News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | November 1, 2026
Local News
Renovating Historic School as 3rd elementary advanced
New Kent School Board members are forging ahead with a proposal to convert the “north building” at the Historic School into what would become the county’s third elementary school for grades K-5. The board voted 4-1 at their Jan. 27 work session to adopt a Capital Improvement Plan that includes the Historic School renovation. In the process of addressing overcrowding issues, the board turned thumbs down on an option that would have added 10 new classrooms to both of the county’s existing elementary schools (G.W. Watkins and New Kent Elementary) at a cost of over $6 million. Also rejected was…
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State money shortfall looms over New Kent schools
With student enrollment numbers falling below expectations, New Kent schools could absorb as much as a $354,000 loss in state revenue by the end of the school year. School officials, however, have a plan in place to address a money shortfall. County school board members learned of the impending revenue concern during their Jan. 27 work session. State contributions to local school systems, including New Kent, are based on enrollment projections. Last spring when the budget-building process for the current school year was under way, New Kent officials pegged enrollment at 2,985 students. That figure was submitted to the state,…
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NKHS principal to step down at conclusion of school year
New Kent High School principal Yvonne Jones announced that she will be stepping down from her post at the conclusion of the school year. Jones made the announcement at New Kent School Board’s regular meeting Monday night. “I think it’s time for someone to take the reins and take New Kent High School to the next level,” Jones said. Jones spoke about the process she went through before making the choice to leave the New Kent school system. “I really feel that it’s something I’ve been thinking about,” she said. “It is time for me to do some growing and…
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Public’s input sought on NK school superintendent search
New Kent school officials plan to seek input from county residents concerning the search for a new school superintendent. Current superintendent Rick Richardson announced recently that he plans to retire, effective July 31. At their Jan. 27 work session, county school board members embarked on the first steps aimed at finding Richardson’s replacement. A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 7 p.m. at the school board office meeting room inside the county’s old courthouse building. School officials will want to hear county residents’ ideas on the qualifications the next superintendent should possess. Also, school officials are seeking public input…
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Safety repairs for schools top CIP priorities in Charles City
Facility repairs for safety, adequate heating pumps, and HVAC repairs are among top priorities for Charles City’s school board to address. School board representatives received an updated Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its regular meeting on Jan. 27. The list, consisting of 20 items, prioritized the urgency to address needs of the 20-year old complex. One of the top priorities concerning school board members are conditions of the athletic complex, specifically the track and field. School board member Preston Adkins has been pushing for the last three months and kept pushing for the repairs. “I take a look at the…
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Briefly… for Feb. 6-19, 2014
Historic School hearing set for Feb. 19 New Kent supervisors have scheduled a special meeting to hold a public hearing on Feb. 19 on the PPEA for the Historic School. Supervisors set the meeting at the Jan. 30 work session. According to county attorney Michele Gowdy, only Marengo Management submitted a bid for the second phase of the county’s renovation of the Historic School. A subcommittee consisting of members from both the board of supervisors and school board met Jan. 31 to discuss the proposal. The school board adopted its CIP for fiscal year 2014-15 with the option to use…
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Computers donated to BCCTC by New York businessman
Last November, Bridging Communities Career and Technical Center in New Kent donated 20 refurbished computers to needy New Kent Middle School students. Now, that generosity has come full circle for the second school year. Vincent Gaines Sr. and his wife, Lupita, both King William residents, donated 65 computers to the Bridging Communities Career and Technical Center on Jan. 27. Gaines, who is president and CEO of the New York based firm Enhanced Customer Care Solutions, drove with his wife from New York to personally deliver the computers. “He wanted to be involved after he heard about what the center was…
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NK School Board taking plan for 3rd elementary to parents
In an effort to keep parents up to date, New Kent’s School Board is planning to hold information meetings at both of the county’s elementary schools to discuss its Jan. 27 decision to renovate the “north building” at the county’s Historic School. The renovation project would create a third elementary school for grades K-5. School officials are opting for a single meeting to attract parents from both New Kent Elementary and G.W. Watkins Elementary. (As of press time, no date, time, or place has been set, but updates will appear on our web site nkccnews.com and Facebook as soon as…
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Maryland man receives four years in prison for burglary
A current Maryland and former Charles City resident who was involved in several burglaries in Charles City will now spend four years in prison. David Scott Yates Sr., 45, formerly of the 4500 block of Rockinghorse Lane, learned his fate during Jan. 24 Charles City Circuit Court proceedings. At a separate Nov. 22 trial, Yates Sr. accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to three counts of grand larceny and one count of burglary from break-ins occurring between last March 20 to April 28. A presentence report recommended a sentence range from one year, eight months to four years, two months….
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Public hearing on PPEA for Historic School set for February 19
New Kent supervisors have scheduled a special meeting to hold a public hearing on Feb. 19 on the PPEA for the Historic School. Supervisors set the meeting at today’s work session (Jan. 30). According to county attorney Michele Gowdy, only Marengo Management submitted a bid for the second phase of the county’s renovation of the Historic School. A subcommittee consisting of members from both the board of supervisors and school board is scheduled to meet tomorrow (Jan. 31) to discuss the proposal. The school board adopted its CIP for fiscal year 2014-15 with the option to use the Historic School…
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