<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/legislative-advocacy-conference/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">September 23, 2021 VSBA Legislative Advocacy Conference, Registration Open for In-Person Event</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2021, Virginians will decide who will lead the Commonwealth by electing the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, as well as deciding control of the Virginia House of Delegates. Being informed on the issues shaping Virginia and learning how to advocate on…</span>

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/education/central-virginia-school-boards-make-decisions-on-mask-policies/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Central Virginia school boards make decisions on mask policies</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">To mask or not to mask? That’s the question several school boards are tasked with answering this week. Monday night, Amelia County school board members approved a motion for universal mask wearing. School board members said even though they personally don’t like the law, not…</span>

<a href="https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/students-protest-mask-mandate-for-shenandoah-county-schools/article_830d14ea-6af5-57ff-a840-476ee6d3a5f8.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students protest mask mandate for Shenandoah County schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Approximately 95 Shenandoah County high school students took part in protests against the new mask mandate that began Monday for students, teachers and all who enter the schools. Central had the largest number of protesters, with approximately 50. They had a tent set up...</span>

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/08/10/back-school-school-boards-discussing-universal-masking-policies/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Back to School: School boards discussing universal masking policies</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following Governor Northam’s mask-wearing bombshell inside Virginia public schools on Aug. 5, several school systems across Central Virginia are revising or voting on new policies.On Tuesday, the Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Hanover County school boards will discuss…</span>

<a href="https://www.whsv.com/2021/08/09/rockingham-county-schools-superintendent-breaks-down-covid-policies/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rockingham County schools superintendent breaks down COVID policies</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monday night’s Rockingham County School Board meeting was moved to the Spotswood High School auditorium in anticipation of the large crowd in attendance. There are no action items on the agenda but Superintendent Dr. Oskar Scheikl did provide a COVID-19 update…</span>

<a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/no-mask-mandate-fauquier-county-public-schools-high-covid-transmission/65-f62a4823-4f86-4c62-9098-0c412732a35b"><span style="font-weight: 400;">No mask mandate for Fauquier schools, despite county's 'high' COVID transmission rate</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">At a raucous school board meeting Monday night, the Fauquier County School Board decided to keep masks optional for students, faculty and staff when schools reopen Wednesday. A large crowd cheered the decision, despite the uptick in cases that put the rural Northern Virginia...</span>

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/08/10/parents-voice-concerns-covid-cases-climb-hopewell-schools/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Parents voice concerns as COVID cases climb at Hopewell Schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Hopewell, school leaders are re-thinking their instructional plans so that more students can learn from home. This comes after the district has been dealing with a growing number of COVID-19 cases since school began just two weeks ago. Monday, parents spoke out at a…</span>

<a href="https://www.cbs19news.com/story/44486290/accepting-applications-for-agricultural-education-grant-funding"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Accepting applications for agricultural education grant funding</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teachers who might want to start a school garden or help students learn about a chicken's life cycle can apply for grant funding. The Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom's education grant program is now accepting applications for this fall. According to a release, this aims to help... </span>

<a href="https://wjla.com/news/back-to-school/fredericksburg-city-public-schools-return-to-the-classroom"><span style="font-weight: 400;">'Elated to have students back': Fredericksburg City Public Schools open, masks required</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students within Fredericksburg City Public Schools return to the classroom Tuesday. Dr. Marci Catlett, superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools, said between the five schools in the district, 3,729 students are returning to in-person learning, five days a week. A total of 137…</span>

<a href="https://wset.com/news/back-to-school/students-at-back-to-school-bash-in-carroll-county-test-positive-for-covid-19"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students at Back-to-School Bash in Carroll County test positive for COVID-19</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">A group of high school students at Carroll County Public Schools "Back-to-School Bash" have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the district. CCPS released a statement regarding the positive tests in cooperation with the Carroll County Health Dept. to inform the community...</span>

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmond-schools-superintendent-kamras-wants-all-employees-vaccinated-by-oct-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richmond Schools Superintendent Kamras wants all employees vaccinated by Oct. 1</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Karmas wants all employees to be vaccinated by October 1. The new deadline comes days after Kamras said he would be recommending a vaccination mandate for employees during the August 16 School Board meeting. In order for...</span>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/collective-bargaining-workshops/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">August 26, 2021, Crafting a Strategic Collective Bargaining Resolution</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Join Stacy Haney, VSBA Chief Lobbyist and School Board Attorney for a workshop on collective bargaining and learn how you and your school division can craft your own strategic collective bargaining resolution. This workshop will bean in-depth review of the resolutions required to...</span>

&nbsp;