<a href="https://www.vsba.org/services/board-training-development/new-virginia-freedom-of-information-foia-training/">NEW- Virginia Freedom of Information (FOIA) Training
</a>The requirements of FOIA impact every school board meeting, from initial notice of the meeting to what must be included in the minutes. Board members’ thorough familiarity with FOIA helps school board meetings flow smoothly and shows the community that the board is committed…

<a href="https://www.cbs19news.com/story/43011330/ccs-hosts-day-of-play-for-families">CCS hosts Day of Play for families
</a>Charlottesville City Schools is getting their students, staff members and families off the couch and staying active during their Day of Play event this weekend. The event is put on with support from the Public Education Foundation to help families take a break from work and move at…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/sports/high-school/after-further-review-making-a-tough-but-correct-call/article_c839a52e-bb7f-57a1-ac93-2ac5a7656801.html">After Further Review: Making a tough but correct call
</a>Athletic Directors in the Seminole District should be commended for their decision, announced this week, to keep gyms closed to spectators this winter. It was not made lightly. After all, less than a month ago, athletic districts across the state were considering how to implement the…

<a href="https://godanriver.com/sports/high-school/with-danville-school-board-approval-winter-sports-season-back-in-play/article_8377b126-aa47-5954-8524-23d0e0bb5746.html">With Danville School Board approval, winter sports season back in play
</a>Shortly after the Danville School Board voted last week to keep students in a remote learning environment until after New Year’s Day, it also approved a return-to-play plan for the district’s athletic teams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. George Washington High School athletic…

<a href="https://www.wjhl.com/covid-19-keeping-schools-safe/bristol-virginia-public-schools-to-have-virtual-snow-day-on-monday-dec-7/">Bristol, Virginia Public Schools to have virtual snow day on Monday, Dec. 7
</a>According to Bristol, Virginia Public Schools officials, the school system will have a virtual snow day on Monday, Dec. 7. The following was sent to staff on Saturday. This week and weekend have felt like March 13th all over again. The constant flow of information, communication, and…

<a href="https://www.oann.com/va-school-district-votes-to-spend-443k-on-renaming-3-schools-instead-of-covid/">Va. School District Votes To Spend $443K On Renaming 3 Schools Instead Of COVID Resources
</a>A Virginia school district moved to fund several schools’ renaming efforts instead of funding coronavirus resources. On Thursday, the Portsmouth School Board voted eight-to-one to put nearly $450,000 toward the renaming of two elementary schools and one high school…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/lynchburg-area-schools-remain-flexible-when-measuring-attendance/article_504f2b06-aef4-5aa2-a467-0e9152a9371b.html">Lynchburg-area schools remain flexible when measuring attendance
</a>Facing this unusual school year full of hybrid and remote learning models, Lynchburg-area school divisions have had to remain flexible when measuring attendance. According to the Virginia Department of Education’s guidance on reopening schools during the COVID-19…

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/regional-news/virginia-news/vdoe-announces-12m-in-school-security-equipment-grants/">VDOE announces $12M in school security equipment grants
</a>The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) announced on Friday a total of $12 million in state grants to protect students, faculty and visitors in 489 schools in 102 school divisions. The grants will pay for video monitoring systems, voice and video internal communications…

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-schools-plan-gradual-reopening-as-evidence-of-online-learning-gap-piles-up/2020/12/03/a4f5d742-35a6-11eb-8d38-6aea1adb3839_story.html">Virginia schools plan gradual reopening as evidence of online learning gap piles up
</a>More evidence emerged this week that online school is taking its worst academic toll on Virginia’s most vulnerable students, as superintendents in the state — facing mounting pressure to reopen schools — took tentative steps toward in-person instruction. Loudoun County Public…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/12/04/carroll-county-schools-will-shift-to-virtual-amid-surge-in-coronavirus-numbers/">Carroll County schools will shift to virtual amid surge in coronavirus numbers
</a>One Southwest Virginia school district is preparing to not have its students inside a classroom again until next year, at the earliest. Carrol County Public School Superintendent Dr. Mark Burnette announced Friday that starting Dec. 9, the entire school district will be 100% virtual…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2020/12/03/rps-superintendent-recommend-staying-virtual-second-semester/">Richmond Mayor, majority of school board support RPS superintendent virtual learning recommendation
</a>Richmond City Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said he will recommend to the school board that the division stay virtual for the second semester. Kamras said there are three reasons as to why he will recommend sticking with virtual learning. The first reason is due to…

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/news/education/arlington-educator-lauded-with-statewide-award/article_a8692c0a-3635-11eb-86e5-83e01501f843.html">Arlington educator lauded with statewide award
</a>Shantha Smith, an education coordinator at Gunston Middle School, has been named a recipient of the 2020 Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education by the state government. Awards were presented Dec. 3 in Richmond, and were named after a pioneering…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/12/04/franklin-county-high-school-going-100-virtual-until-2021/">Franklin County High School going 100% virtual until 2021
</a>Another Southwest Virginia school is temporarily going fully virtual. On Friday, Franklin County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bernice Cobbs announced that Franklin County High School will be fully virtual until 2021. [Carroll County schools will shift to virtual amid surge in…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/community/greenenews/sports/esports-are-safe-to-play-even-in-a-pandemic/article_e6d16402-34a1-11eb-907e-3f71480a0314.html">Esports are safe to play—even in a pandemic
</a>Even with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is one high school sport that was permitted to compete this fall. The Dragons compete in three different games—Rocket League, Smite and League of Legends—since late October. Whether playing against classmates or teams…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/12/03/wythe-county-public-schools-return-to-all-virtual-learning-on-monday/">Wythe County Public Schools return to all virtual learning on Monday
</a>Wythe County Public Schools announced that students will return to 100% virtual learning starting Monday, Dec. 7.Thursday’s announcement comes after the school district consulted with the health department about the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Wythe County….

<a href="https://www.wtkr.com/news/parent-with-students-who-have-disabilities-believe-kids-are-falling-through-the-cracks-with-virtual-learning">Parents of students with disabilities believe kids falling through the cracks with virtual learning
</a>Some families with children who have disabilities are starting to feel left out. “That’s sad that they aren’t seen as priorities. Does it need to be a little bit worse to be seen first?” Nicole Wilson asks. Her 12-year-old son William is in the seventh grade at Independence Middle School…

<a href="https://www.whsv.com/2020/12/04/augusta-county-school-board-to-receive-more-than-12-million-in-head-start-funding/">Augusta County School Board to receive more than $1.2 million in Head Start funding
</a>Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have announced more than $5 million in Head Start funding for the commonwealth, and the Augusta County School Board will receive $1,205,103 of the funding. According to a press release from Sen. Kaine’s office, $5,740,241…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/webinars/live-webinars/">December 9 &amp; 10, Two Part Insights for Budget Basics &amp; Finance 101
</a>Virginia public school budgeting will be discussed, including roles of elected officials, fiduciary requirements, stakeholders, and budget reports. Revenue categories will be explained, including state formulas, federal funding, local funding, and tax rates. Reserve your webinar…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/capital-conference/">January 25-26, 2021, VSBA Capital Conference, Virtual
</a>Advocacy by local school board members is a year-round job but is never more critical than when the Virginia General Assembly is in session. With the Virginia State Capitol and Pocahontas Building closed to visitors for the unforeseeable future, it is imperative for school…

<em>Missed the Virtual VSBA Annual Convention? It is not too late to register to gain access to over 35 hours of educational content. Contact your school board clerk for more information. </em>