrooms is 19. Some classrooms might have 20 students; others might have 18 or 19 because children don't often come in groups of exactly 20. In classrooms for students in grades 3-5, 23 students per class is used to determine "effective capacity" because there will be classes with 25 students and maybe some with 21 and many in between. This is how our schools actually work.

Now could we pack more students in each classroom? Sure, but is that what we really WANT to do? Wouldn't it be better to maintain those class size guidelines for the benefit of children, and for the teachers who need more time to be able to interact with them individually?

Some might choose to focus on "design capacity," which would provide a valid number of how many children could potentially fit in a building if they came in groups of exactly 25 or 30 students, and if no regular classrooms had to be used for computer labs, special education, gifted education, or preschool, but to do so would be relatively meaningless exercise because it would not take into account the class size variations and the actual programming taking place in the schools.

Please read the statement below from the WJCEF and contact the JCC Board of Supervisors.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

===================================================================

FROM MEMBERS OF THE WILLIAMSBURG/JAMES CITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION

With our local elected bodies currently pondering the second phase of funding for construction of two new schools for the Williamsburg-James City County School Division, there has been much public discussion about whether now is an appropriate time to move ahead with the project.

Public discourse on such important topics is always healthy, and the members of the Williamsburg-James City Education Foundation will always welcome it. We become concerned, however, when arguments being put forth and conclusions being reached are based on faulty and/or incomplete research.

As our community’s business leaders, we understand the critical need to maintain the quality of our public schools. We rely on them to provide us well-educated students who, when they graduate, are ready to go on to higher education, or enter our local workforce with the skills they need to succeed.

Recent public discussion in some quarters has led us to believe that some members of the community, while perhaps well-meaning, are looking only at dollar signs,and not our children.We question whether they have actually visited any of our schools recently, with students present, to see for themselves the space crunch that many of our schools are facing, and how it is negatively affecting our childrens’ education.

The time is now to begin building a new elementary school and middle school. We believe there are several compelling reasons to do so that recent reports suggesting the contrary have not taken into consideration:

It will become immediately obvious to anyone who visits Stonehouse Elementary School, D.J. Montague Elementary School, Norge Elementary School, or Toano Middle School, that these schools are becoming severely overtaxed. They are simply too crowded. Trailers have been set up next to these buildings to accommodate the overabundance of students.
Save money by putting a few more students in each classroom so you don’t have to build a whole new school, the argument goes. How can we, in good conscience, suggest that to the parents of the children at Stonehouse, Toano, Norge, and D.J. Montague, who are watching their children being moved into trailers with ever-increasing class sizes? Our community has told the W-JCC School Board on numerous occasions to keep student/teacher ratios as low as possible.
It is true that housing starts and enrollment figures are slowing down with the current economy. But you wouldn’t know it by taking a drive around the upper portion of James City County, where home construction is in evidence everywhere, including one housing project well under way that has 500 homes planned for it. Families with children will move into these homes, and they will need a place to go to school. Not building schools now to accommodate this need is shortsighted, and invites an even bigger fiscal challenge down the road. And, while enrollment figures are slightly below original projections, W-JCC still expects about 150 more students for the 2008-09 school year.
Using "spot redistricting" in an attempt to alleviate overcrowding would be a monumental and costly effort, as anyone who has participated in this process in the past can attest. To achieve a balance, students would have to be redistricted from one end of the county to the other; the Division’s transportation department does not have the resources to move children these great distances.
In addition to quality of education issues, there also is a powerful financial reason to act now: the current downturn in the economy, which has brought with it far more favorable costs for construction. The original estimate for the total cost of the two new schools was $88.9 million, based on the bidding climate of about 18 months ago. A revised estimate is now $82 million (nearly 8 percent less), a much more favorable scenario. To further illustrate this, Matoaka Elementary School, if built today, would cost $236.65 per square foot. The current bidding climate would allow the new elementary school to be built at a cost of $209.99 per square foot or $26.66 less per square foot. No one knows what the economy will be like a year from now; but to stand aside and not take advantage of this favorable situation is not fiscally responsible.
Students seem to have achieved federal standards of learning four years ago with our current facilities – why can’t they now? Because, notwithstanding the fact that our student population has grown since then, the federal government also has raised considerably the federal standards of learning through the "No Child Left Behind" Act.

This means that, while four years ago a score of 70 may have met the federal standard in a certain subject area, that standard is now 77 … and will rise again next year. Our students have performed admirably in recent years, increasing scores on performance tests and validating the vision and management of W-JCC schools.

This Tuesday evening, the James City County Board of Supervisors will consider the issue of whether to help fund the second phase of W-JCC’s two new schools. The WJCEF has unanimously passed a resolution in support of moving ahead with these schools. We encourage all parents, and anyone who cares to maintain the quality of public education in our region, to attend the Supervisors’ meeting to let our public officials know that now is the time for decisive action. As we have shown, dallying for a year or more to "see what happens" is not fiscally – or even morally – responsible.

DAVID BUSH, WJCEF President
Managing Partner, Witt Mares & Co.
And 17 additional Foundation members

ALT ED SAVED!

2008-08-20T04:34:00.003-04:00

Dear School Supporters,

Last night was a great night for Alternative Education in WJC!

Not opting for any of the variations offered by the school administration, the WJC School Board voted UNANIMOUSLY to continue the Academy for Life and Learning (ALL) as its local program for long-term suspended and expelled students.

As several former members of the Alt Ed Task Force noted in their letter to the School Board which was presented last night, "[r]etaining this local program is critical to maintaining parental/guardian/community involvement in the program and the students involvement in the community. It would also utilize full-time teachers instead of only part-time teachers which is an improvement and precisely what we recommended. The program has shown signs of success and should be permitted to continue."

Once again, when the local program for suspended and expelled students faced elimination, the community rallied to its defense, and the School Board ultimately supported the program and these students.

Thank you for your present and past support for the ALL program (and vigilance even during the summer!), and we hope you continue to support it in the future.

Now that we've made a difference by saving Alt Ed, please think about making a big difference in the life of an individual child by becoming a mentor through the WJC/Big Brothers/Big Sisters school-based program. One hour a week during the school year and a desire to help is all it takes. Call Big Brothers/Big Sisters at 253-0676.

Thank you for support of our schools and all our students.

Mike Ludwick

Responding to Gazette Articles and Editorials

2008-08-20T04:31:00.001-04:00

This article was published in the Virginia Gazette.

8/10/08

Dear School Supporters,

Here we go again.

Reading the Virginia Gazette, it is evident that the same arguments that were used to delay the third high school, which ended up costing taxpayers millions, are being rolled out again to delay the next elementary and middle school:

1) student enrollment projections are "faulty",
2) space in existing schools is being used "poorly", and
3) long-term budget planning is "inaccurate".

Let's look at each one by one.

Enrollment Projections

Support for the third high finally converged when the "cohort-survival" method of enrollment projections (which decently projects enrollment for a year or two out) was substituted for a more robust model, done by professional consultants (which utilized the cohort-survival method as well as county housing data, regression-base forecasting methods, land-saturation analysis, migration/change in household composition, and GIS technology), and then actual enrollment matched or exceeded the projections.

(For those who want to see everything taken into consideration in the new enrollment projection methodology, take a look at the 30-page report done in 2007 HERE .) Presumably a new one will be done in fall 2008.

Now, might the projections be a little off due to the slow down in the economy? Perhaps. We'll wait and see what the actual September 30 enrollments look like. But the Gazette reported that the "budget advisors" ARE CONVINCED (by what we don't know because no data is presented) that more public school students will be going to private schools. If anything, as household budgets tighten, one might expect the trend to go in the OPPOSITE direction, with private school children coming INTO public schools, but even that is just conjecture.

It does sound a bit "screwy" (to quote a Gazette editorial) to build schools and not use them, but at least thought is being given to building the schools now to take advantage of the downturn in the market to get a great deal on construction costs, rather than putting off construction. By not using the schools though, we continue house kids outside of school buildings and waste money on trailers.

Use of Space in Schools

Third high and eighth elementary detractors also tried to argue space was used inefficiently in order to delay building. What happened? Not only was instruction taking place in trailers, but also in faculty lounges, closets and other places in which it was never intended.

The division hired a professional school construction firm to examine each school and determine capacity. That data is included in the enrollment projection report (see page 5 of this document). But now the "budget advisors" are going to do their own report. More power to them. We'll see what they produce and the methodology they use. I hope they remember that any capacity projection has to be tempered with the practical nature of what actually happens in schools. Kids don't come in neat packages or 20 or 25, struggling students and those with special needs require areas for smaller groups, and special programs also need space. So even if a school's enrollment is a bit under "capacity," the school may still be well utilized. And a little breathing room is okay, folks; it also allows for some innovative programming and room for growth.

Outyear Budget Projections

As far as the school division's outyear budget projections, they don't appear to be unreasonable, but the projections are likely on the high side.

The 5% per year salary increase may be optimistic, but it would certainly keep us highly competitive and help us attract and retain the best teachers, principals and other staff.

A fringe benefit increase of 10% a year may be high, but you never know what will happen with health insurance costs or the Virginia Retirement System.

A 10% projected increase in utility costs per year may be high if costs level off. We can only hope.

Other costs are projected to increase 3% year, basically to keep up with inflation, and hopefully inflation stays low.

So the division's budget projections may be a little high, but better to work down from there than the other way around.

All that said, the county is going to have to come to terms with the fact that as school enrollment increases, new schools will be needed (along with all the staff and operating costs that follow), and ultimately they have to be paid for, plain and simple. This community will not have it any other way and we need to keep reminding our elected officials of this.

Thank you for supporting our schools, and all our students.

Mike Ludwick

WJC School Board SAVES Alternative Education--for now

2008-08-20T04:29:00.001-04:00

7/11/08

Dear School Supporters,

Thanks in part to your advocacy, the WJC School Board UNANIMOUSLY directed the administration to come up with a plan to keep the Academy for Life and Learning (ALL) program for long-term suspended and expelled students here in WJC.

The School Board deserves credit for making this powerful and unequivocal statement and we trust it will carry over into the administration's effort to come up with an effective plan to serve these students locally.

Your persuasive, passionate and heartfelt communications with the School Board surely made a difference. But we are not out of the woods yet.

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed as proposals come forward.

Thank you for supporting our schools, and all our students.

Mike Ludwick

Save Alternative Education--AGAIN

2008-08-20T04:26:00.002-04:00

6/29/08

Dear School Supporters,

We have another moment of truth for Alternative Education in WJC.

And even though it's summer (and partially because it's summer and some may not be following closely), WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.

Once again, IN JEOPARDY is the program for suspended and expelled students (formerly CEO, now the Academy for Life and Learning, known as ALL).

At the last School Board meeting, the administration presented a plan to send all suspended and expelled students to Enterprise Academy, an alternative school in Newport News, ELIMINATING the local program for these students.

The School Board is asking for public input and they need to hear from you.

Please take a minute out of your summer to CLICK HERE to contact the School Board and the Superintendent ASAP and ask them to implement the recommendations of the WJC Alternative Education Task Force and allow the ALL program to continue to serve suspended and expelled students LOCALLY and to do so in a program held during regular school hours with full-time teachers.

This is very likely our last chance to save this program. Once it is gone to Newport News, it is not likely coming back.

In terms of academic achievement, preliminary results for the ALL program are promising. Of the 10 eight grade students in the program, 9 passed their reading SOL exam. Reported levels of parental/guardian and community involvement in the program have been high.

The parental involvement component would be greatly diminished if the program is sent to Newport News.

The WJC community would have diminished connections with the program, and the program's involvement in the WJC community would also diminish, due to the distance from us.

These are key components that relate to the program's success that we would be losing.

Again, please take a moment to contact the School Board and Superintendent and ask them to retain a local program for suspended and expelled students and implement the program as the Alt Ed Task Force recommended.

Thank you for supporting our schools, and all our students.

Mike Ludwick

Proposed Budget Important

2008-08-20T04:22:00.002-04:00

5/30/08

This letter was sent to the Daily Press in response to an editoral but it was not published.

Proposed Budgets Important

The editorial "Budget 'cuts'" correctly stated that even though WJC Schools needed to cut $927,000 from its "proposed budget" for next year due to 11th hour actions of the James City County Board of Supervisors, schools were still seeing an overall increase. Even so, not fully funding schools’ proposed budgets does have implications.

While funding to schools may increase from one year to the next, if funding doesn't keep up with enrollment increases or state and federal mandates or inflation (including increasing fuel, retirement or health insurance costs) or competitive teachers’ salaries, schools fall behind.

In particular, teachers’ salaries need to be highly competitive not just to attract and retain the best teachers, but to encourage people to enter the profession. Compensation for teachers in Virginia fall more than 25% below salaries for other occupations that require similar education,
skills and experience, according to a new book, "The Teaching Penalty," even factoring in benefits and different work schedules.

Not all efforts to improve students’ academic skills require additional funds. Pedagogy can be improved using research-based instructional strategies, as WJC continues to employ. But, inevitably, working with children individually, in small groups, and in smaller classes using
instruction technology in order to have greater success reaching students requires additional staff and equipment which requires additional funds.

Occasionally some additional administrative, operational, or clerical staff are necessary, too.

Not funding reasonable proposed budgets is no way to provide the next generation of workers, citizens and leaders with the best education possible.

Mike Ludwick
Founder, Support Schools Now
James City County

JCC Leaves Schools $927K Short; Error in Gazette Article

2008-08-20T04:07:00.003-04:00

5/15/08

Dear School Supporters,

JCC SUPERVISORS LEAVE SCHOOLS $927,000 SHORT

Due to the 11th hour funding reductions from the James City County Board of Supervisors on a 3-2 vote (which also, by formula, reduces the city's funding level), WJC Schools will need to cut $927,000 from its proposed budget.

Cutting back on the proposed budget is always difficult, but the JCC Supervisors left the schools no other choice because of their decision to shift the costs of the stormwater plan into the general fund to compete with education dollars. This also has the unfortunate effect of having residential taxpayers bear a greater burden of the stormwater costs, rather than commercial interests.

To address this is disappointing development, the superintendent is proposing to reduce the schools' budget as follows:

* Reduction of Teacher and Staff Salary Increase from 4.5% to 4.25% ($223,000);
* Reduction of Bus Allocation ($250,000)--puts WJC on a 20-year bus replacement cycle;
* Reduction of Technology Allocation ($245,348)--slows the infusion of instructional technology into our schools;
* Elimination of a Multicultural Specialist and Data Manager ($153,629);
* Reduction of Health Insurance Budget ($63,823)--employees will pay the same rates as they do now even though the division saw a decrease in health insurance costs.

You may wish to contact the School Board (mailto:schoolboardmembers@wjcc.k12.va.us;mike@supportschoolsnow.org) to provide your input on how the schools' budget should be reduced.

RAISES, NO BONUSES!

Thank you again for speaking out for competitive teacher and staff base salary increases and against "bonuses". The supervisors reported receiving hundreds of emails from citizens and school and county employees! The campaign was extremely effective. Your voices were heard!

ERROR IN GAZETTE, CORRECTION ISSUED

The Virginia Gazette misreported WJC's Capital Improvement Plan vs. York's and issued a correction. In fact, WJC's CIP appropriately reflects the growing division we are and is not out of line with York's.WJC's CIP is $140 million, but $93 million of that is related to new construction due to growing enrollment in WJC. That is why WJC's CIP is still 3 times the size of York's CIP which is $48 million (rather than the $11 million the Gazette reported).

And of the $93 million for new construction, $79 million is for WJC's 9th elementary school and 4th middle school. The other $14 million is for the central office/alternative education facility, 4th high school site, and an aquatic center. ($8 million was included for an aquatic center to stimulate conversation, which it has.)

WJC's CIP should be higher than York's because York has not grown like we have in WJC. Not including PreK, York's enrollment dropped from 12,819 in Sept 2005 to 12,678 in Sept 2006, but it did go back up to 12,748 in Sept 2007--still 71 students under 2005 levels. During that same two year period, WJC picked up 317 students.

LOOKING AHEAD

If we thought this year was bad, just wait until next year.

Next year, hitting a budget target the county tries to set will likely be very difficult. Keeping perspective, rarely has the school division's budget of need hit the county's budget target. It did this year only because of the infusion of state dollars, which won't likely happen next year.That means ADVOCACY will probably be EVEN MORE IMPORTANT next year than it was this year in order to get the schools' budget of need funded.

Thank you again for making your voices heard, and thank you for supporting our schools.

Have a great summer!

Mike Ludwick
Support Schools Now

P.S.: If you like what Support Schools Now is doing, help keep it up and running with a contribution of $50, $25, or even $10. Checks to "Supports Schools Now" can be mailed to 3012 Mossy Creek Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185.

It's not too late to advocate for the WJC Schools' Budget

2008-08-20T03:59:00.002-04:00

4/29/08

Dear School Supporters,

It's not too late to contact county/city elected officials and ask them NOT to reduce the proposed teacher or staff's salary increases and to fully fund the schools’ operating budget (currently the county’s proposed budget leaves a $300,000 shortfall).

In addition, ask them to fully fund the new elementary and middle school so they will be quality schools with the full range of instructional technology.

We must counteract those lobbying the JCC supervisors to leave WJC Schools $2.3 million short of their proposed operating budget, largely on the backs of teachers and staff by reducing their 4.5% salary increase to the 3% increase proposed for county employees. This is the wrong approach when we need to continue to attract and retain the best teachers and teachers’ assistants for our students.

Despite the difficult financial times, we should do our best to PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS. Fortunately, the state is picking up much of the new funds the schools need for operating funds this year, and the county has to provide only a 1.9% increase of its funds.

CLICK HEREto email the JCC Supervisors and Williamsburg City Council ASAP. The JCC Supervisors will be meeting with the School Board and discussing school funding on Wednesday, April 30, so it is very important they hear from you now.

Thank you to all those who already made their voices heard and thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick

Protect WJC Teachers' Salary Increases: Time to Advocate

2008-04-19T23:09:00.003-04:00

April 20, 2008

Dear School Supporters,

Now is the time for all good citizens to come to the aid of WJC Schools.

If you send ONLY ONE email this year to your county/city representatives regarding the schools, THIS IS THE ONE TO SEND!

WHY? Because a group of individuals is lobbying the JCC supervisors to leave WJC Schools $2.3 million short of its proposed operating budget.

They propose to do this largely on the backs of teachers and staff by reducing their 4.5% salary increase to the 3% increase proposed for county employees. This is the wrong approach when we need to continue to attract and retain the best teachers and teachers’ assistants for our students. The market for these employees is completely different from county employees.

Despite the difficult financial times, we should do our best to PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS. Fortunately, the state is picking up much of the new funds the schools need for operating funds this year, and the county has to provide only a 1.9% increase of its funds.

Moreover, no one can rightly say the schools aren’t being impacted by the economic downturn. The evidence: There is a $4.1 million shortfall in the proposed capital budget next year for existing school facilities and a $4.5 million shortfall for the new elementary and middle school--potentially impacting our ability to put instructional technology into these schools. Over the five year period, replacements of aging HVAC systems are delayed as are needed school refurbishments.

If you wish to see a comparison of what the schools requested in the capital budget and what is to be funded, click here.

This group has only a few members, and school supporters like you (with and without children in the schools) are in the thousands. But if you don’t make your voice heard, these other voices will have the influence, not you.

CLICK HERE to email the JCC Supervisors and Williamsburg City Council ASAP. The supervisors will be having their public hearing on Tuesday, April 22, and they need to hear from you now.

Tell them not to reduce the proposed teacher or staff's salary increases and not to reduce the schools’ operating budget beyond the county administrator’s recommendation, which already leaves a $300,000 shortfall. In addition, more funds are needed for the new elementary and middle school to make sure they will be quality schools with the full range of instructional technology.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

An Apology, Election Wrap-Up and a Clarification

2008-01-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

November 26, 2007

Dear School Supporters,

Hopefully your Thanksgiving was an enjoyable one. Certainly we can be thankful for our schools, but it will take more than thankfulness to make sure our schools are the best they can be.
We at Support Schools Now are thankful for all your advocacy efforts in the past and hope you will continue to advocate for our schools in the future.

AN APOLOGY

I have apologized to Mike Halpin personally and have apologized to him publicly in a letter to the editor printed in the Virginia Gazette for mentioning an incident involving him in an essay published in the Gazette and transmitted through a Support Schools Now newsletter. I regret bringing him into the fray and have asked for his forgiveness. I consider Halpin a fellow advocate for education and did not intend to harm him, but I did and I apologize.

ELECTION WRAP-UP

The election results brought mixed results for WJC Schools.

Support Schools Now-endorsed candidate, James P. Nickols, won his bid for the School Board seat in Stonehouse! We hope this change will improve the WJC School Board's ability to work collaboratively with the community for the betterment of our schools. Congratulations, Mr. Nickols!

Unfortunately our other endorsed candidate Andy Bradshaw did not fare as well in the Stonehouse supervisor’s race. Bradshaw was an ardent supporter of our schools and we thank him for his service.

Congratulations to Bruce Goodson, Mary Jones and Jim Kennedy who won supervisor elections. We hope that they will be supportive of our schools going forward.

Unfortunately, however, the impact of the election is immediately apparent. It appears that funding for schools will face great pressure for two reasons:

1) a potential move to reassess property values every two years will likely strain the county’s ability to fund necessary increases in the schools’ budget to maintain quality and build new schools, and

2) the potential removal of the storm-water fee means that the $2.8 million per year that fee would have been generated needs to be found somewhere else to maintain the storm-water program. It was reported that the new majority said it would find the money in the general fund. The general fund is the source of the schools’ county funding.

Moving the next date of reassessments from July 2008 to January 2009 will already have a negative impact on the FY09 county budget and will limit the county's ability to fund our schools. These other two potential changes will create even greater challenges.

These developments simply mean that school supporters will need to work harder and more vigilantly to protect our schools. What can you do to help?

First of all, please CLICK HERE to contact the Board of Supervisors and urge them to study these issues and think very carefully about the impact on schools before taking action on the storm water fee and the reassessment every two years.

Second, you can assist Support Schools Now by sending a check in any amount to: Support Schools Now, 3012 Mossy Creek Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Funds are needed for efforts to resist plans that would negatively impact school funding. (Notably, local radio stations 92.3 "The Tide" and 107.3 WBACH picked up on the SSN Election Edition newsletter and ran a spot describing the contents of our survey. Another potential way to get the word out.)

CLARIFICATION

David Jarman’s recent essay in the Gazette indicated that the budgeted increase for schools is "165% for 2008." It appears the Gazette left out decimal point because the budget for the schools, according to the county budget, increased 16.5%. Costs necessarily increased so rapidly in FY2008 primarily due to the opening of two new schools. In addition, higher per pupil costs in WJC are primarily a factor of higher teachers' salaries, lower staff to student ratios, and broader course offerings than other nearby divisions. All three are in jeopardy with reduced funding.

Thanks to everyone who has written thanking SSN for its information and analysis, and thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick
Support Schools Now

Special Election Edition--SURVEY RESULTS and ANALYSIS

2008-01-07T22:51:00.000-05:00

November 4, 2007

Dear School Supporters,

If you saw the October 31 Virginia Gazette hopefully you saw our endorsement of Andy Bradshaw for Supervisor and James P. Nickols for School Board (yes, that’s James P. Nickols, the Gazette has been using an incorrect middle initial). If you didn’t see the essay, it can be found at the end of this message.

We perceived the races in Stonehouse to be the most critical and therefore decided to use our allotted ink to express our strong feelings about those races.

For those not in Stonehouse, there are items to note in the other races as well:

Berkeley

While Michael C. Brown did not answer our questionnaire he did say that guidance from county staff that included a mere 1.9% increase in the education budget is “a ruse and should be considered fodder,“ ”It is not realistic,” and “it’s ridiculous.” Unless the state comes up with quite a bit of money, he is very likely right and we have to respect him for saying so.

In their responses both Mary Jones and Carlton Stockton indicated it is important to fully fund the schools’ budget and they emphasized the need for the schools and the county to work collaboratively on budgeting and long range planning. Both supported competitive compensation for teachers and staff, expanded Pre-K for at-risk students and alternative education.

Having served on the planning commission, Jones is very familiar with the schools capital needs and thinks money could be saved on future design and construction of schools (but would they be as excellent as Warhill and Matoaka?) She would like to bring the schools more into the Comprehensive Plan process than they have been in the past. She questions the efficiency of bussing students between high schools rather than simply having core courses available at each school. Jones supports a performance based compensation system, a tricky proposition to implement in schools. She would encourage the division to revisit maximum capacities for schools, when some suggest our schools are already too large to have kids feel connected to their schools. Unfortunately, she believes that the school administration costs consume a large part of the school budget when, in fact, it is only 2.4% of the budget. Her desire to reform the “tax and spend mentality” she perceives in the county may limit her ability to provide funding for the schools given that a great deal of local funds will continue to be needed to maintain quality.

Stockton made a point of emphasizing the boundaries that should exist between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board, which is refreshing in light of some past efforts to muscle the School Board. He is placing his bets on a collaborative budget process where school and county officials are working together to determine a reasonable budget. However, the schools have an obligation to present a “budget of need” that is not typically in sync with the county budget guidance, which inevitably causes friction, so the scenario may not be as rosy as he might hope.

Roberts

In their responses both George Drummond and Bruce Goodson indicated schools should be appropriately funded, salaries for teachers and staff should be competitive, students should be inside schools--not in trailers, and Pre-K and alternative education should be supported.
Goodson supports use of eminent domain for schools as a last resort and used it to get the land for Matoaka. He supported the multipurpose building for CEO until the School Board scrapped it. He has generally been supportive of schools but can be held back on funding when influenced by other Board members. He was part of the Board that held up the third high.

Drummond, to his credit, went farther in support of preschool, not just for at-risk children but also for those children from low to middle income families who typically make too much to receive assistance. He indicated he would not support use of eminent domain, which is worrisome if it was ever again necessary. He also dislikes trailers to such an extent that he would consider larger class sizes instead. While trailers are not ideal, most would rather have trailers used than have class sizes increase.

You can still read candidates responses to the SSN Questionnaire at:http://supportschoolsnow.org

And now, the moment you all have been waiting for--the results of the Support Schools Now
survey:

1. Which Board of Supervisors candidate in the BERKELEY DISTRICT do you think will best support WJC Schools?

Michael C. Brown 25.7%
Mary K. Jones 14.3%
Carlton A. Stockton 60.0%

2. Which Board of Supervisors candidate in the ROBERTS DISTRICT do you think will best support WJC Schools?

George F. Drummond 70.4%
Bruce C. Goodson 29.6%

3. Which Board of Supervisors candidate in the STONEHOUSE DISTRICT do you think will best support WJC Schools?

M. Anderson "Andy" Bradshaw 73.5%
Gene Farley 2.9%
James G. "Jim" Kennedy 23.5%

4. Which School Board candidate in the STONEHOUSE DISTRICT do you think will best support WJC Schools?

James C. Nickols 84.2%
Ron Vaught 15.8%

Thanks to all those who participated! Here are some of your comments:

"I vote for Carlton Stockton, however, I believe Mary Jones is also a school supporter but I give the edge to Carlton."

"Candidate Stockton demonstrates a true concern for the welfare of the children of WJCC. He resume reflects his abilities to do what is necessary to move public schools in the right direction."

"Mr. Drummond has a greater sensitivity to the needs of all students and would require the schools to invest in improvements in technical education and not only college preparatory studies."

"Either [Drummond or Goodson] will be a school supporter. Bruce [Goodson] will hold them more accountable."

"Bradshaw has been supportive but Kennedy was hostile toward public schools when he was on the Board."

"Didn't like Kennedy last time he was in and I don't think he will do any better."

"Mr. Nickols actually took the time to respond and I feel he has a good grasp on the current school problems and with the school board vs. the county supervisors. We need a change in this district with someone who seems to CARE about the position he has been voted to uphold."

"Mr. Nickols attended the debate at the Library on Croaker Road on 17 Oct. He is articulate, has a sense of humor, and experience as a human resource specialist and pastor in being sensitive to the needs of ALL students. He entered the race as a write-in because of his frustration with Mr Vaught. Mr Vaught did not attend nor did he obtain even as the incumbant the signatures needed to appear on the ballot."

"When he has bothered to attend meetings, [Ron Vaught] has a record of combining disinterest with combativeness. That alone should cause one to vote for a "fresh face." Mr. Nickols is much much more than that. His personal educational background, his lifelong commitment to service, his intellect, and his consensus building approach to policy will make a profound impact on the board."

Please VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6 and thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick
Support Schools Now

==========================================================

Vote Bradshaw. Write-in James P. Nickols.

Citizens expect public officials to work respectfully with each other and the public to improve our schools and our community. On this score and others, in the Stonehouse district in James City County, the choices are clear.

Many residents may not recall the bad ol’ days of acrimony between the Board of Supervisors and the WJC School Board back when Jim Kennedy chaired the BOS. He refused to acknowledge the growth in the community and set the third high school back over a year and several million dollars as construction costs skyrocketed. After Kennedy’s departure and Bradshaw‘s arrival, the third high finally got on track. Bombastically bashing the schools, Kennedy burned bridges with the School Board, school administration, and the press.

Andy Bradshaw, on the other hand, has been a thoughtful, constructive, and analytical voice. He is supportive of schools, but with a critical eye. He supported preschool expansion because of the data presented showing the return on investment, but Bradshaw was critical of the School Board’s handling of the Center for Educational Opportunities (CEO). He backed the third high and the eighth elementary and has set the stage for two more schools when needed. What happens in the other BOS races matters (and you can find candidates’ responses to questions regarding schools at http://supportschoolsnow.org ), but should Bradshaw fall to Kennedy, the schools would be in unstable hands.

Another unstable force has been Ron Vaught, the Stonehouse representative on the WJC School Board. Elected without opposition in 2003, he lashes out at citizens (and even fellow board members) expressing concerns. On mandatory drug testing and CEO elimination, Vaught forged ahead regardless of the appropriate community outcry. He fought balanced redistricting and left Stonehouse Elementary overcrowded and Norge underutilized. He even had the audacity to accuse hard-working CEO teachers of not caring about their students.

It is difficult to improve upon the May 2006 editorial analysis of another local paper in which Vaught was described as “too frequently crude and generally acerbic,” “spouting off verbally in public,” and bemoaned “Vaught's personal attacks” lamenting that “his ill-mannered remarks contribute to an overall impression of School Board bedlam.” An April 2006 editorial read: “At any given minute, you expect Vaught's ever-rising personal thermometer to send him spinning backwards out of his chair…. When things don't go his way on the board, Vaught tries to shut off further discussion.” And this is the Vice- Chair of the School Board, the person in line to be the next Chair?

Jim Nickols would bring a calm, measured, and more thoughtful approach to the School Board. Nickols will ask critical questions, demand answers and genuinely listen to citizens, rather than demean them. His election would shift the balance of the School Board in a positive direction. The oversight role of the Board and its stature have diminished over the years, Nickols would restore that balance.

Mike Ludwick lives in James City and is the founder of Support Schools Now.

WHO SHOULD SUPPORT SCHOOLS NOW ENDORSE?

2007-10-14T21:52:00.000-04:00

After reading candidates' responses (below) to our questionnaire (and hopefully after hearing them at the October 18 Candidate Forum at 7pm at Warhill High School), go to this site to select which candidates you think Support Schools Now should endorse. Who do you think would best support our schools?

We will review your selections and comments to inform our decisions.

Thank you for taking the time learn about the candidates and for your input.

Mike Ludwick
Support Schools Now

==================

Candidates for the James City County Board of Supervisors were sent this questionnaire: Questionnaire2007BOS.pdf

Here are their responses:

Berkeley District: Michael C. Brown (did not respond)--but he did send this: brown.pdf
Berkeley District: Mary K. Jones jones.pdf
Berkeley District: Carleton A. Stockton stockton.pdf

Roberts District: George F. Drummond drummond.pdf
Roberts District: Bruce C. Goodson goodson.pdf

Stonehouse District: M. Anderson "Andy" Bradshaw bradshaw.pdf
Stonehouse District: Gene Farley (a late write-in candidate did not receive a questionnaire.)
Stonehouse District: James G. "Jim" Kennedy (did not respond)

Candidates for the contested race for the WJC School Board in Stonehouse were sent this questionnaire: Questionnaire2007SB.pdf

Here are their responses:
James P. Nickols nickols.pdf
Ron Vaught (did not respond)

WJC BUDGET WRAP-UP

2007-06-26T23:41:00.000-04:00

5/17/07

Dear School Supporters,

THANK YOU to everyone who advocated for the WJC Schools’ budget this year. Our efforts had positive results!

THE GOOD NEWS

The James City County Board of Supervisors contributed about $1.6 million more than it had initially allocated for the schools’ operating budget, and the county and city nearly fully funded the schools’ capital budget. While not fully funding the School Board’s operating budget request by $1.75 million, the county and city allowed the schools’ budget to grow by 12% over last year. These funds are sorely needed to open, staff and operate two new schools, and accommodate additional student growth, teacher raises, increases in health benefits and retirement costs among other important items.

I hope you will take the opportunity to thank the county supervisors and city council for their support of our schools.

Even though full funding was not provided, the School Board decided to retain the Pre-K expansion and the full-time math coordinator. Take a moment to thank the School Board for retaining Pre-K especially. Your support of Pre-K no doubt gave the School Board the added incentive it needed to keep it in.

THE BAD NEWS

The Center for Educational Opportunities (CEO) as it is now, no longer exists.

The School Board could have gone with the “CEO Option,” the regular day, 9:30am-4:30pm, 5 teacher program which is most like the current CEO program. Instead it opted for the 12pm - 7pm ALL program, hastily created and not entirely thought through, that appears to rely on volunteers for the first three hours and on part-time teachers for a four-hour period of academic time, although it is unclear how the academic program will actually operate.

While additional pay for teachers to work in the ALL program sounds attractive at first, it is difficult to imagine teachers who after working an entire regular school day will be interested in extending their work day on a regular basis. It is reasonable to fear the administration’s ability to staff ALL with teachers willing and able to work beyond regular working hours and with the skills necessary to work with a challenging population of students. One might expect retired teachers to find this opportunity more attractive than regular teachers.

Many of the components of ALL were already occurring at CEO. William and Mary would have participated in the CEO Option or the ALL option, though one would hardly have know that the way ALL was presented at the School Board meeting.

It is interesting to note that the firm who conducted the independent efficiency audit was well aware of CEO (the 2004 CEO Evaluation Report was mentioned in the audit) and no recommendations were made to change the program to make it more efficient.

Moreover, the Board seemed to think, based on the options provided by the administration, that going with the CEO Option would have prevented them from funding Pre-K when that was not the case. The Board could have done both had they looked into the budget for $273,000 of additional savings, which, though difficult, could have been accomplished.

Skepticism aside, the School Board has decided to support the ALL program and we can only wish them the best of luck that it is successful. It remains to be seen if ALL will be judged using the same high standards as was CEO.

It is imperative the School Board and community monitor the ALL program very carefully. Hopefully the new Alternative Ed Task Force will look to the real needs of these most at-risk students and construct a program that truly serves their needs.

In the capital budget, the technology plan was underfunded by the county and the multipurpose spaces in the high schools (aka, the auxiliary gyms) were not funded. More discussions will take place in the next budget cycle to see if and when these priorities will be funded.

GAZETTE or GOSSIP?

Virginia Gazette publisher W.C. O’Donovan commendably reconsidered some of his April 14 editorial critical of Dr. Mathews. The Gazette has not always reported information about the schools correctly or fairly, so his corrections were very welcome.

However, O’Donovan ate a little more humble pie than he needed to.

While Dr. Mathews does not oppose alternative education in general, there is no question that he did oppose WJC’s alternative education program, CEO, and set out to discredit it when the location became an issue. Unfairly spun evidence of high costs, ineffectiveness and “gang activity” were suddenly brought forward when only weeks before had the Ace Hardware store been “the place” for CEO, it would have very likely operated just as it has in the past.

Using the Eastern State property for trailers became an option only when brought up by people outside the administration. Dr. Mathews’ plan to use trailers at Jamestown would have likely fallen victim to opposition from concerned Jamestown parents and then entire program would have been lost completely.

The community stood up strongly for the CEO students and teachers, and should take credit for the fact that a program remains at ALL.

As always, thank you for supporting our schools. Have a great summer!

Mike Ludwick

P.S.: At the April 10 Board of Supervisors meeting, my comments included a line “A dream we dream alone is only a dream, a dream we dream together is reality.” It’s a quote from either John Lennon or Yoko Ono (I find conflicting evidence on the web) and I should have mentioned it at the time. Thank you for you dreaming the dream of that our schools have the funding they need so that our students have the best education possible.

SAVE CEO and PRE-K Expansion

2007-06-26T23:35:00.000-04:00

4/30/07

Dear School Supporters,

The JCC Board of Supervisors, while a providing significant funding increase, left the schools' proposed operating budget with a $1.75 million shortfall.

This Tuesday, May 1, the School Board will take on the difficult job of deciding what areas of the proposed budget to cut to make up the difference. It’s time for you to tell the School Board what you think. Click here to send them a message.

We hope you will take a moment (if you have not already) to ask the School Board, at a minimum, to SAVE CEO and PRE-K EXPANSION. The community has spoken loud and long that these priorities must be maintained.

With existing funds or expected revenue, the administration indicates it could fund $418,000 worth of textbooks and instructional materials, reducing the cuts needed to $1.3 million.

Identifying $1.3 million of additional reductions would allow:

1) the Center for Educational Opportunities (CEO) to continue as is (where it would run is unclear, though the old Jamestown Academy could likely accommodate it with no trailer costs),

2) PreK expansion for 45 at-risk children,

3) a reorganization of the Multicultural Affairs Office to implement the recommendations of the Minority Achievement Tase Force accepted by the School Board, and

4) a full-time math coordinator and part-time fine art coordinator.

The School Board does have an option to fund a scaled-back CEO program with 5 full-time teachers that could be run in trailers at Eastern State (though moving the trailers would cost $330,000, the School Board does likely have these funds in its capital reserves). This scaled-back version would save about $450,000 from the operating budget and may be the only option left to save the daytime CEO program if space is not available elsewhere.

Just a few places this board and previous boards have looked to make up shortfalls:
* reduce the operations budget
* reduce the academic services budget
* reduce cost center allocations by a percentage of non-salary items
* reduce out-of-state travel
* increase the estimate of savings for people retiring

While making up the shortfall is not easy, the School Board needs to look closely at places to cut, as far away from the students as possible, in order to fund these important priorities.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

APRIL 10, GET IN THE GAME

2007-04-02T18:11:00.000-04:00

4/2/07

Dear School Supporters,

Former all-star shortstop of the Baltimore Orioles, Cal Ripken, was on TV Sunday morning. He talked about a simple lesson he learned from his father: In baseball and in life, don’t sit on the sidelines—GET IN THE GAME.

If you “GET IN THE GAME” for just one day all year to support our schools, APRIL 10, 7pm at the James City County Government complex, Building F, is the day, the time and the place to do it.

THE SCHOOLS NEED $1.75 MILLION to fully fund their operating budget.

What is at stake if the county does not provide these funds?

1) The Center for Educational Opportunities (CEO) will likely be dismantled into a 4.5 hr program, perhaps operating at night. (CEO is WJC’s Alternative Education program primarily for middle and high school students with disciplinary problems--those most at-risk of dropping out.) The community rose up to support this program and now we need to make the case again to the Board of Supervisors.

2) Preschool could not expanded by 45 slots to serve children most at-risk who are not currently in any preschool program. WJC’s preK program (in conjunction with the K-3 program) helps get at-risk children up to par with non at-risk peers by third grade. Investing early can save so many costs later in special education and remedial education, while also decreasing discipline problems because kids often act out if they can't read or don't have the background knowledge to be able to understand what they are being taught.

3) Staff would not be added to help implement the 56 recommendations of the community-wide minority achievement task force to raise academic achievement for all and specifically to help close the unacceptable achievement gap we have with our disadvantaged and minority students.

4) Our Math Coordinator would remain part-time, rather than becoming full-time, and there would be no ½ time Fine Arts Coordinator. These positions were recommended in the independent efficiency audit and most divisions have them. Given the need to assist math teachers increase student achievement in math and the need to coordinate all the many fine arts programs we have in our schools, these positions are reasonable and necessary.

(Additional justification for these items can be found here.)

OR

5) The schools would be forced to cut back in other areas such as reducing teachers’ salary and benefit increases, increasing class sizes, reducing funding for individual schools or non-mandated programs.

If the county is worried that it is giving the schools too much money, tell them not to worry. Any money that is “too much” could be put toward the $890,000 worth of replacement school buses and $300,000 of the over $1 million in requests for replacement equipment (desks, chairs, tables, cabinets, projectors, etc), all of which the school board removed from the budget as “good faith” gestures to the county and city, even though needed.

In the Capital Improvement Plan there is a $14.2 MILLION SHORTFALL mostly because the multipurpose spaces (previously called "auxiliary gyms") were not funded ($7 million), nor was $5.7 million of the technology plan. (The county tried say that by fully funding the 9th elementary and 4th middle schools that it also funded the technology in those schools, but unfortunately no additional money was included for the technology.) Several projects were funded but were moved back a year or two by the county. A few items were moved up. (See this spreadsheet for details.)

So, at a minimum, GET IN THE GAME by sending an email to the Board of Supervisors asking for full funding for our schools. Remind them that this year is a special case because we have two schools opening at the same time, plus new growth. Thus, an usually large increase in funding for schools is necessary.

But the most powerful way to GET IN THE GAME is to show up and speak during the public hearing on the budget (as part of a group or just as taxpaying citizen of James City County or Williamsburg) on April 10 at 7pm at the JCC County Complex, Building F.

Thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick

CEO, City, CIP, and April 10

2007-03-22T22:15:00.000-04:00

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

=======================================

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
Cooley Field's lighting and renovation plans are currently not funded.
Toano's exploratory classrooms and auditorium expansion (recommended in a facilities study) were removed by WJC.
Jamestown's media system was to be replaced in 07-08 and the county funded the project, but it has been removed by WJC.
Jamestown's field lighting is currently unfunded.
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.
Lafayette's refurbishment was funded but estimated costs have increased.
"Mulitpurpose Spaces" (for athletics and other activities) for each high school are requested by WJC.
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.
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.
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.

CEO--Community Engaged Openly

2007-03-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

March 7, 2007

Dear School Supporters,

It was a night in which we all can truly be proud to be residents of Williamsburg and James City County.

On March 6, current and former WJC students, teachers, parents, William and Mary student mentors, the WJC Education Association, the League of Women Voters Education Committee, Support Schools Now and other concerned citizens rallied to support the current full day alternative education program--the Center for Educational Opportunites (CEO).

Applause filled the packed room, with people overflowing into the hallway, after each speaker passionately spoke up for students too often left without a voice. CEO now has another meaning: Community Engaged Openly.

My remarks for Support Schools Now are below.

The School Board will be discussing CEO at a special meeting on March 13. If you have not already made your voice heard regarding CEO or other parts of the schools' budget, make your voice heard now.

CLICK HERE to send a message to the School Board, Board of Supervisors and City Council. They all need to hear from you.

Also, mark APRIL 10, 7 p.m., on your calendars. That is the night the JCC Board of Supervisors will have its public hearing on the county budget.

If the schools are to get the funds they need, as many voices as possible will be needed that night, APRIL 10. PLAN TO ATTEND.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

=================================

Chair Koch, Board members, Mr. Burckbuchler, my name is Mike Ludwick founder of Support Schools Now, here tonight with two primary messages: “Scrub the Base and Go For It.”

Before I explain that let me say there are lot of good things in the budget proposals. The staff to student ratios are held steady. A 3% salary raise seems to keep pace with others around us. Absorbing about half of the health insurance increases is helpful. Just beware of passing health cost along to staff because you may end up canceling out salary increases, especially for those at the bottom.

The Superintendent’s budget and additional needs in Option B together are your “budget of need”. Items in Option B: expanded preK, replacement buses, replacement equipment for schools--these are all needs.

Putting the two together means you have a $2.7 shortfall.

Obviously one item that needs to be put back in the budget is CEO. Others have been more eloquent I could have been on this subject. The community needs to come together to find a location for this program.

If you add CEO back in, the shortfall is $3.7M. How do you close this gap? Scrub the base and Go For It.

Scrub the base means look at additions made into the base budget last year that could be pulled out this year.

A few examples: At your last meeting you rightly dug deeply into the budget of academic services. In the last budget cycel you added $420K for textbook adoption, $100K for equipment, $72K for staff development to the base budget of Academic Services. Now the superintendent is asking for $300K more in academic services . Do you really need to add that $300K on top of what was added to the base last year?

The superintendent did include a $1.5M personnel adjustment that reduced the base. Why $1.5M? Could this number be increased? Tonight in your monthly bills and payroll you see an example of this because it is proposed that you redirect $450K of current funds out of personnel and benefits into band uniforms, text books, equipment at Warhill and Matoka.

Earlier in the year you had $400K in VRS savings that your redirected into Special education and band and athletic uniforms at Warhill. Back out that VRS saving out of the base budget. Otherwise you are adding new VRS money needed on top of funds you didn’t need this year.

After you scrub the base, then "Go For It."

If your budget is $3.7M over what the county and city say they have, and you can justify what are you requesting, Go For It, adopt it. Then it’s up to you to make the case and up to the community to go to the county and city and ask for the money.

The county and the city must face the consequences of the past poor leadership of the JCC Board of Supervisors whose failure to acknowledge growth delayed the third high school. Not only did the delay cost millions of dollars, but had it opened last year, we would not be faced with a triple whammy of having two new schools opening at the same time and new growth on top of it.

Scrub the base, go for it, and the community will back you up. Thank you.

WJC BUDGET UPDATE

2007-03-07T23:30:00.000-05:00

February 27, 2007

Dear School Supporters,

WJC Superintendent Dr. Mathews has released his proposed budget to the School Board.

He also proposed "additional needs" that could be added to his budget, including important items such preschool expansion for at-risk children, replacement buses, and needed equipment.
These documents, taken together, constitute WJC Schools' "budget of need."

In addition, the division has recently learned it will need to add another $600,000 into the budget for the Virginia Retirement System.

Therefore, at this point based on the total budget of need and revenue estimates provided by the state, the county and the city, there is a $2.7 million shortfall in the operating budget.

A new staffing model is being used this year at the middle and high school levels. The good news is that the overall staff to student ratios are nearly the same as they are now. Four reserve positions are included in the budget, should more students arrive than expected.

To save money and reduce the need for bus drivers, a three-tiered bus schedule is proposed--saving $600,000--otherwise the shortfall would be $3.3 million. The School Board is now looking at 6 options for the three-tiered system. (Options 1-2-3, Options A-B-C). Each of the options gets away from having schools at each level (elementary, middle and high school) opening and closing at the same time. Some options have middle and high schools students beginning class later in the morning rather than earlier.

To save money and due to the fact that Eastern State can no longer house the alternative education program--called the "Center for Educational Opportunities" (CEO)--for students with discipline problems or serious problems succeeding academically in their middle or high schools, a proposal to restructure CEO has been presented which would save $1 million. Otherwise, the shortfall would have been $4.3 million.

The restructuring plan for CEO, however, has some serious drawbacks. The main one being that the CEO program currently runs from 9:30am - 4:15pm. The new plan would house the program in trailers at Jamestown High School from 3:00pm - 6:30pm (or 4:00 - 7:30pm if the high schoolers go to school last). What will this shortened program mean to these students, all of whom need much additional attention? And what will these students, some of whom have been suspended or expelled, be doing during the day? To continue the daytime CEO program, a new site would need to be found quickly.

The School Board will need to look closely at the Superintendent's budget, look for additional savings elsewhere, decide about tiered busing, decide whether and how to save the daytime CEO program, and then justify what they request to the county and city.

Ultimately it will up to the county and city to CLOSE THE SHORTFALL GAP by providing the additional funds necessary to open and staff the two new schools, provide salary and benefit increases for staff, and meet all the other needs.

Contact the School Board with your thoughts on the budget:
schoolboardmembers@wjcc.k12.va.us Ask them to adopt a real budget of need and to do everything in their power to retain the daytime CEO program.

Also, if you have not already, please encourage the County Supervisors and City Council members to provide funding to meet the schools' needs which, as you see above, will very likely significantly exceed the funds currently estimated to be provided for schools:council@williamsburgva.gov and jccboard@james-city.va.us

Thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick

Transportation vs. Education?

2007-02-18T02:24:00.000-05:00

February 18, 2007

Dear School Supporters,

Think transportation and education are not related? THINK AGAIN.

A group of legislators in the Virginia General Assembly have proposed a multibillion-dollar transportation plan that includes shifting about $250 million dollars from the General Fund used for education to fund transportation initiatives.

Now is the time to let your legislators know that any transportation package must NOT divert funding from the General Fund.

In addition, please advocate for the Start Strong PreK pilot programs if you have not already. It will take strong advocacy from as many people as possible to ensure passage. Diverting General Funds for transportation may also hurt further PreK expansion that will be proposed in the next biennium.

Below are the senators and delegates who are working to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the budget. Below that list is an email list to cut and paste into a distribution list (which also includes Del. Barlow, Del. Rapp, and Sen. Norment).

Thank you for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick

===============================================

General Assembly Budget Conferees

Sen. John H. Chichester, 28th-Fredericksburg, 698-7528 (all phone numbers begin with 804)
Sen. Charles J. Colgan, 29th-Manassas, 698-7529
Sen. William C. Wampler Jr., 40th-Bristol, 698-7540
Sen. Walter A. Stosch, 12th-Glen Allen, 698-7512
Sen. R. Edward Houck, 17th-Spotsylvania, 698-7517
Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr., 34th-McLean, 698-1034
Del. Lacey E. Putney, 19th-Bedford, 698-1019
Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, 93rd-Newport News, 698-1093
Del. M. Kirkland Cox, 66th-Colonial Heights, 698-1066
Del. Leo C. Wardrup Jr., 83rd-Virginia Beach, 698-1083
Del. Johnny S. Joannou, 79th-Portsmouth, 698-1079

district28@sov.state.va.us
district29@sov.state.va.us
district40@sov.state.va.us
district12@sov.state.va.us
district17@sov.state.va.us
DelVCallahan@house.state.va.us
DelLPutney@house.state.va.us
DelPHamilton@house.state.va.us
DelKCox@house.state.va.us
DelLWardrup@house.state.va.us
DelJJoannou@house.state.va.us
DelWBarlow@house.state.va.us
DelMRapp@house.state.va.us
district03@sov.state.va.us

Advocate for Preschool Pilot programs

2007-02-18T02:13:00.000-05:00

February 6, 2007

Dear School Supporters,

As you know, the focus of SUPPORT SCHOOLS NOW has been to advocate for funding for WJC schools to ensure they have what they need to make sure our children receive the best education possible. But schools face great challenges when children arrive at their doors not ready for school.

Governor Kaine proposed expanding access to quality preschool, on a voluntary basis, using pilot programs in a public-private partnership to help children succeed in school and have more fulfilling lives.

However, in its budget the House of Delegates COMPLETELY ELIMINATED funding for the pilots. The Senate removed some funding and diverted the remaining $3.4 million to expand the Virginia Preschool Initiative, which serves “at-risk” 4 year olds. But more than just the "at-risk" need access to afforable, high quality preschool.

In addition, the House COMPLETELY ELIMINATED funding for the implementation of a “quality rating system,” which is a voluntary system to measure and improve the quality of early childhood programs and provide parents with quality related information to help choose a child care program. The Senate eliminated approximately $2 million, leaving $864,570 for a quality rating system.

NOW IS THE CRITICAL TIME TO ADVOCATE to the General Assembly for the Start Strong preK pilots. Please consider emailing representatives using the email addresses at the end of this message. Addresses below include Sen. Norment and Delegates Barlow, Hamilton and Rapp as well as the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance Committee.

If you have already sent a message, THANK YOU!

If not, the message I sent is below also. Use it as you wish or make your own. THE TIME IS NOW!

Thank for you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

=======================================

Dear Senators and Delegates,

Please support funding for Governor Kaine's Start Strong PreK initiative to expand preschool opportunities for four-year-olds in six pilot programs.

A wide array of studies have indicated how important preschool can be in the lives of children, academically and socially. Preschool can help close the achievement gap in education before it starts. The societal return on investment is great because children with a strong start have
fewer problems in school and in life.

These pilots will provide a limited number of additional preschool opportunities but they are also critical in helping us determine how a voluntary public-private partnership would work in Virginia, focusing on high quality with a quality ratings system and measurable outcomes.

Please support funding for the Start Strong PreK pilot programs.

Thank you for your service.

==============================

DelVCallahan@house.state.va.us
del_Putney@House.state.va.us
DelBPhillips@house.state.va.us
DelPHamilton@house.state.va.us
DelRIngram@house.state.va.us
DelJMay@house.state.va.us
DelHMorgan@house.state.va.us
DelBSherwood@house.state.va.us
DelBTata@house.state.va.us
DelBTata@house.state.va.us
DelLSpruill@house.state.va.us
DelLWardrup@house.state.va.us
DelCJones@house.state.va.us
DelSLandes@house.state.va.us
DelJReid@house.state.va.us
DelJScott@house.state.va.us
DelWAbbitt@house.state.va.us
DelCHogan@house.state.va.us
DelRBrink@house.state.va.us
DelOWare@house.state.va.us
DelAHowell@house.state.va.us
DelMBaCote@house.state.va.us
DelRDance@house.state.va.us
district28@sov.state.va.us
district29@sov.state.va.us
district09@sov.state.va.us
district40@sov.state.va.us
district12@sov.state.va.us
district17@sov.state.va.us
district19@sov.state.va.us
district32@sov.state.va.us
district35@sov.state.va.us
district08@sov.state.va.us
district13@sov.state.va.us
district03@sov.state.va.us
district27@sov.state.va.us
district24@sov.state.va.us
district10@sov.state.va.us
DelWBarlow@house.state.va.us
DelMRapp@house.state.va.us

Advocate for our Schools

2007-01-15T02:29:00.000-05:00

Dear School Supporters,

I am happy to report that the advocacy movement for funding our schools continues to be strong.

If you have already made your thoughts known to our elected officials, THANK YOU! If you have not and wish to, you can simply "CLICK HERE" , and create a message encouraging them to provide as much funds for the schools as possible so that the schools' budget may be fully funded, and send. The message will go automatically to county and city representatives. They need to hear from you!

On January 9, the James City County Board of Supervisors held a prebudget public hearing to hear from citizens before its budget retreat on January 20 at which it will provide county staff with guidance regarding the budget. The decisions made on January 20 will guide the entire budget process; therefore, making your voice heard NOW is of the utmost importance. And for city folks, remember that the schools' budget is driven by the county budget. The city simply provides funding by formula depending on what the county provides, so it is important for you to speak out, too!

On January 9, I delivered a statement for Support Schools Now in which I stated that the WJC superintendent indicated his proposed budget would be above and beyond what the county plans to provide this year. I stated that teacher and staff salaries and benefits must remain highly competitive. New staff, equipment and materials would be needed for two new schools. Replacement buses, technology and hopefully preschool expansion would be requested. I thanked them for their past support and asked them to step up to the plate again this year.

Support Schools Now also endorsed a statement read by Sharon Kiefer of the League of Women Voters Education Committee that strongly supported expanding preschool opportunities, which was also endorsed by the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP Education Committee.

In addition, PTA Council President Leisa Williams directly addressed the supervisors and spoke eloquently about the needs of our schools and asked for their support.

Add YOUR voice by taking a minute to "CLICK HERE" to send a message to our county and city representatives.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

Be a Mentor

2006-10-24T00:18:00.000-04:00

Dear School Supporters in Willamsburg-James City County,

As you know, the focus of SUPPORT SCHOOLS NOW has been to advocate for funding for WJC schools to ensure they have what they need to make sure our children receive the best education possible.

But appropriately funding our schools, while extremely important, is not the end, by any means, of what we can do to support our schools, and so many of you are already involved in our schools in wonderful ways.

Our superintendent, Dr. Gary Mathews, has challenged us again this year to make a difference in the lives of children "at-risk" by becoming mentors. Dr. Mathews has said that disadvantaged children often don't care about what you know, until they know you care. At a recent School Board meeting he also pointed out that research demonstrates how important mentors can be in helping children obtain direct experiences in building academic background knowledge to help them succeed.

In addition, children with mentors are much less likely to skip school, use drugs, skip class or use alcohol. If we can help steer kids away from these activities they can be better students and more successful people.

I started being a mentor last year with Big Brothers/Big Sisters in the school-based program which requires ONLY 1 HOUR PER WEEK during the school day. Time can be spent helping students with schoolwork or doing fun activities that can help create a bond between you and a student.

Working in the area with a flexible employer, I am able to continue being a mentor this year. If you can too, I invite you to call 253-0676 for an application. After completing an application there is an interview with a staff person from Big Brothers/Big Sisters and then two 1.5 hour training sessions.

For those of you who cannot make a commitment during the school day, BB/BS has a community-based program, through which you would be expected to meet with a child an average of 2-3hrs per week.

In either case, your involvement can help a child in our community that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Unfortunately, despite the overwhelming research and BB/BS mentor training programs, a school board member insisted at a recent meeting that "we can't rely too heavily on that mentoring" because "we just cannot control the consistency."

But don't let this sentiment discourage you; in fact, allow it to inspire you to make a difference in the life of a child. Search your heart (and your calendar) to see if you can be a mentor so that there will be one less child left behind.

Sincerely,

Mike Ludwick
Support Schools Now
http://supportschoolsnow.org/

WJC Schools Budget Final

2006-06-10T15:47:00.000-04:00

5/24/06

Dear School Supporters,

The James City County Board of Supervisors adopted its budget and in response the WJC School Board adjusted its budget. The final breakdown is attached.

In short, the School Board received nearly everything it requested from the county and city! If you have not already, thank your county supervisors and city council members! CLICK HERE to send them a message.

The School Board increased its revenue projections from the state by $256,125 by increasing the "average daily membership" (ADM) projection of the number of students that will be enrolled next year. This reduced the budget shortfall to $1.1 million. The School Board also increased its estimate of savings it would see due to retirements of senior teachers and staff which reduced the shortfall another $100,000. To make up for the rest, the School Board made cuts in technology, operations, academic affairs and school buses.

However, due to additional FY06 sales tax revenue from the county and city provided earlier in the year ($593,693), and additional funds from the state in FY06 due to a higher ADM than expected, and funds unspent from FY06, the School Board may be able to fund most of what was reduced in the operating budget. This is wonderful news!

In the capital improvement plan (CIP) there remains a $616,000 shortfall in projects at existing schools. Several projects were delayed: HVAC replacement at Clara Byrd Baker and DJ Montague, the resurfacing and expansion of the Norge parking lot, renovation of the career and technical building at Lafayette (the "900 building"), and the replacement of the media system at Jamestown.

The shortfall for new school buses in the CIP to expand the fleet is now only $253,000, thanks to additional funds provided by the supervisors.

While there may appear to be a shortfall for new facilities in the CIP because funds for the 9th elementary were moved back a year, the projected opening date remains the same. Funding for the multipurpose building was moved back, but it is unclear at this time exactly what the School Board plans to do with this building.

Thank you again for voicing your support for our schools during the budget process! No doubt, your advocacy efforts made an impact.

Despite the various controversies, please continue to support our schools for the good of all the children so they can receive the best education possible.

Mike Ludwick

JCC Supervisors Give Schools Additional Funds

2006-05-11T00:49:00.000-04:00

May 4, 2006

Dear School Supporters,

At the May 3 James City County Board of Supervisors budget work session it was revealed that the county received $900,000 credit from the Virginia Public School Authority--the issuer of bonds for school projects--because the interest rate was lower than anticipated.

Because the funds saved were related to school projects it would have been best if all the funds would have been put back into the schools. However, the supervisors agreed to use some of the funds (around $445,000) for another fire engine/pumper and the rest (around $455,000) were put into the schools capital budget for new buses needed when the 3rd high school and 8th elementary open. These additional funds for buses leave the schools about $253,000 short on its request for new buses, but the new money is certainly welcome.

(Additional revenue the schools may see from the state due to the "average daily membership" (ADM) of students being higher than expected that was also discussed will probably need to pay to utilities and fuel cost shortfalls in the current year.)

The operating budget is still about $777,000 short and the capital budget for existing schools is still $616,000 short (see the revised chart). The Board of Supervisors plans to adopt its budget on May 9 and then the WJC School Board will have to go back and cut items from its proposed operating budget.

When the "landbook"--the book providing the value of all the land in the county--comes in later this year there may be even more revenue available. In the recent past the supervisors have suggested that "excess revenue" realized when the landbook comes in could go to the schools. More buses could be funded at that time or other unfunded school capital projects.

Thanks to all of you who made you voices heard during the budget process. No doubt, you have made a difference.

It's not to late to encourage full funding if you have not already--who knows what other revenue might turn up--but also be sure to thank the supervisors for the effort they have made to reach that goal. CLICK HERE to send them a message.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

WJC Schools Not Fully Funded in the Proposed County Budget

2006-05-03T23:47:00.000-04:00

April 29, 2006

Dear School Supporters,

The James City County Board of Supervisors will be discussing funding for WJC Schools at a work session on Monday, May 1. If you have not already, please contact the supervisors and ask them to fully the schools' operating and capital budget requests. CLICK HERE to send a message to all supervisors. If that does not work here are the addresses:

andybrad@james-city.va.us
jjmcgl@james-city.va.us
jicenhour@james-city.va.us
harrison@james-city.va.us
bgoodson@james-city.va.us

Below is my statement to the supervisors at the April 25 public hearing discussing the unmet needs.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

==========================================

First of all, thank you to the Board for your direction of staff as the budget was prepared and to Mr. Wanner for the funds allocated to the schools in the proposed budget. These funds are critical to maintaining the high quality of our school division and your support is greatly appreciated.

As you are aware the schools' requested budget is not fully funded. About $638,000 on the operating side and about $616,000 on the capital side. Please keep in mind those individuals and groups who have spoken at meetings and sent emails asking you to fully fund the schools' requests. All these funds are needed.

In fact, as you saw in the Option 1 budget that the superintendent created, the school board had other needs such as buses, trailers, preschool teachers, operating capital, that it did not even request. So it may not seem like they let you off easy, but they did.

Other growing divisions to the north, Fauquier, Culpeper, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Loundon and Frederick all proposed increases in excess of 12%. Fauquier's was 16%; Frederick County, 19.4%.

I read recently that Hampton gave the schools $600,000 more than requested. While using a formula can be dangerous, the principle of providing more than what was requested sounds very good to me.

To at least make up the difference you may be able to increase the revenue projections for the property tax or sales tax. Perhaps look to any contingency in the budget or fund balance, or other options that would allow for full funding.

Thank you for your support of our schools and please fully fund the schools operating and captial budgets.

WJC Schools Budget Update

2006-04-25T00:49:00.000-04:00

Dear School Supporters,

The James City County proposed budget has been released and while there is good news to report, there is also room for concern. (See the attached document that compares what the School Board proposed to what the county proposes to fund.)

Please "click here" to let the Board of Supervisors know you support
fully funding WJC Schools' proposed operating and capital budgets.

In the operating budget, the county's funding levels (which by formula affects city contributions) leave WJC Schools $732,000 short. An earlier additional appropriation of $638,000 from the county and the city's sales tax for education revenue effectively reduced what would have otherwise been a $1.37 million shortfall to $732,000.

It is unclear what further reductions the superintendent will recommend or what the School Board will do, but hopefully there will be an indication very soon so the community will understand how the $732,000 shortfall could impact WJC's proposed budget.

On the capital budget, it appears the big ticket items for new facilities are intact: the 8th elementary (opening 2007), 4th middle (opening 2009), and 9th elementary (opening 2009, though the initial FY07 funding for planning was delayed). The multipurpose building to house alternative education, and student services that was slated to open in 2007 has been delayed in
the county's CIP; however, this particular delay is more a function of the School Board putting the brakes on this project than the county delaying it.

The county proposes to delay about $616,000 of projects at existing schools: HVAC replacement at Clara Byrd Baker and DJ Montague, the resurfacing and expansion of the Norge parking lot, renovation of the career and technical building at Lafayette (the "900 building"), and the replacement of the media system at Jamestown. While these are supposed to be
funded in future years, the future is never certain in the CIP. Thus, it is always concerning when projects are delayed because other projects get pushed back and the division gets further and further behind.

Despite the fact that that FY07 allocation for expanding the school bus fleet due to the opening of the 3rd high and 8th elementary is not what was requested by the School Board, it appears that over time the county will provide the funds to expand the fleet. (Note: EXPANDING the fleet is different from REPLACING existing buses which is done in the operating
budget.)

So, all-and-all the news from the county is good, but you may recall all the items that the School Board did not include it is budget to begin with, over $2 million dollars worth. Reducing the budget further is likely to be very challenging.

But you can help. "Click here" and encourage the supervisors (whose email addresses should appear) to find the additional funds so that the schools' operating and capital budgets can be fully funded. Please write soon because the county's public hearing on the budget is on April 25 and work sessions where decisions will be made will soon follow.

As a joint county-city school division, Williamsburg city residents should write too because what the county does impacts everyone. The City has committed to fully funding its part of the school budget if the county will do the same.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

Budget Good News-Bad News

2006-04-02T17:06:00.000-04:00

3/29/06

Dear School Supporters,

At the WJC School Board's public hearing on the budget on March
7, Support Schools Now, the WJC Education Association, Virginia
Organizing Project, and the League of Women Voters appealed to
the school board to include important items in its budget.

Many of you also contacted the school board via email. Thank you!

The good news:

Thanks in part to our advocacy (and the still somewhat hard-to-
believe assumption--but sworn to be true by the WJC
administration--that the schools will experience NO increase in
health care costs) the school board did raise staff salary increases to
5%--equal to that offered to teachers. It also added an additional school
bus.

The bad news:

* still not enough trailers to maintain the School Board's class size
guidelines
* still no additional Bright Beginnings preschool teachers
* still no new operating capital equipment for any schools
* still not enough computers and technology
* still not enough buses (only 6 requested, 13 are needed)

The School Board did not go as far as we wanted them to go, but at
least some progress was made and we thank Board members for
that.

The adopted budget can be found here:
http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/admin/finance/Budget/FY07-AdoptedBudget/index.shtml

Now the budget goes to the JCC Board of Supervisors and
Williamsburg City Council. Hopefully the county and city will be able to
fully fund the schools' operating and capital budget requests.

The county plans to release its proposed budget to the public on
April 17.

Support Schools Now will help to keep you informed about
how the county's budget will affect the schools.

The opportunity to address the Board of Supervisors regarding the
proposed budget will be on April 25 at the county's public hearing.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

School Budget, Option 1 Truly Needed

2006-03-17T06:46:00.000-05:00

Dear School Supporters,

Now that the drug testing controversy has passed, it's time to start
thinking about WJC schools' budget.

To make your voice heard, simply "CLICK HERE" and email addresses of all School Board members should appear in your "To:" line.

The WJC School Board is now considering the superintendent's
proposed budget in order to develop the final budget for the schools to
send forward to the county and city. The superintendent presented his
"Option 2" budget to Board which (while helpful) does not include an
additional $2.3 million that is truly needed for our schools. Without the
additional funds, this is the impact:

* not enough trailers to maintain the School Board's class size
guidelines

* not enough of a salary increase for support staff (only 3.5%
compared to 5% for teachers)

* no additional Bright Beginnings preschool teachers

* no new operating capital equipment for any schools

* not enough computers and technology

* not enough buses (only 5 requested, 13 are needed)

Please encourage the School Board to include in its budget, items
from the "Option 1" budget Dr. Mathews prepared with a 5% salary
increase for support staff and additional Bright Beginning preschool
teachers to meet the need. Everyone understands that after the past few
years of insufficient funding, the schools need to play catch-up and now
is the time.

The premise is simple. The School Board needs to prepare a
budget that asks the county and city for what the schools truly need and
justify it. Then the county and city can decide how much funding they
wish to provide.

To see the Option 1-Option2 proposals side by side CLICK HERE.

ACT NOW because the School Board plans to adopt its budget on
March 21.

For more information, read the statement (below) I presented to the
School Board at the March 7 public hearing on the budget.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick
Support Schools Now
http://supportschoolsnow.org/

===================================

My message to you tonight is "You won't get what you don't ask for."
At the beginning of the budget process I delivered a statement
endorsed several local organizations and 68 individuals asking the
superintendent and the School Board to build a true budget of need.
The superintendent did that when he prepared his "Option 1"
budget.

Option 1 required an additional $13.9 million and included most of
what our schools really need: [increased staffing for growth, a 5%
salary increase for teachers, staff for reading renewal, the ability
to absorb required retirement increases and a 10% health benefit
increase, funding for school operating capital allocations,
technology, trailers and buses.]

Even better would have been to include additional Bright Beginnings
preschool teachers in order to meet unmet needs and give even
more children a great start. Even better would have been to include a
similar 5% raise for staff (teachers assistants, custodians, cafeteria
workers, etc. ) as is proposed for teachers. Many of these folks are at
the bottom of the scale already. [The salary study done a year or so ago
showed how low our staff salaries compared with surrounding districts.]
The superintendent also prepared an "Option 2" budget, a unique
approach that would help the citizens and county and city officials
see what would likely be reduced if all the funds were not available for
Option 1.

Unfortunately, instead of proposing an Option 1 as a budget, the
superintendent proposed Option 2.

Option 2 reduced additional classes in trailers from 19 to 10. This needs
to examined carefully to prevent class sizes from exceeding the School
Board's guidelines. There is no need for class sizes to be increased
beyond those guidelines even for just one year. It is not the fault of
students or teachers that the new elementary will not be ready soon
enough.

Option 2 included NO allocations for school-based operating capital
equipment (chairs, desks, tables, and other durable equipment).
We cannot continue to go without as we have over the past few
years. It may be something to reduce depending on funds available
but not to request any funds at all from the start is a mistake.
Option 2 funds 5 replacement buses, instead of the 13 needed.
Buying buses is certainly not the sexiest item on which to spend
funds and yet if we don’t keep to a reasonable replacement cycle
we fall further and further behind. Certainly the folks in
transportation would never put an unsafe bus on the road. The
bigger question is how much longer will it take our students to get
home when so many buses are off the road.

Option 2 will have WJC barely meeting the state's requirements for
technology. Is that what we should be doing to become the best
school division in the commonwealth?

There is never a good time to include these costs. [And having to
spend an additional $2M just for Virginia Retirement System
increases alone doesn’t make it any easier.] Perhaps your fund
balance could help cover costs for technology or buses. That would
be helpful to know.

In any case, please go back to the "Option 1" budget with a 5%
salary increase for support staff and additional Bright Beginning
preschool teachers to meet the need. Everyone understands that
after the past few years of insufficient funding, the schools need to play
catch-up and now is the time.

Please prepare a budget that asks the county and city for what the
schools truly need and justify it. The community will support you. Then
the county and city will decide how much funding they wish to provide.
But you certainly won't get what you don't ask for.

[Sections in parentheses not spoken at the meeting in the interest of
time.]

Response to "Runaway schools" editorial

2006-02-11T09:02:00.000-05:00

Dear School Supporters,

If you are a first-time recipient of notices from Support Schools Now, welcome! Notices from the recent past can be found at:
http://supportschoolsnow.org

Part of SSN's mission is to support our schools through education. You may have seen an editorial recently by Virginia Gazette's publisher regarding our schools. Some commentary has been added below to help correct or clarify the statements made. (For the links used below you may need to cut and paste them into your browser address line if they wrap into a second line):

> Runaway schools W. C. O'Donovan
>
> January 25 2006
>
> The difference between candor and naivete is $2.4 million. WJC
> Superintendent Gary Mathews proposed one budget of "need" nearly $14
> million higher than this year, and another "back-up" budget
> considerably less.

Dr. Mathews dual budget approach is an unfamiliar one to this community. One thing his approach does, though, is to frame the debate as to what he and the administration thinks WJC needs and what they will recommend be reduced if necessary.

> Within days, the James City supervisors cheerfully settled on the
> lower number. (Williamsburg might have gone for the bigger tab,
> since it's comparatively loaded and has a smaller stake in the
> school budget.) Most School Board officials were displeased with
> Mathews for showing his hand, but the damage was done. A few weeks
> earlier he had served notice of the two options, so they shouldn't
> have been surprised.

On the contrary, nothing was "settled" at the supervisor's retreat. The supervisors appreciated the heads-up, plan on allocating existing funds to the budget, and have a better idea of what is going to be ultimately requested. Both budgets are still considerably above what Boards in the recent past would even entertain.

One can appreciate the School Board's concerns about the dual budget approach. This budget information is out seemingly before the School Board has had significant input. Even so, a lot of work still needs to be done on the budget. The public and School Board will weigh in, with the School Board ultimately adopting a budget to send to the supervisors.

> Mathews offered no apology and pointed out that his lesser budget is
> 9.3% over this year, which is more than the 7.2% suggested by the
> county administrator. Lucky for him, a new moderate majority among
> the supervisors might fund the lower tab and a little more.

It is true that Mathews should count himself lucky to be in an environment where the supervisors even care about having this information. Previous Boards of Supervisors in recent years built budgets with little regard to the superintendent or School Board's requests.

> Mathews has hardly cut to the bone. Teacher raises are trimmed only
> slightly from 5% to 4.5%, on top of 5% this year.

There should be no need or desire that WJC should have to cut to the bone or even into muscle. Fat, of course, can be cut but the efficiency report showed very little of that.
A 5% raise for WJC teachers is absolutely justified for at least three reasons: 1) WJC must stay highly competitive in order attract and retain the best individuals possible; 2) if we want people who work in WJC to be able to live here we must take into account how much more expensive it is live here than other areas; 3) they deserve it for all the hard work they do despite the already low pay.

Of concern is the fact that the superintendent is only requesting a 3.5% salary increase for support staff such as teaching assistants, school nurses, bus drivers and custodians. The three reasons above apply to them, too.

> This is a mere dust-up compared to the larger problem looming in the
> form of runaway growth. Staffing costs will be going up as much as
> $2 million a year for the next four years to cope with a burgeoning
> student body, now projected to balloon by 42% out to 2016. Families
> are streaming in.

Can't argue with that and we must do right by these families by maintaining top-notch schools.

> If ever there was collaboration needed, this is it. School and
> county officials need to rethink how to build new schools to bring
> costs down and avoid a stampede by taxpayers.
>
> Recount. Check your numbers, because an erroneous projection can
> cost more than money. Former Superintendent Gayden Carruth got
> caught up in a series of inflated numbers that hurt her credibility.
> This time that doesn't seem the case, but the county is weighing in
> anyway with a full committee to review the numbers.

WJC's enrollment projections consultant, DeJong, has an updated
enrollment report here:
http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/admin/finance/Enrollment/111705-enrollmentprojectionsreportupdateDejong.pdf

A consensus of support has developed behind these projections because of to the data used to compile them (housing data from the county) and because they are done independently. The division's enrollment has surpassed even the high projections developed by DeJong.

> Co-location. Building two or more schools on one site saves land
> costs and reduces infrastructure costs. The schools don't have to be
> attached, though that saved York money at the Grafton Middle/High.
> Surry has all three schools on one campus. WJC is already
> co-locating the third high with Thomas Nelson Community College, but
> the commercial property at Warhill may have to give way to another
> school.

Co-location is a fine idea if it can meet everyone's needs
appropriately.

> Expansion. Build all future schools for vertical or horizontal
> additions. That's a no-brainer, but the temptation when cutting
> costs is to downsize the cafeterias and libraries, essentially
> precluding expansion. That's why Jamestown High is stuck.

This is NOT a no-brainer if you care about the impact on students
academically and socially. The body research is large and growing
that smaller schools serve students better.

Here is a taste of the research on smaller schools:

http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/EPRU/documents/EPRU%202002-101/Chapter%2003-Howley-Final.htm

We should resist expanding our existing schools or building new schools to expand to undesirable sizes. Some would argue, supported by research, that elementary schools with a capacity of 700 students (as is proposed for the 8th elementary) don't serve students as well as schools of smaller sizes.

> Template. Save millions in engineering and architect fees by
> replicating designs for new schools instead of reinventing fancy
> buildings.

Sounds good, but programming and topography can scuttle such designs.

> Bigger. Redefine the upper limits of the student body. The ideal
> 1,250 of our high schools is hardly affordable when we have
> thousands of new kids streaming in. Columbine-size at 2,000 may be
> too big, but 1,500 and 1,600 should be re-examined in light of
> fiscal practicality.

How is the 1250 high school not affordable? What data substantiates this claim? The county's financial consultants do a study every year of county debt levels. That report will provide real information about the debt the county can carry and what it might cost us. Again, while some might argue our high schools should be even smaller, 1250 has served us well and we should not build any larger than that.

> Partnerships. WJC needs to find more resources like the $2.3 million
> from the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation for the
> wellness/nutrition initiative. Officials have yet to detail what
> exactly the partnership is with Thomas Nelson and how that saves
> money or helps students.

Partnerships can be great and they can also cause terrible headaches if handled improperly. As for Thomas Nelson, while we don't know the details the idea is that our students could utilize TNCC's facilities nearby that they wouldn't have access to otherwise. Having TNCC next door should provide opportunities for students and relieve the division of having to build these facilities on its own.

> Re-prioritize I. The county should scrap the sports stadium at
> Warhill District Park and divert the $6.5 million in the capital
> budget to schools, notably to cover the third high steel and
> concrete overrun.

With three high schools we will need that stadium very soon. Cooley Field is already quite overused.

> Reprioritize II. By the same token, the School Board should follow
> through with a full-scale reordering of priorities. Differential
> funding, which would throw cash to "needy" schools, should be the
> first thing thrown overboard as noble but unaffordable.

The differential funding concept could be removed completely if WJC redistricts along socio-economic lines. That way no school has that many more disadvantaged students than any other.

> Efficiency Commission a panel of retired CFOs to do a thorough
> review of the budget and operations, now moving north of $100
> million. Last year's efficiency lite study paid by Gov. Warner was a
> token gesture that actually wound up costing us money instead of
> saving any.

It boggles the mind that anyone can call a 315-page indepth report filled with data, commendations and recommendations that have been dissected and analyzed by the administration in terms of academic and operational effectiveness, "a token gesture." Here's the link if you are interested:

http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/admin/schoolboard/Reports/MGT-Final%20Report-WJCC-06-23-05.pdf

See the administration's detailed responses to the report:

http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/admin/superintendent/index-powerpoints.shtml

The report pointed out WJC is very efficient but it needs to spend more in some areas to be more effective. One could argue it would be better to spend more money and be more effective than to spend slightly less and be less effective.

If retired CFOs want to go through the budget they are welcome to do so and their input would be appreciated. All the information is available here and eventually the proposed budget will be as well: http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/admin/finance/

> Motor pool. Throw in with Penske and Colonial Williamsburg with the
> bus maintenance facility off Pocahontas Trail. It's state-of-the art
> and built for buses.

Creative idea, but WJC already has a busy maintenance facility of its own with one of the best crews in the state.

> Year-round. Rethink the opportunity to use schools more efficiently
> by going to equally weighted trimesters. This is highly contentious
> but would still provide the same number of vacation days while using
> buildings to better capacity.

This is reminiscent of former supervisor Michael Brown's idea to shuffle grade levels around in existing schools as a way to avoid building a new high school. Using buildings better is one thing, but what would the impact be on the academic program, student's lives or parent's lives? Maximum efficiency, while a laudable goal, isn't necessarily practical or best for kids and families.

> Ask around. Surely we're not the only fast-growing community in the
> country. Consult counterparts in Fairfax and Las Vegas for creative
> ideas they've discovered.

No problem here. Good ideas from elsewhere are always welcome. They may or not work here for various reasons. Dr. Mathews looked to Missouri--that's "around"--for the reading renewal program. But really WJC is not growing nearly as fast as other areas like Loudoun County where seven schools were reportedly opened last year. By the same token, the administration has to focus on serving students best and doesn't necessarily have time to follow every single lead. It has to prioritize it's time, too.

> Shared services. Get serious about combining a dozen or more
> redundant operations with James City, beginning with payroll.

The schools and the county already share quite a bit. At one time county administrator Sandy Wanner generated a list of all the ways they work together. There are good reasons why some areas should be distinct. Payroll may be doable but is it really worth the time and effort? Would it really save money? It's probably already been studied.

> Contiguous. Pull in York Schools to discuss expansion and
> construction in upper James City, which borders York. Examine the
> opportunity to join forces on a single school.

Again, creative idea but aren't WJC and York busy enough with their own business? WJC needs enough schools of its own without drawing York into the mix.

> Ante up. Apart from student population projections, calculate the
> per-household impact of a $30 million school built every other year.
> Show taxpayers what the impact is so they can't say they weren't
> advised.

Dr. Mathews clearly laid out a long-term preliminary budget plan: http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/admin/finance/

The only schools not already accounted for in the county's budget are the 9th elementary to open in Fall 2009, a 4th high school in Fall 2014, and 5th middle in 2015. Of course higher enrollments could require schools to be built sooner.

The county's consultants will lay out the financial consequences of all of the needs of the schools in terms of tax rates next time they roll into town. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading this far and for supporting our schools!

Mike Ludwick

Advocacy before the JCC BOS

2006-01-21T15:06:00.000-05:00

Dear School Supporters,

I am happy to report that the advocacy movement for funding our
schools continues to be strong.

If you have already made your thoughts known to our representatives, THANK YOU! If you have not and wish to, you can simply "CLICK HERE" , add a message of support, and send. The message will go automatically to county and city representatives.

On January 10 the James City County Board of Supervisors held a
prebudget public hearing to hear from citizens before its budget
retreat on January 20 at which it will provide county staff with
guidance regarding the budget. This public hearing is usually poorly
attended. This year, however, was a different story.

I delivered a statement for Support Schools Now (below). Support
Schools Now also endorsed a statement read by Clive Fenton of the
York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP. The NAACP statement was
further endorsed by the League of Women Voters of Williamsburg,
the Education Advocacy Group and the WJC Education
Association.

In addition, Elli Williams of PTA Council and Bill Bryant of the
Education Advocacy Group directly addressed the supervisors.
Kelly Osterhout of the WJC Education Association would have
spoken but was unable to attend the meeting for personal reasons.

To make YOUR voice heard, simply "CLICK HERE" to send a
message to our county and city representatives.

Thank you for supporting our schools.

Mike Ludwick

===========================================

Mr. Chairman, Board members and Mr. Wanner,

My name is Mike Ludwick. I live at 4493 Village Park Drive West in
the Berkeley District. I am the founder of Support Schools Now, an
organization whose mission it is to ensure, through advocacy and
education, that resources are made available to Williamsburg-
James City County Public Schools so that our children receive the
best education possible.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening.
Support Schools Now enthusiastically and strongly endorses the
statement made by the NAACP. A similar statement was presented
to the WJC School Board in December, endorsed by 68 individuals
along with several local organizations.

On January 21 [sic] you will be having your budget retreat. It is
imperative that you provide guidance to the county staff so that
necessary funding is provided for our schools. I’m sure you are
already aware of some of the budget challenges our schools face
this coming year: maintaining highly competitive salaries and
benefits, increasing required contributions to the Virginia Retirement
System, fuel costs, raising academic achievement through Reading Renewal, and more students which means more teachers, more trailers and new schools.

Early projections show a 5% increase leaves the school division
$1M short of a budget that only maintains what we have and just
accommodates growth. What is the percentage increase the
schools will need ultimately? I’m sure as the superintendent
develops a true budget of need, one that will help to make WJC the
best in Virginia, and as the school board considers it and as we see the
projections on state funds and sales tax revenue, the percentage will
become apparent. Whatever it may be, we ask you to fund it.

Keep in mind the independent audit of the school division that
showed how efficient our schools are.

There are some who say the Board of Supervisors does not have
the political will do what is necessary for our schools. We disagree. We
are more hopeful than we have been in a long time that this Board will
provide the schools with the funding they need. We understand it will not
be easy for you because you will face other pressures, but know that we
will support you 110% as you do right by the schools.

On April 25 another public hearing on the budget is scheduled. That
hearing will be regarding the proposed county budget. It is our sincere
hope that, based on the budget guidance you provide at your retreat, I can
stand before you on April 25 and say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for providing the funding needed by the schools.

We look forward to that day and I look forward to thanking you.
Until then, best of luck in the budget process. If we can help in any
way, please let us know. Thank you.

Support Schools Now 2005 Annual Report

2005-12-31T14:47:00.000-05:00

Dear School Supporters,

What a year it has been for our schools and, with your help, Support Schools Now is proud to have been a part of these positive developments:

* Flyers distributed and an ad run in the Virginia Gazette helped mobilize public opinion which lead to the James City County Board of Supervisors increasing funding for WJC Schools operating budget by $1.1M above initially proposed funding levels.

* The 8th elementary school, originally slated by the BOS to open in fall 2008, was moved up to fall 2007.

* Support School Now encouraged the BOS (and encouraged others to encourage the BOS) to acquire land for the 8th elementary, by eminent domain if necessary, to ensure a fall 2007 opening. In December, the BOS used eminent domain to acquire the land.

* Support Schools Now sent questionnaires to all BOS and WJC School Board candidates to determine candidates who would be most supportive of our schools. Both BOS candidates endorsed by our interview committee won.

* Support Schools Now helped coordinate a joint statement to the WJC School Board delivered at its December 6 prebudget hearing endorsed by 68 of YOU on our email list and by the Education Advocacy Group, the Williamsburg Area League of Women Voters, Support Schools Now, the WJCC Education Association, and the James City-York-Williamsburg NAACP Education Committee. The statement was a strong unified message encouraging the School Board to develop a true budget of need regardless of county budget guidance.

As you can see, we have made a difference. Thank you for your support. To help increase our advocacy our email list now reaches over 560 addresses. That does not include all those reached through the forwarding of messages. THANK YOU to those who further spread the word!

While 2004 saw many successes, 2005 is fraught with challenges that require "eternal vigilance." Looming large is the operating and the capital budget for the 06-07 year. The county's preliminary guidance provides a 5% increase, but preliminary figures indicate this is nearly $1M short of a budget for our schools that would just maintain what we have now and accommodate growth, not to mention any other initiatives. More on that later.

For now, at the end of this year, it is time to look back and be thankful for what we have helped to accomplish.

Thank you for supporting our schools and best wishes for the new year ahead!

Mike Ludwick

Advanced Placement Tests

2005-12-30T16:52:00.000-05:00

Recently, WJC Schools had been criticized because of the claim that few high school students take Advanced Placement (AP) tests and students who take them perform poorly.

Superintendent Mathews provided this data to provide context to WJC's exam participation rates and student success rate for those who took the exams. (See the attached chart.)

The first column is the number of WJC students per AP course. The circled number is the number of York County students per AP course.

The second column is # of WJC AP tests taken by course.

The third column shows the % of students in WJC (and York, figures circled) who passed earned a 3 or above.

Note especially that WJC had students taking 23 AP courses last year. According to a correction in the Virginia Gazette, York offers 13 AP courses, but only 7 appear to have been taken by students in York last year.

While the percentage of those taking AP tests in WJC could certainly be improved, especially in particular courses, overall participation is much better than was initially reported, as were the impressive percentages of students who scored 3 or higher on the exams.

To increase the number of students taking the AP tests the School Board will be considering requiring the AP tests which may require additional funds to pay for test fees. There are pros and cons to requiring the exams. Please make your opinions known about this issue to Dr. Mathews and the School Board.

Also, keep in mind that on the Newsweek 2004 Challenge Index, Jamestown High School is listed as in the top 4% of challenging high schools NATIONWIDE. The index is determined by taking the total number of AP or IB (International Baccalaurate) tests given at a school in May, and dividing by the number of seniors graduating in June. (While Lafayette has not made the Challenge Index list, in the past its figures has put it close to the mark.)

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/

So even though WJC students are not taking as many AP tests as they could be, WJC is doing quite well even at current levels.

Mike Ludwick

WJC Public Hearing on December 6

2005-12-30T16:42:00.000-05:00

On December 6, the WJC School Board held a prebudget public hearing. The joint statement presented at the meeting has been endorsed by the League of Women Voters, Support Schools Now and the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP Education Committee. Other local groups are currently considering endorsing this statement as well.

To show YOUR support for this statement, please read the statement and if you agree then simply add a comment to this message with the word "YES" and your name. Feel free to the forward this message to others.

Dr. Mathews and the WJC School Board,

On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Williamsburg, Support Schools Now, and the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP Education Committee, we urge you to create a budget of need that will, at a minimum, help make WJC the best school division in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

We believe such a budget should include highly competitive salaries and benefits for all staff so that WJC can attract and retain the best individuals possible. The budget should maintain or improve student-teacher ratios; therefore, additional staff (and temporarily, trailers) will be necessary. We believe expanding reading instruction and remediation is critical to student achievement and success; thus, we encourage additional resources to be allocated for this purpose. We believe early instruction is one of the best ways to educate children; therefore, we encourage funding for preschool programs so that every eligible child has access to our quality programs.

In the capital budget, as student enrollment projections show continuing growth, we believe schools, including a ninth elementary school, should be built and timed to open in such a way that minimizes the use of trailers and keeps instruction inside schools.

The items mentioned here are not intended to be exhaustive. As the budget is prepared we surely expect other items to emerge as important for the educational success of our students, and we look forward to hearing more about them in the coming months.

We encourage you to communicate early and often with city and county staff, elected officials, and the community regarding the needs of the school division, using solid justifications and data to back up budget requests.

We understand that this budget of need will require significant resources. We vow to support the budget by communicating early and often to our members and the community about the need to contact city and county representatives, urging them to fully fund the budget proposed by the School Board.

We look forward to working with you during the budget process.

Please contact us if you require any assistance.

Mike Ludwick

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2005-12-30T16:36:00.000-05:00

If you wish to make a donation to support these efforts, please send a check in any amount to:

SUPPORT SCHOOLS NOW
4493 Village Park Drive West
Williamsburg, VA 23185