<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…

<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://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/2021/01/05/gov-northam-expected-to-announce-push-to-have-virginia-students-back-in-schools-in-wednesday-update/">Gov. Northam no longer announcing push to have Virginia students back in schools in Wednesday update
</a>About 75 minutes after 10 News published our initial report, we’ve now learned that Gov. Ralph Northam will not address bringing students back to school. While the Virginia Department of Education told 10 News in a statement that Northam would release updated guidelines on…

<a href="https://martinsvillebulletin.com/sports/high-school/henry-county-schools-officials-it-s-not-safe-to-compete-right-now-in-high-school/article_62c73a58-4ec1-11eb-bc19-97073e52a0ba.html">Henry County Schools officials: ‘It’s not safe to compete right now’ in high school sports; district continues to postpone games this week
</a>Winter sports teams at Magna Vista and Bassett High Schools will have to continue waiting to compete in games, Henry County Public Schools Director of Student Support Services Matthew Woods said by phone Monday. Girls and boys varsity basketball teams were scheduled to…

<a href="https://godanriver.com/news/local/danville-may-reconsider-casino-delayed-sales-tax-referendum-for-city-schools/article_7369c830-b57d-54d0-b7f6-10e233808022.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">Danville may reconsider casino-delayed sales-tax referendum for city schools
</a>The idea of adding a 1-cent sales tax in Danville to fund school construction projects remains a possibility. Although the city expects to receive $34 million in annual revenue from a Caesars Virginia casino, a ballot question about the tax, approved a year ago by the Danville City…

<a href="https://www.dnronline.com/news/coronavirus/city-schools-chief-has-not-decided-on-vaccine-mandate/article_c118b150-fdbe-56f3-8a1c-123fa5ed148a.html">City Schools Chief Has Not Decided On Vaccine Mandate
</a>All 10 of the nurses working for Harrisonburg City Public Schools have received the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine, Superintendent Michael Richards said, and they will receive the second round soon. Also soon, teachers and staff will receive the vaccine as well. School…

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/757teamz/vp-sp-virginia-beach-coronavirus-cancels-winter-sports-20210105-pmywsgx23fag7gewipdvtqeqeu-story.html">Virginia Beach will allow winter sports despite COVID-19 metrics remaining high
</a>Virginia Beach City Public Schools decided Monday to hold a winter sports season despite previously saying it would cancel the season if the COVID-19 metrics remained in the red/red category. “After extensive research, discussion and consideration, Virginia Beach City Pubic…

<a href="https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/as-most-nova-schools-go-virtual-during-latest-covid-19-surge-prince-william-continues-in/article_291f027e-4e9c-11eb-9423-3b40bfc4d1a9.html">As most NOVA schools go virtual during latest COVID-19 surge, Prince William continues in-person learning
</a>As COVID-19 cases surged over the holiday break, nearly every school division in Northern Virginia paused or suspended in-person learning during the first several days immediately following winter break. The lone exception is Prince William, where operations continued as…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/education/sandston-elementary-receives-national-honor-for-serving-its-homeless-and-economically-disadvantaged-population/article_39df0996-2751-5558-b174-2c04132a2d05.html">Sandston Elementary receives national honor for serving its homeless and economically disadvantaged population
</a>When Kim Powell became the principal of Sandston Elementary, the school was only partially accredited because too many kids were falling behind in reading and math. She was determined to keep her finger on the pulse of what could be causing her students to struggle. She’ll be…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/new-richmond-school-board-meets-for-the-first-time-elects-new-leadership/article_7ac777ff-0fdd-5ee6-8f00-2ce56c93b52f.html">New Richmond School Board meets for the first time, elects new leadership
</a>The Richmond School Board has new members and new leadership. Cheryl Burke, a former educator in the Richmond Public Schools system, was selected as chairwoman in a 5-4 vote, with Kenya Gibson and newcomers Stephanie Rizzi, Mariah White, and Shonda Harris…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/lynchburg-bedford-schools-together-report-70-new-cases-of-covid-19-following-winter-breaks/article_26481e24-36fc-5444-a9fb-05c6f57c2ba3.html">Lynchburg, Bedford schools together report 70 new cases of COVID-19 following winter breaks
</a>Schools in the Lynchburg area resumed classes Monday and schools in Lynchburg and Bedford County reported 70 new positive cases of COVID-19 following their two-week winter breaks. Lynchburg City Schools and schools in the Campbell, Bedford, Amherst and Nelson county…

<a href="https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/walsh-named-shenandoah-county-school-board-chair/article_b6ed02a8-3cd4-5002-8c72-66f1d516912d.html">Walsh named Shenandoah County School Board chair
</a>Cynthia Walsh was named the new chairperson of the Shenandoah County School Board on Monday morning at the board's yearly organizational meeting. Walsh was the only one nominated and replaces Karen Whetzel, who had been chairwoman for the last five years...

<a href="https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2021/01/loudoun-county-school-board-discusses-path-forward-as-virus-surges/">Loudoun County School Board discusses path forward as virus surges
</a>The Loudoun County School Board in Virginia opened the new year Monday night the same way it closed the last one: grappling over distance learning in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. During a meeting Monday, the board heard from frustrated parents who want in…

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/back-to-school/floyd-county-public-schools-students-set-to-return-to-the-classroom-this-week/">Floyd County Public Schools students set to return to the classroom this week
</a>After a brief remote learning day, public school students in Floyd County will be making an in-person return to the classroom later this week. According to Floyd County Public Schools, students will be welcomed back from winter break virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 6…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/01/05/hcps-makes-changes-in-person-learning-plan/">HCPS makes changes to in-person learning plan
</a>Henrico County Public Schools has updated its expansion of in-person learning plan as of Tuesday. Students in grades pre-K through 5 will be able to return to in-person learning if they choose to on Jan. 25. The previous return dates had been either Jan. 11 or 14 “Starting on…

<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.