<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.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/New-Board-Member-and-Super-Orientations-Brochure.pdf">January 26, 2021, VSBA Orientation for New School Board Members and Superintendents, Virtual</a>
Becoming a new school board member or superintendent is an honor and a privilege. Enjoy a successful and less stressful transition by attending the VSBA Orientation for New Board Members &amp; Superintendents. Many important topics will be covered, including the roles and…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/virginia-education-association-calls-for-classrooms-to-close-across-the-state-as-covid-cases-spike/article_f83425cb-5edb-5931-ac8b-e0d825bb8e26.html">Virginia Education Association calls for classrooms to close across the state as COVID cases spike, governor levies new restrictions
</a>Restrictions that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday to curb spiking cases of COVID-19 stopped short of classrooms, a decision the Virginia Education Association panned moments after he addressed the commonwealth. The group, which represents more than…

<a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/newportnewsteachers/291-26414665-90ee-4ec8-8e15-155279c83f03">Newport News Public Schools teaching partnership with William &amp; Mary, Christopher Newport proves mutually beneficial
</a>"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, I knew when I got to college that I wanted to teach, to be here is really exciting."  That long wait for Bianca Caccamo, a master's student at William &amp; Mary, is coming to an end sooner than she anticipated. "As they said 'We have jobs…

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-high-school-switching-to-fully-virtual-learning/">Hanover High School switching to fully virtual learning
</a>Hanover High School students are making the switch to full-time virtual learning through Dec. 18. Students will begin learning from home immediately and will not return to school in-person until after their winter break on Jan. 4. A statement from the school district says they have…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/12/11/roanoke-city-public-schools-prep-for-fifth-annual-breakfast-with-santa/">Roanoke City Public Schools prep for fifth annual Breakfast with Santa
</a>Roanoke City Public Schools is hosting its fifth annual Breakfast with Santa event to help raise money for homeless students. The event is usually held inside at William Fleming, but this year, it will be a drive-through ticketed event for the public. Students and staff prepped Friday to…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-and-regional/virginia-county-works-to-fill-gaps-in-broadband-service/article_2fd0ce1f-264c-5586-9b30-81442edaeb03.html">Virginia county works to fill gaps in broadband service
</a>In nearly two decades of living at her current home in Amherst County, Monica Dean said her massive struggles with affordable high-speed internet access make her feel like she and her husband have been left behind. The retired couple lives in the Bobwhite Road area of the…

<a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/fairfax-county-public-schools-covid-19-virtual-learning/65-aec6d396-ce6d-4815-af17-5ba89eddc3b9">Fairfax County Schools sends Group 3 students back to virtual learning amid rise in COVID cases
</a>Fairfax County Public Schools is going back to only virtual learning for its Group 3 students, according to the school district in a statement to the media. The decision by FCPS came as the school district reached seven consecutive days in which the percent positivity exceeded 10%...

<a href="https://www.wjhl.com/news/even-after-pandemic-ends-schools-still-expected-to-face-challenges-according-to-state-board-of-education/">Even after pandemic ends, schools still expected to face challenges, according to State Board of Education
</a>In its annual report to the governor and General Assembly on the condition and needs of public schools in Virginia, the State Board of Education says that the challenges schools face due to COVID-19 won’t be going away with the pandemic. “This has been an extraordinary year for…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/12/12/students-in-pulaski-and-roanoke-counties-still-learning-in-person-despite-demands-from-vea-for-online-only/">Students in Pulaski and Roanoke Counties still learning in person despite demands from VEA for online-only
</a>Roanoke County Public Schools gave its students the choice to learn all-online this semester. Director of Secondary Instruction Mike Riley said that will not become mandatory for all students, despite other school districts switching to all-virtual learning. “What the data has…

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/dp-nw-wason-center-poll-education-20201210-fxfyssvpeneyjjnoebkyka3mji-story.html">75% of Virginia parents fear their children are falling behind in the pandemic, new poll says
</a>Virginia voters have a mixed view of how schools have handled the pandemic, according to a new poll from Christopher Newport University. On one hand, 64% of respondents with school-aged children said they were satisfied with how their children’s school has handled instruction…

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/757teamz/vp-sp-vhsl-mask-wearing-20201211-vxchz6dscndndk6tbj6zffzoee-story.html">VHSL calls for athletes to wear masks during competition and training
</a>The Virginia High School League has amended its COVID-19 mitigation protocols for high school sports by advising athletes to wear masks. The VHSL updated its measures to follow the recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health. According to the VDH, athletes are…

<a href="https://www.independencedeclaration.com/content/county-schools-remain-open-mount-rogers-halts-contact-tracing">County schools to remain open as Mount Rogers halts contact tracing
</a>The Mount Rogers Health District has advised school systems throughout the area to return to virtual-only instruction for the remainder of the semester as COVID-19 cases rise in the region; but Division Superintendent Kelly Wilmore assured the public Friday that the district’s safety…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/albemarle-outlines-plan-for-hybrid-learning-under-stage-four/article_82b4fa48-3b53-11eb-8667-1f099f96796e.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">Albemarle outlines plan for hybrid learning under Stage Four
</a>Albemarle County’s plans for division-wide in-person classes would mean an all-hands-on-deck approach at the elementary schools. That means that those who typically teach music, art or physical education, as well as talent development teachers, media specialists, teaching…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/12/11/montgomery-county-schools-adjusting-learning-schedule-during-covid-spike/">Montgomery County schools adjusting learning schedule during COVID spike
</a>Montgomery County Public Schools is moving down one level of virtual learning, with coronavirus cases on the rise around Virginia. Starting Monday, December 14, the district will return to Phase 3, Level 1. That means: Pre-K through six grade will attend school the way…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/lynchburg-area-school-divisions-report-78-new-covid-19-cases-this-week-va-averaging-3/article_931632c5-3a32-5195-a4ca-36ff6235ea22.html">Lynchburg-area school divisions report 78 new COVID-19 cases this week; Va. averaging 3,800-plus daily
</a>School divisions in the Lynchburg area reported 79 new positive cases of COVID-19 this week, bringing the collective total of positive cases reported in Lynchburg City Schools along with Campbell, Bedford, Amherst and Nelson county school divisions to 337 since their school…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/12/11/franklin-county-schools-temporarily-ban-fans-from-games-and-events/">Franklin County schools temporarily ban fans from games and events
</a>Franklin County Public Schools announced it will no longer allow fans to attend games and competitions due to Governor Northam’s restrictions on sports gatherings. Sports gatherings are currently limited to 25 people or fewer due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Franklin…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2020/12/11/colonial-heights-schools-going-virtual-first-week-back-winter-break/">Colonial Heights Schools going virtual for first week back from winter break
</a>After winter break, Colonial Heights Public Schools will give all virtual instruction during the first week back. The division said it made the decision in consultation with the Virginia Department of Health. “The safety of our students, staff, and community is a top priority for Colonial Heights…

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/fauquier-county-public-schools-to-return-to-remote-only-learning/article_2fffebba-3bed-11eb-baef-dbb90a0063fe.html">Fauquier County Public Schools to return to remote-only learning
</a>In a Tweet, the school division said the decision was made "due to the rising level of community spread of COVID-19 and workforce concerns." Winter break begins for students on Friday, Dec. 18. Fauquier joins Loudoun County schools in a return to remote learning as COVID-19…

<a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/chesapeake-public-schools-reports-approximately-1000-quarantines-not-cases-this-school-year/291-e540c0db-27c4-43e7-9a6f-b62109ab15dc">Chesapeake Public Schools reports approximately 1,000 quarantines - not cases - this school year
</a>Butts Road Intermediate School is the latest school to deal with the novel coronavirus inside its walls. In the days following Thanksgiving break, 140 combined staff and students were placed under quarantine, after six individuals tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement to…

<a href="https://www.farmvilleherald.com/2020/12/pecps-approves-plan-to-put-all-grades-back-in-classrooms/?fbclid=IwAR3hX7FdqlL2o3FwZrljIq4JSwzyWN42qtpFqT1UG7E57pFiE46yt0FHbZ0">PECPS approves plan to put all grades back in classrooms
</a>Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) has cemented its intentions to begin gradually sending more and more grades levels back to in person learning for the second semester of the school year, but the return to classrooms is dependent on data following the Christmas…

<a href="https://www.wjhl.com/covid-19-keeping-schools-safe/washington-county-tenn-school-board-exploring-funding-options-for-ionization-air-purifiers-in-buildings/">Washington County, Tenn. school board exploring funding options for ionization air purifiers in buildings
</a>The Washington County Board of Education voted Thursday evening to explore options on how to fund ionization air purification systems for schools. Board members hope the air purifiers will mitigate the spread of COVID-19 once students return to classrooms. “Evert cubic foot of air…

<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>