Williamsburg school district asks residents to complete survey

WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Community School District is seeking feedback from residents through a community survey ahead of the $22.3 million bond referendum that voters will consider Nov. 5.

The anonymous survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete and is available online at williamsburgsurvey.org until the end of the day Aug. 22.

Paper copies of the survey are available at the District’s central office at 810 Walnut St. in Williamsburg.

“We encourage all of our residents to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the proposed projects and share your perspective on the solutions to some facilities challenges we’re facing as we move toward the November vote,” said Superintendent Chad Garber.

“A significant amount of time and effort has gone into assessing the district’s facility needs and pursuing solutions that will allow the district to continue successfully serving students today and in the future.”

While Williamsburg’s existing facilities continue to serve students and staff well, short-term and long-range challenges at both campuses would be addressed by the proposed bond referendum.

The district has developed a multiphase series of projects that require a combination of funding from sales tax revenues (provided by the state to every district) and property tax revenue.

At Williamsburg Jr./Sr. High School, the challenges include limited space and resources for music programs and career and technical education, aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, limitations in classroom configuration, and classrooms and work areas not designed in a way to facilitate today's best practices in teaching and learning.

During Phase I at the junior and senior high school, the two existing kitchens will be consolidated, resulting in a unified, central commons area.

Phase II would include the construction of additional space for career tech education and agriculture education programming.

At Mary Welsh Elementary School, Phase II projects would include improvements to HVAC systems, installation of energy-efficient LED lighting, adding space for general and instrumental music programs, moving the library to a central location in the building and reconfiguring existing space to better meet the needs of students and staff.

Phase I projects at the elementary school would include an addition to house fifth and sixth grade classrooms allowing updating of the existing classrooms in Phase II, along with expanded parking.

Approval of the bond issue Nov. 5 would allow a continuation of the district’s current authority to collect a debt service levy of not more than $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable property.

Since 2011, Williamsburg CSD’s tax levy rate has decreased by 8.1%