Members of Williamsburg-James City County School Board have branded a massive expansion of trailers at elementary schools as far from ideal, taking aim at James City County for denying the division money for a 10th elementary school.
James City Council removed the School Board’s request for the $31 million-plus elementary school when it finalized its five-year capital program. Supervisors want to see the results of a study into preschool education first.
The learning cottages will contain two classrooms each. Director of Operations Marcellus Snipes said the division anticipates the temporary trailers will be used through the 2024-2025 school year.
Although the trailers are a response to social distancing requirements associated with the coronavirus and received federal COVID-19 funds, some School Board members suggested a new elementary school would have averted the widespread use of learning cottages as a solution to space issues.
Julie Hummel raised a concern that trailers would be a long-term solution to the division’s elementary space crunch.
“This really is not a good environment …it’s the best that we can do since we don’t have the space as we weren’t allowed to build … it’s been removed even from the five-year plan for a 10th elementary,” she said. “This is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination.”
Kyra Cook said she voted for the trailers but they are not the best solution.
“If we had a 10th elementary school we would not need these,” she said. “It’s a necessary evil for us to do this but I regret that we are put in a position where this is necessary and I wish we didn’t have to.”
Sandra Young raised concerns about the security of learning cottages. She said the trailer at J. Blaine Blayton will be a considerable distance from the school building.
“We are looking at fencing as well as cameras and other security measures,” said Snipes.
James City Council’s Board of Supervisors has approved special-use permits for the trailers at seven elementary schools. The school division wants the trailers to be in place in time for the 2021-22 school year.
The School Board will vote on the award of contracts at its next meeting this month.
David Macaulay, davidmacaulayva@gmail.com
