<a href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/initiatives/equity-in-education-month/">March is VSBA Equity in Education Month
</a>In an effort to encourage equity in education, the VSBA Board of Directors has designated the month of March as VSBA Equity in Education Month. For more information on the month-long webinar series, a copy of the governor’s proclamation and additional resources follow the link above.

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/title-ix-workshop/">2021 VSBA Title IX: Best Practices In Training &amp; Compliance
</a>With claims of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct hitting newsstands everywhere, Title IX coordinators and other senior staff need to be confident in their knowledge and enforcement of their divisions’ policies. Prevention and thorough investigations are the best ways to…

<a href="https://www.dailypress.com/news/education/dp-nw-isle-of-wight-school-lawsuit-20210316-wntyvoctcrheroe2o3yysnyhfy-story.html">Isle of Wight School Board settles FOIA lawsuits over closed meetings
</a>The Isle of Wight County School Board paid $20,000 in attorney’s fees to settle two lawsuits alleging the board violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, according to district spokesperson Lynn Briggs. County resident Kathryne Lemon filed the lawsuits, first reported…

<a href="https://www.arlnow.com/2021/03/16/aps-mulls-post-pandemic-virtual-learning-option-for-secondary-students/">APS Mulls Post-Pandemic Virtual Learning Option for Secondary Students
</a>For the past year, Arlington Public Schools students have been learning from home to varying degrees of success. As of this morning (Tuesday), all grade levels have access to two days a week of in-person instruction. Some have struggled during remote learning — as is evidenced…

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-virginia-schools-five-days-open-fall/2021/03/16/3cdae494-866a-11eb-8a8b-5cf82c3dffe4_story.html">Fairfax will return to ‘near normal’ five days a week of in-person learning this fall
</a>Virginia’s largest school district will return the vast majority of its 180,000 students to five days a week of in-person learning this fall, Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand told the school board Tuesday. Brabrand said virtual offerings will be “limited” in Fairfax County Public …

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/03/16/montgomery-county-public-schools-and-board-of-supervisors-to-meet-for-joint-budget-meeting/">Montgomery County Public Schools and Board of Supervisors to meet for joint budget meeting
</a>Montgomery County Public Schools and the Board of Supervisors are a few hours from their annual joint budget meeting. Leaders from both bodies will present their proposed budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. “They are going to go ahead and present their school budget to us…

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/henrico-county/henrico-schools-announce-plans-for-in-person-graduation-ceremonies/">Henrico schools announce plans for in-person graduation ceremonies
</a>Shortly after Gov. Ralph Northam announced loosened regulations for in-person graduation ceremonies, Henrico County Public Schools released that their Class of 2021 students will in-person at outdoor ceremonies. The graduation ceremonies for Class of 2021 will taken place…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/education/chesapeake-students-win-their-school-15000-for-combatting-school-shootings/">Chesapeake students win their school $15,000 for combatting school shootings
</a>Students at a Chesapeake middle school won $15,000 in technology and classroom supplies for their efforts to combat school shootings. Hickory Middle School was named a semi-finalist in the “Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest“, a program encouraging students to solve real-world…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/bedford-hills-elementary-school-students-read-more-than-84-000-minutes-in-first-read-a/collection_55c04f2c-873b-11eb-b936-33fafa6a703b.html">Bedford Hills Elementary School students read more than 84,000 minutes in first Read-A-Thon
</a>Students at Bedford Hills Elementary School completed the school's first Read-A-Thon this month, reading more than 84,000 minutes and raising more than $14,000 for the school via sponsorships from family and friends. In an outdoor celebration Wednesday at the school…

<a href="https://www.wymt.com/2021/03/17/school-board-names-new-superintendent-for-one-swva-school-district/">School board names new superintendent for one SWVA school district
</a>A new division superintendent has been appointed for Lee County Public Schools. CBS affiliate WJHL reports according to a news release, the school board appointed Brian Dean as the new division superintendent at last Thursday night’s meeting. Dean has been serving as the…

<a href="https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/alexandria-city-public-school-hybrid-learning-students-return-to-in-person-learning/">Alexandria City Public School hybrid learning students return to in-person
</a>Over 3,700 Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students across all grades PreK-12 will begin returning to in-school learning on Tuesday. A total of 34 percent of students will be back in classrooms, according to ACPS. Students who have returned are those whose parents…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/virginia-politics/virginia-gov-ralph-northam-will-increase-attendance-at-graduations-this-spring/">Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will increase attendance at outdoor graduations to 5,000 people
</a>Governor Ralph Northam is increasing the number of people who can attend high school and college graduations this spring in Virginia. The new guidelines released on Wednesday say outdoor graduations will be capped at 5,000 people or 30 percent of the venue’s capacity…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/lynchburg-city-school-board-oks-100m-operating-budget-for-fiscal-year-2022/article_2e3cdbae-8741-11eb-873f-4b44f825021a.html">Lynchburg City School Board OKs $100M operating budget for fiscal year 2022
</a>The Lynchburg City School Board voted Tuesday 7-2 to approve the division’s fiscal year 2022 operating budget, which totals more than $100 million and prioritizes additional staff, pay scale step increases and technology support. The operating budget includes state funding of nearly…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/03/16/alleghany-county-public-schools-names-new-superintendent/">Alleghany County Public Schools names new superintendent
</a>Alleghany County Public Schools appointed its new superintendent at Monday night’s school board meeting. Kimberly Halterman takes over the job March 22. She takes over from Director of Elementary Instruction Sherman B. Callahan, who has been acting superintendent since…

<a href="https://woay.com/tazewell-primary-students-learn-tornado-safety-during-state-mandated-drill/">Tazewell Primary Students learn tornado safety during state-mandated drill
</a>9:45 AM in a Tazewell County Public school typically sees students learning during the first half of a normal school day, but a state-mandated drill saw students practicing what to do during a weather emergency. According to Tazewell County Public Schools Public Relations Director…

<a href="https://www.loudountimes.com/news/lcps-adds-non-binary-option-to-gender-code-for-student-enrollment/article_39e5346a-829b-11eb-8015-0bb08b68b34e.html">LCPS adds non-binary option to gender code for student enrollment
</a>New Loudoun County Public Schools students now have the option to indicate that they identify as neither male or female upon enrollment as long as they are of legal adult age or have received parent or guardian consent. Parents and guardians of existing students and adult…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/news/vsba-launches-school-board-u/">VSBA School Board U</a>
School Board U is an area of the VSBA website filled with learning opportunities for school board members to explore important topics related to your service on the school board. Complete certain courses and earn a certificate for your hard work. For more information visit the member section of the VSBA website. School board members and division staff, please check your email to find the log in and password information or contact VSBA.

<a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYbzN7mWhM2jHRaapUU29SJunMNZEvcBx_2F1s7MKoShYZ944rUXHjig0is7q1L2DjeIjtLYf_4c0vPq3hOeY1TZI/39h/zUahEOrOTB2IV6Sbi3JiuA/h17/vP_1jqhY20xxPs7NvPjY71aia4t3T0mutWn60GUt1dM">2021 VSBA Business Honor Roll Open Now
</a>Local businesses have the power to shape community attitudes about public schools. Every spring, the VSBA Business Honor Roll provides a way for local school divisions to recognize local businesses for their support, especially as schools face increasing budget uncertainty…