On August 10, the Washington County Board of Supervisors asked Washington County Public Schools to present a conceptual plan for consideration of a 1% local sales tax referendum that included a plan for consolidation of schools. The School Board submitted a conceptual plan and on September 22, the Board of Supervisors approved placing the referendum on the ballot for a special election on April 6, 2027.
Now that the referendum is officially on the ballot, our immediate focus will shift to providing information about the sales tax referendum, which if approved, would help address millions of dollars in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) needs across the school division without the need for a significant increase in other revenue sources. As a result, Washington County Public Schools has separated its school facilities and planning information into two webpages to make it easier for families and community members to find information about two separate topics; the Sales Tax Referendum and the potential for unification.
Discussions about potential school configuration adjustments will slow down dramatically as additional information is gathered and the best configuration for Washington County Public Schools as a whole is evaluated. We do not anticipate significant updates about unification or other potential school configuration adjustments in the near future.
Information about each topic can be found on the following webpages:
Sales Tax Referendum Information: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/o/
wcps/page/school-facilities- and-capital-improvement School Configuration Adjustments Information: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/
page/school-configuration- adjustments
The sales tax referendum webpage will continue to be updated regularly as additional information becomes available. Community members are encouraged to visit the appropriate webpage for updates and information about each topic.