City of Williamsburg, Virginia

At the May Business meeting of the Williamsburg City Council, members directed the city manager to request a response from Williamsburg-James City County Schools leadership regarding performance outcomes identified in the recent independent school division feasibility study. Earlier this week, that letter was sent requesting the School Board and administration to provide a plan for action to improve student performance, a timeline for implementation and achieving the desired results, and any associated costs by July 31, 2024. The City worked with Dr. Jeffery Smith, who led a team of education experts to conduct the Independent School System Feasibility Study, to identify targeted student performance areas that should be addressed in the action plan. ◾Read the full request at https://lnkd.in/eWvskN5f ◾You can find the study, a summary of the study, background materials, and a feedback form at https://lnkd.in/g8MRttn6.

Did you miss the African American Heritage Trail Kickoff Event last night? You can read materials from JMI and Share More Stories' presentation and, even more importantly, learn how to contribute your story to inform the trail's narrative at https://lnkd.in/e_4hEzkd.

Mark your calendars for the African American Heritage Trail Kickoff Event! The City of Williamsburg and the African American Heritage Trail Advisory Committee invite you to learn about how marketing agency JMI plans to collect stories to inform the trail's narrative. 📌 When: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 📌 Where: Stryker Center, 412 N. Boundary St. 📌 More info: https://lnkd.in/eES4PHXw

This week, Capt. Chris Garrett completed his final shift with the Williamsburg Fire Department. Capt. Garrett is retiring after serving the department and community for more than 26 years, beginning his career at WFD in January 1998. He was promoted to lieutenant in January 2009 and reclassified to captain on Aug. 1, 2020. Captain Garrett was one of the department's most knowledgeable members, and his mentorship will be missed. Captain Garrett also helped manage the repair and maintenance of the department’s vehicle fleet, small tools, and generators. He also served on several committees designing the next generation of fire apparatus. On Wednesday, Capt. Garrett’s shift hosted a dinner to celebrate his retirement. His family along with Chiefs Brian Phillips and Larry Snyder were in attendance, where he was presented with a City of Williamsburg flag that flown over the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg. We thank Captain Garrett for his unwavering commitment to our department and the Greater Williamsburg community. A part of his legacy will live on through the knowledge and training he provided to those he worked alongside. Please join us in congratulating Capt. Garrett on his retirement!

Congratulations to Firefighter/EMT Steven Smith for completing his probation and earning his new shield! Thank you, Steven, for your hard work and dedication to our community.

The City of Williamsburg is excited to announce that marketing agency JMI has been hired to develop the narrative for the African American Heritage Trail. Founded by Ken Johnson, a native of Williamsburg, JMI is a full-service marketing and communications firm that has used its approach of connecting brands, culture, and communities for more than 30 years. Based in Richmond, JMI has served clients extensively across Virginia and the country. A kickoff event is planned for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday June 4 at the Stryker Center, 412 N. Boundary St. The event is open to the public. JMI will present an overview of the project and provide guidance on collecting stories as well as information on opportunities to contribute stories to the project. More: https://lnkd.in/eES4PHXw

Last month, the Williamsburg Fire Department, Williamsburg Police Department, York County, Virginia Department of Fire and Life Safety, and the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office helped fulfill the wish of 4-year-old Joshua Gonce to ride in a fire truck. With the help of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia and the Learning Experience, the departments teamed together to give Joshua, a cancer patient who has been in remission for two years, and his 6-year-old brother a ride in two fire trucks.

Help place flags on the graves of veterans in honor of Memorial Day. The public is invited to the annual flag-setting ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 23 at Cedar Grove Cemetery, where more than 500 veterans are buried. More info: https://lnkd.in/eJ9Vnjbx

Congratulations to Landscape Superintendent Lucas Jenne on receiving the Excellence in Service Award! 🎉 The Excellence in Service Award is an employee award for which City staff are nominated by their peers. Lucas was honored for his unwavering dedication to keeping Williamsburg looking beautiful year-round, his enthusiasm to give his time to assist both residents and colleagues when called upon, and his passion for expanding his knowledge of trees and landscaping techniques as he pursues his arborist certification. Thank you, Lucas, for your dedication and service to the City of Williamsburg!

The Independent School System Feasibility Study Team, led by Dr. Jeffery Smith, will present its summary of the public input on their published "Research & Feasibility Study on the Creation of a City of Williamsburg Independent School Division" at the next City Council Work Session, 4 p.m. May 6 in the Stryker Center. Work sessions stream live on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. No decision regarding the future of the joint school system will be made at this meeting. To learn more about the feasibility study, visit https://lnkd.in/g8MRttn6.