Oct 20 regular meeting (Watch / Agenda)
This recap was produced with AI assistance. Please email me to provide feedback.
The Oct 6 work session, its public hearing on redistricting, and the Oct 9 joint meeting are covered in the previous recap.
Highlight: Approval of Superintendent’s Recommendation for School Division Redistricting
“My issues lie with the number of times I’ve heard some people call this proposed plan with full sincerity [a] return to segregation or an attempt to intentionally turn back the clock on racial equality. … Those accusations are not only unsupported by the facts of what has been proposed but they also diminish the very real injustices of Jim Crow and segregation.”
— Mr. Hodges, 58:42
Watch: Oct 20 regular meeting, from 43:31
Vote: Approved 7-0 (roll call, 1:07:44) · packet
The board approved Dr. Keever’s recommended attendance zones 7-0 (roll call). The vote ends a process that began when the Redistricting Steering Committee released draft maps on May 12, followed by revisions on Aug 4, the committee’s recommendation to Dr. Keever on Sept 1, his recommendation to the board on Sept 15, and a public hearing on Oct 6 (packet, p.134).
The new zones apply to the 2027-28 school year (1:09:09).
What happens next
Right after the vote, Dr. Keever laid out the next steps (1:08:09).
Email to families and staff the next day (Oct 21), with a link to the WJCC United website and FAQs — 1:08:45
A link to the map tool to look up 2027-28 school assignments, “as early as tomorrow” — 1:09:04
Email and mailed letter with each address’s 2027-28 assignments during the second week of November — 1:09:15
Principals’ welcome emails the first week of December; transition events January–May — 1:09:37
Staff: transfer-request and staffing timeline the second week of November; WJCC United update to the board Nov 10 — 1:10:03
Later in board comments, Mr. Hosang asked the administration to look at letting rising 5th and 8th graders (1:20:28) and military families (1:21:03) request to stay at their current school, as rising 12th graders can (1:20:17).
Public comment
6 people spoke. None spoke on an agenda item being voted that night. For public comment on redistricting, see the previous recap.
Renaming James Blair Middle School
Speaker #1 (21:39): “stop talking about putting children first and actually do it” (23:44)
Speaker #2 (24:16): “I’m going to ask you to reconsider the decision to retain the James Blair name” (24:27)
Speaker #3 (26:20): “I am here again to call for renaming James Blair middle school” (26:28)
Speaker #4 (28:21): “there’s simply no reason why children should have to go to a school that is named to honor a man who enslaved their ancestors” (28:37)
Computers in elementary classrooms
Special Education
Speaker #2 (24:16): “when students are denied the specially designed instruction they are entitled to we must address the systems shortcomings not lower the expectations” (25:34)
Speaker #6 (31:50): “our meeting is open to all of you” (32:16)
Board comments
Mr. Hodges (1:12:24): “whether a discussion is warranted into things like adding metal detectors in our schools” (1:13:00) … “personally I hate the idea of our schools feeling less like schools in more like hardened facilities” (1:13:07)
Dr. Cavazos (1:13:33): “James River needs special attention” (1:15:25)
Mr. Hosang (1:18:41): “if you can keep that face-to-face instruction that’s the most critical for our students” (1:22:20)
Other Agenda Items
Presentations
Review and Approval of Award of Contract for Instructional Audit (7.01 / 9.08) — Watch presentation, from 33:15 · packet
What it is: “an objective division wide assessment of how curriculum expectations instructional planning implementation of high quality instructional materials student assessment and classroom practices aligned to support student learning in K-12 English language arts and mathematics” — Robin Ford, 33:52
Findings and recommendations anticipated by the end of March 2027
Votes
Approval of Award of Contract for Instructional Audit — Hanover Research, not to exceed $255,000 (see above) — Approved 7-0 — packet
Approval of Personnel Actions — Approved 7-0
Approval of Amendment to FY27 Grants Fund Budget — to $7,300,848 — Approved 7-0 — packet
Approval of Budget Transfer Request for Special Education Services — $840,000 — Approved 7-0 — packet
Approval of Purchase Request from Lenovo for Middle School Student Laptops — 2,650 laptops, $2,306,825 — Approved 7-0 — packet
Approval of Award of Contract for Matoaka Elementary HVAC Replacement engineering — PACE Collaborative, $342,513 — Approved 7-0 — packet
Approval of Decision Regarding Student Case #2526-002 — Approved 7-0
Consent agenda — Approved 7-0
Financial Report and Monthly Bills & Payroll — September 2026 — packet
Resolution R-21-26, National School Psychology Week — packet
Resolution R-22-26, Native American Heritage Month — packet
Revisions to Policy IGE, Adult Education Programs — packet
Revisions to Policy JOB, Administration of Surveys and Questionnaires — packet
Revisions to Policy LBD, Home Instruction — packet
Minutes from the Sept 15 regular meeting
Upcoming Meetings
The November work session is on Nov 10, not the usual first Tuesday, because Nov 3 is Election Day and many school buildings are polling places (1:31:09).
Work Session & Action Items
Date: 11/10/2026
Time: Call to Order & Closed Session at 4:00 p.m.; Open Session at 4:30 p.m.
Location: Rm. 300, School Board and Central Office Annex 117 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA
Regular Meeting With a Public Hearing on Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Date: 11/17/2026
Time: Call to Order & Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. in Room 200; Open Session at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium
Location: Berkeley Middle School 1118 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA
Upcoming events
Career Ready Advisory Committee
Date: 10/21/2026
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Rm. 300, School Board and Central Office Annex 117 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA
School Liaison Committee
Date: 11/6/2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Rm. 300, School Board and Central Office Annex 117 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA
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. Each speaker may have 2 minutes to address the School Board.
Contact the board: The school boardmember’s contact information is listed on the division’s School Board page.