Oct 6 work session (Watch / Agenda) · Oct 9 joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors and City Council (Watch / Agenda)
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Highlight: Redistricting
Watch: Oct 6 public hearing, from 15:35 · Oct 6 board discussion, from 3:12:18 · Oct 9 joint meeting, from 1:53:36
Where would you like for those classes to meet? Would you like them to meet in the auditorium? Would you like them to meet in the gym? There are simply not any additional classroom spaces available at Matthew Whaley. Similarly, James River. If we wanted to look at class size there and lower it even further, they’re already using portable classrooms.
— superintendent Dr. Daniel Keever, answering WJCC school board member Mr. Randy Riffle, 3:21:28
…in every instance that we’ve redistrict[ed] the community did not trust the firm they did not trust the committees did not trust the map did not trust the school board and somebody was always unhappy… it is easy to sit where you sit and say the things you say…
— Ms. Kimberley Hundley, in the board’s discussion after the public hearing, 3:32:00
The Oct 6 work session
WJCC United Transition Roadmap (7.04) — Watch presentation, from 2:47:59 / Watch discussion, from 3:12:18 · packet / roadmap deck
New since September:
Differentiated pay at high-need focus schools: “we’re exploring potential approaches to innovative staffing and differentiated pay that could help address staffing challenges and attract high performing teacher leaders at our high need schools.” — Dr. Keever, 3:09:40
Smaller K–3 classes: “we are prioritizing budgeting for lower class size ratios and kindergarten through third grade at these high need focus schools.” — Dr. Keever, 3:10:11
A dual immersion study: “A research team is also examining the potential of designing a dual immersion program within the district” — 2:52:13
The Oct 6 public hearing
26 people spoke at the public hearing on redistricting (Watch, from 15:35).
The maps’ effect on equity and diversity
Speaker #1 (16:38): “I’m hoping that we can slow down this implementation.” (quote)
Speaker #9 (33:53): “that is not a license to skip steps and ignore one of your project pillars.” (quote)
Speaker #10 (36:01): “postpone their vote on the new redistricting maps until a school equity impact report and analysis has been properly done.” (quote)
Speaker #14 (44:30): “go back to the drawing board and deliver a balanced solution” (quote)
Speaker #24 (1:05:40): “The principle of demographics however was not addressed” (quote)
Process, data, and transparency before a vote
Speaker #5 (25:48): “We don’t need a perfect map, we need a map we can trust.” (quote)
Speaker #13 (42:20): “the economic impact analysis needs to be released to parents, students, and teachers” (quote)
Speaker #17 (50:53): “be given a little bit more transparency from the report.” (quote)
Speaker #25 (1:07:25): “Simply requesting to postpone this decision to allow for more time and greater consideration.” (quote)
Speaker #26 (1:08:08): “show us what it would cost to create more seats.” (quote)
Resources and staffing
Speaker #2 (18:59): “we ask the board to pause this process until there is a clear plan” (quote)
Speaker #6 (27:59): “how is the disability profile of each school being considered?” (quote)
Speaker #8 (31:34): “Before the maps are approved, we want to see the funding plan” (quote)
Speaker #19 (54:52): “pausing this process until the resources to support these changes are clearly identified.” (quote)
Speaker #20 (57:02): “The October 20th vote should be delayed until a concrete plan is presented” (quote)
Speaker #22 (1:01:33): “Will those resources be committed and in place before the new boundaries take effect?” (quote)
Letting current students stay where they are
Speaker #7 (30:09): “include a one-year provision in the plan where these three classes can opt” (quote)
Speaker #11 (38:11): “I would like to see that we have some sort of phase in approach” (quote)
Speaker #12 (39:54): “Let them finish high school where they are now.” (quote)
Speaker #18 (52:34): “grandfather students who are already attending Stone House” (quote)
Neighborhoods and school communities
Speaker #3 (21:11): “We should be disrupting structures, not people.” (quote)
Speaker #15 (46:45): “the Kings Point neighborhood should stay within the Matthew Whaley School District” (quote)
Speaker #21 (59:18): “Can you demonstrate with evidence why Wellington was selected” (quote)
Speaker #23 (1:03:48): “I’m simply asking for you guys to take this into consideration” (quote)
Support for the plan
The Oct 9 joint meeting
Redistricting / WJCC United Transition Update (2.2) — Watch, from 1:53:36
As one of the funding partners, if you just approve a maps on the 20th and then you’re going to put all these additional resources at at those particular schools that need those resources, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s going to be an additional request from the localities for additional funding.
I never want to put a dollar figure on a child’s education. But on one side we have to operate as a business.
— Vice Mayor Dent, 2:30:31
At the joint meeting:
PTA gaps: “It would be my goal administratively that if there is a lack of PTA funding that we would reach in administratively to ensure that there’s not a gap in student experience or student need.” — Dr. Keever, 2:32:31
Extra central funding for two schools: “I asked for a specific amount of centralized funding to be allocated to both Matthew [Whaley] and James River above and beyond the typical administrative allocation to schools” — Dr. Keever, 2:33:17
Outreach to families who don’t speak English: “we have a need for targeted outreach in various communities and meeting families where they are and creating pathways for family involvement in the educational process whether folks speak English or don’t speak English” — Dr. Keever, 2:25:31
Stonehouse: “one thing that I think we’re going to have to address as a board with the school board is Stonehouse because it does not solve all the issues there.” — Ms. Larson, 2:14:06
The vote is one step: “October 20th is one step among many. There is a huge budgeting process which is really key to the implementation plan” — Mrs. Donner, 2:23:30
Other Agenda Items
Oct 6 work session
Presentations:
Preschool Centers Design Update — deck · Watch, from 1:30:17
2025-2026 Academic Progress Action Plan — deck · Watch, from 1:39:10
WJCC Profile of an Empowered Learner — deck · Watch, from 2:12:13
Votes:
Approval of Personnel Actions — Approved 6-0
Approval of Appointments to the Career Ready Advisory Committee — Approved 5-0 — appointees / full member list
Approval of Appointments to the Special Education Advisory Committee — Approved 5-0 — appointees / full member list
Approval of Release from Compulsory Attendance, Case #R2627-06 — Approved 6-0
Oct 9 joint meeting
Legacy Hall, 8:30 a.m. (Agenda)
Academic Achievement Update — Watch, from 24:05
Coming Up: October 20 Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · Berkeley Middle School, 1118 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA. Call to Order & Closed Session beginning at 5:45 p.m. in Room 200, followed by the Open Session at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. (Agenda)
Votes scheduled:
Approval of Superintendent’s Recommendation for School Division Redistricting — packet
Approval of Amendment to FY27 Grants Fund Budget — packet
Approval of Budget Transfer Request for Special Education Services — packet
Approval of Purchase Request from Lenovo for Middle School Student Laptops — packet / quote
Approval of Award of Contract for Request for Proposal #20261032, Engineering Service for Matoaka Elementary HVAC Replacement — packet / proposals
Approval of Award of Contract for Instructional Audit — packet (also on the agenda for review the same night, item 7.01)
Approval of Decision Regarding Student Case #2526-002
Consent agenda: seven items, listed in the agenda packet.
Public comment: Item 6.01, “Public Comment - Each speaker may have 2 Minutes to Address the School Board.”
How to participate: Public comment is taken at the regular meeting only, not at the work session. Speakers must sign up before the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Contact the board: The school boardmember’s contact information is listed on the division’s School Board page.