School board ponders pay raises, new positions that could add $9 million to new budget
Williamsburg-James City County school board members voiced approval for pay raises and new hires that could add about $9 million to next year’s school budget.
Superintendent Daniel Keever walked the board through proposed pay raises, plus the cost of hiring 21 new staff, at their second budget work session Tuesday evening.
He acknowledged raising costs and hiring staff is tough when “our enrollment is remaining flat or has decreased. We get it, I get it.”
Student enrollment has dropped by several hundred students since 2024, to a projected 11,146 for this school year.
Preliminary budget estimates show local and state contributions will increase by 6% for the next fiscal year, to $200.5 million.
The school system has raised staff pay by 25% since 2021. But a compensation study comparing salaries in York, New Kent and Gloucester counties as well as Hampton and Newport News showed local teachers ranked near the bottom in compensation.
If the schools implement the governor’s proposed 2% pay raise for teachers, plus additional compensation to compete with area school systems, it would make a dramatic difference in teacher pay.
Teachers with advanced degrees would rise from being in 4th place among competing school systems to first or second place, according to Emily Haywood, a director of human resources for the schools.
“It’s the direction we need to be heading,” said Ty Hodges, the Jamestown district school board member.
“It is encouraging to see that two years later it is more possible” to be competitive on pay, said Amy Chen, one of two representatives from the city of Williamsburg. Chair Andrea Donnor, Vice Chair Randy Riffle and Powhatan representative Kimberley Hundley also expressed support.
Keever cautioned that rising medical insurance costs will also impact the budget. “You can anticipate that there will be a renewal rate increase,” he said.
Williamsburg, James City County and the state have not committed enough money to pay the full cost of the school wish list. But the state’s payout may change now that Democrats are in charge of both the governor’s mansion and the legislature.
School board members have been parsing the proposed budget in two back-to-back weekly work sessions.
Keever said he would put together all the proposed cost increases for their next work session on January 20, to set up a discussion on the overall budget Feb. 3.
Man arrested for robbing and beating two in James City County apartment
Police arrested a 29-year-old man and charged him with robbing and beating two elderly victims in their James City County apartment last weekend.
The incident occurred Jan. 11 at an apartment in the 3800 block of Staffordshire Lane, James City County police said. The couple were so badly injured they were unable to contact anyone for help until police found them the next day, a police spokesperson said.
James City County police charged Robert Zackary Johnson with robbing a 66-year old man and a 55-year old woman and beating them. Both are at Riverside Regional Medical Center in serious but stable condition, the spokesperson said.
The victims said Johnson, whom the male victim knows, forced his way into their home on January 11, beat both of them with an unknown weapon, and fled in the male victim’s vehicle with several items he stole.
The car was found abandoned in Williamsburg the next day. Police performed a welfare check at the couple’s apartment that afternoon and found them seriously injured.
Johnson was picked up by Williamsburg police in the city three hours later and taken to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail, where he was charged by county police.
Johnson, who is from Fancy Gap, Virginia, is in custody without bail.
Headlines from first day of General Assembly session
Virginia House Democrats advance four constitutional amendments on opening day of 2026 session
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Upcoming Events:
The Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a nonprofit organization, will sponsor the seventh annual Greater Williamsburg National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, Jan.20, from 6-8 p.m., at Legacy Hall, 4301 New Town Ave. The event is free, but online registration is required.
York County is accepting applications from restaurants for its third annual York County restaurant week, Feb. 20-March 1.
The James City County Fire Department is offering free, hands-on training on CPR, Pulse Point and automated external defibrillators Jan. 26, 4-6 p.m., at the James City County Recreation Center. Contact Pamela Fox for additional information at 757-565-7606.
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