Williamsburg wants the next schools contract with James City County to address the performance gap between city and county students in the joint district.
It was one of numerous goals city officials highlighted during the 2024 State of the City Address.
“The city’s goal is to have a joint contract that allows for differentiated and targeted resources to address city students’ academic performance,” Councilmember Barbara Ramsey said during the address. “We want all students to flourish and meet their full potential.”
The performance gap was identified in Williamsburg’s study of the feasibility of creating an independent school division. It showed Williamsburg students are far behind students from James City County, and are less likely to graduate.
“Only 59% of third grade city students passed the 2023 reading Standards of Learning,” Ramsey said, and noted that rate is 12% lower than students from James City County.
“We can do better,” she said. “Achievement gaps such as these need to be tackled so we can provide greater opportunities for all students.”
Williamsburg in October said it preferred to remain in the WJCC joint school division with James City County. The decision came more than a year after the city began studying the possibility of decoupling the district the two localities have run together since 1955.
James City County in September asked Williamsburg to “indicate a decision or at least a preference” on separating. Since then, the two localities have begun working on a new joint operating agreement to carry the partnership forward.
James City County Board of Supervisors Chair Ruth Larson told WHRO in October that the city and county are “closer than we are further apart.” She was hopeful that the agreement could be finalized before the end of the school year.
“I feel like we’re moving in a positive direction,” Larson said in October.
Ramsey laid out additional educational goals the city aims to pursue over the next two years during the address, including streamlining the “education-to-career” pipeline and focusing on early childhood education.
A first step: quantifying the demand for pre-kindergarten programs in the city.
“Strategies to ensure affordable, accessible and quality pre-K facilities and programs may well be a crucial step in preparing our students for scholastic excellence,” Ramsey said.
“We will also review existing equity and education standards, and research methods for pairing innovative curricula with city of Williamsburg assets such as William & Mary and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.”
Education was just one component of the 2024 State of the City Address. Featuring each of the city council members, the prerecorded address overviewed a swath of the work Williamsburg aims to accomplish through 2026.
A running current through the address was the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence which will be marked with special events leading up to and throughout 2026.
“Williamsburg once again has the opportunity to serve as the center of national and international attention as we commemorate the community’s crucial role in the start of the great American experiment,” said Mayor Doug Pons.
Pons highlighted five “legacy projects” Williamsburg wants to complete in 2026 in line with the semiquincentennial, including a downtown children’s park, an arrival center and a live performance venue. Two of the projects already underway are the African American Heritage Trail and the Regional Indoor Sports Center.
“We are hopeful it will be a transformative year that bolsters our tourism offerings to the benefit of the community long after the 250th commemoration events conclude,” Pons said.
Councilmember Caleb Rogers said the city is working to secure funding for the last phase of the African American Heritage Trail, and aims to “substantially complete its construction in early 2026.”
“We want to design an African American Heritage Trail that leaves visitors with an understanding of the African American experience in Williamsburg as one of enduring resilience and soul-fed joy rooted in faith, achievement and a rich cultural heritage,” he said.
Pons also emphasized trail and transportation plans for the next two years. He said Williamsburg plans by 2026 to get funding to complete the third phase of the College Woods Circuit and connect the city to the broader Trail757 project.
“When complete, the trail system will allow people to walk or bike around the perimeter of the College Woods and eventually connect users to the trail that extends from Richmond to Fort Monroe with Williamsburg at its center,” he said.
Pons touched on plans to extend the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority’s downtown and historic area route to connect to the Monticello corridor and improve bus shelters.
“We will start with improving at least five stops in the next two years,” he said.
The address outlined several goals to improve city communications with residents, improve internet connectivity by increasing space for competition, reduce the city’s carbon footprint 40% by 2040 and increase the quality and availability of affordable housing.
Rogers highlighted plans to use federal grant funds in Highland Park, create programs to make historic properties more accessible and explore a first-time homebuyers program.
Rogers said such a program could feature “lower down payments, better interest rate(s), closing cost assistance, grants, tax credits and education.”
Williamsburg also wants to spend the next two years fortifying the Waller Mill Dam with the help of federal funding, and is currently working on a utilities master plan.
“While Williamsburg has made updates and repaired its water and sewer systems over time, sections of our utility infrastructure are more than 100 years old,” said Vice Mayor Pat Dent.
Pons concluded by thanking residents and expressed optimism for the next two years in Williamsburg.
“It’s an honor to live, work and serve in a community that is open to innovation and eager to engage,” he said. “I cannot wait to show off everything our community has to offer when people from around the world come to visit Williamsburg to commemorate the 250th.”
NOTE: Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools is a member of the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, which holds WHRO's broadcast license.
