Extra Edition: Schools Continue Plan Asking 13% More From Local Taxpayers, To Decide Later on Renaming James Blair
CORRECTED STORY
The original version of this story incorrectly stated the board had voted to give guidance on its upcoming budget. In keeping with our news policy, we are giving notice of our error and have edited this story to reflect that the Chair polled the members on their preference, then directed staff to proceed working on a budget that would require an additional $13.8 million in local funding. As penance, we are giving ourselves 10 lashes with the heaviest copy of Robert’s Rules of Order we can find.
None of them sounded completely comfortable with it, but the Williamsburg-James City County school board told the school finance director Tuesday to work on a budget seeking nearly 13 percent more from local taxpayers.
They also agreed they needed to discuss renaming James Blair Middle School, removing the name of a slave holder who was one of the founders of William & Mary.
While they decried a calendar that requires the school board to review a final budget before having answers about some costs and potential state revenue, Board members told staff they should proceed with a budget plan that would seek $13.8 million more from James City County and Williamsburg taxpayers, an increase of nearly 13%.
Chair Sarah G. Ortego polled board members on the direction, and a majority said they should proceed with that guidance.
Board members Daniel R. Cavazos of Roberts District and Michael T. Hosang of Stonehouse said it would be hard to defend the size of the request.
The final ask is a moving target, because school officials have not gotten back a final price for health insurance that is responsible for a big chunk of the increase, and they can only guesstimate how much they will get from the state until the Governor’s budget is finalized. Acting Superintendent Daniel Keever will present the budget to the board Feb. 18. There will be a public hearing March 4, followed by a joint budget work session with Williamsburg and James City County officials March 14. Final approval is expected March 18 or 25.
Discussions about the name of James Blair date back to 2017, when the school was rebuilt and the Virginia Department of Education classified it as a new school that could have a new name.
There was heated community discussion about keeping the name of a slaveholder.
Community Engagement Director Kara Hall walked the board through the three- to four-month process for gathering community input if the board decides to move ahead with renaming the school.
Ortego said she would discuss the matter further with board members and they would decide when to bring the matter up at a future meeting.
Original estimates from 2018, which would likely be higher today, put the cost of the name change at more than $92,000 to get a new sign and changing bleachers, the gym floor and athletic uniforms, Hall told the board.
Ortego said timing on a decision was tricky right now, since the county and city have yet to agree on an operating contract for the joint school system.
“I would be surprised if the city had a concern about removing the name of an enslaver” from the school, said Vice Chair Andrea M. Donnor, one of the two Williamsburg school board representatives. She said it would make sense to use unspent money from the current budget to make the changes, rather than returning a surplus and having to ask for more money next fiscal year.
The majority of the proposed budget increase would go toward increasing teacher and staff pay, handling a potential increase in health insurance of 15%, and adding the equivalent of nearly 49 new positions.
Cavazos called the ask a “dramatic increase….do you really think you’re going to get it?” He asked why the schools need to add staff when the student population has not grown.
Keever defended the hires because of changes in student needs and readiness. “The students that we taught five years ago are not the same,” he said.
Hosang opposed asking for all the new positions when there are still unfilled vacancies at the schools.
Ortego countered the school system is losing experienced teachers to other systems that offer better pay and work environments, noting local governments are experiencing the same challenges.
Schools receive 60% of their funding from local taxpayers, with James City County paying the majority of that amount.
The now annual double digit increases of the County and Schools budgets is not sustainable. I know many of us are struggling out here, my real estate taxes have increased nearly $1500 over the last two years. The County cut recycling and we now pay again for that service, the Tommy Tax, increased permit fees, a cigarette tax implemented the last few years, building new unneeded facilities, investing millions annually in money losing ventures, when is enough enough. The budgets for the schools and the county have far outpaced inflation.
I appreciate the renewed attention on our community's historical figures and the dialogue it inspires. I recognize that slavery was a profoundly tragic part of America's past and that individuals such as James Blair were involved in practices now considered reprehensible. At the same time, I believe it is essential to view such figures within the broader context of their time.
James Blair made significant contributions, including his role in founding the College of William and Mary, which played an important part in shaping Colonial Virginia. I understand that many in our community feel that celebrating these contributions without fully addressing the darker aspects of his legacy may unintentionally promote a narrative that overlooks the harm caused by systems like slavery.
For me, the challenge lies in embracing the complexity of our shared history rather than reducing a historical figure solely to one aspect of his life. "...the name of a slave holder who was one of the founders of William & Mary." We must balance the recognition of past achievements with an honest appraisal of past injustices, acknowledging that modern values have evolved over time and now offer us a new perspective on the legacies of those who shaped our early society.
I believe that by engaging in open and respectful dialogue, we can honor the progress we have made while ensuring that our interpretations of history remain both honest and inclusive. Ultimately, this conversation is not about erasing history or condemning individuals entirely, it is about understanding the full tapestry of our past and using that knowledge to guide us toward a more just future.
I look forward to proposals made for an alternative name to James Blair Middle School.