<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.farmvilleherald.com/2021/08/poor-behavior-at-meetings-threaten-public-participation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Poor behavior at meetings threaten public participation</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">With local government meetings around the commonwealth becoming more heard, as was the cast at the Tuesday, Aug. 3, Buckingham County School Board Meeting, officials are warning the increased discord during these gatherings could be creating a disconnect between public...</span>

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/montgomery-county-school-board-passes-stronger-policy-to-protect-transgender-students/article_6fb418b0-fa67-11eb-9405-673e0fb48011.html#tracking-source=home-top-story"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Montgomery County School Board passes stronger policy to protect transgender students</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Montgomery County School Board, on a 5-2 vote Tuesday night, adopted a policy that promises stronger protections for transgender students. The board was among the latest in the region to take up a matter that was prompted by the General Assembly’s previous passing of...</span>

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/back-to-school/back-to-school-mask-and-covid-19-policies-for-southwest-and-central-virginia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Back to school mask and COVID-19 policies for southwest and central Virginia</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">School districts across southwest and central Virginia have been changing their policies surrounding masks and COVID-19. WFXR News compiled a list of the policies at the school districts, colleges, and universities below. Bath County Public Schools: When the new school…</span>

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-virginia-beach-masks-mandatory-fall-20210811-esyqi2xd5bbqrkgzopu4c7oshu-story.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">After hours of vitriol and misinformation, Virginia Beach School Board votes to make masks mandatory for students, staff</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hours before the School Board took the vote to make it official, the decision to require masks in Virginia Beach schools had effectively been made — all over but the shouting. And there was plenty of shouting.Almost 70 people spoke at a public meeting Tuesday that was full of anger...</span>

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/08/11/cowards-hanover-school-board-votes-against-requiring-masks-after-heated-crowd-parents-lashes-out-meeting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘Cowards!’ Hanover School Board votes against requiring masks after heated crowd of parents lashes out at meeting</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hanover County Public Schools made a controversial decision over whether to require masks in schools, Tuesday night, as school districts across Central Virginia continue to grapple with the same question. Dozens of Hanover parents, waving signs and with their children in tow, made…</span>

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/08/11/covid-19-sidelines-high-school-football-putting-southwest-central-virginia-teams-on-pause/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">COVID-19 sidelines high school football, putting Southwest, Central Virginia teams on pause</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The spike in COVID-19 is causing concern and confusion on high school football fields. COVID-19 cases and quarantine may not be part of the game plan, but it’s putting their play on pause. Alleghany County paused its program last week, and now other districts are doing the…</span>

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/11/school-districts-feel-better-prepared-virtual-learning/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">School districts feel better prepared for virtual learning</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students at Botetourt and Franklin County Public Schools returned to class Wednesday, some sitting at desks, others working from computers online. “I think we have learned that some of our families need a different format and different way of attending school. And those needs don’t…</span>

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/coronavirus/how-virginia-schools-handle-covid-exposures-quarantine-students"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Virginia schools handle COVID exposures; which students should quarantine</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">To quarantine students or not to quarantine students: that is the question facing our school systems as they all head back to in-person learning this fall. "We work with the systems to help identify who are cases and who meet those qualifications," Cat Long, public information…</span>

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/08/11/we-are-feeling-relatively-good-petersburg-schools-prepared-students-return/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘We are feeling relatively good’: Petersburg Schools prepared for students return</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Petersburg Schools Superintendent says mitigation efforts against COVID-19 have ramped up for the 2021-2022 school year as the number of coronavirus cases tied to the delta variant increase. As of Aug. 6, 118 COVID-19 cases were tied to the delta variant in Central Virginia….</span>

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/education/2-hampton-roads-school-divisions-receive-grant-money-from-no-kid-hungry/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 Hampton Roads school divisions receive grant money from No Kid Hungry</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two Hampton Roads school districts are receiving grant money to help expand their respective meal programs. No Kid Hungry, which is a national campaign by Share Our Strength, recently gave away $1.6 million in grants to 32 school divisions and organizations. “No Kid Hungry…</span>

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/11/pulaski-county-middle-school-track-be-named-after-fallen-deputy-sgt-perry-hodge/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pulaski County Middle School track to be named after fallen deputy Sgt. Perry Hodge</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Tuesday’s Pulaski County School Board meeting, the board unanimously approved a resolution naming the new track at Pulaski County Middle School in honor of Sergeant Perry Hodge. The resolution names the new state-of-the-art rubberized track at Pulaski County...</span>

<a href="https://www.southwesttimes.com/2021/08/vhsl-clarifies-guidance-pertaining-to-non-instructional-activities/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">VHSL clarifies guidance pertaining to non-instructional activities</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Thursday, August 5, 2021, Governor Northam reminded Virginia’s public schools that Virginia law (Bill Tracking – 2021 session &gt; Legislation (virginia.gov)) requires school boards to implement in-person instruction in the 2021-2022 school year in a manner that adheres, to...</span>

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/watch-now-determined-to-have-a-great-year-lynchburg-area-students-return-to-school/article_0e9dcda8-f9f1-11eb-9117-ab3b75b2bfc7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story"><span style="font-weight: 400;">'Determined to have a great year': Lynchburg-area students return to school</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sporting new shoes and full backpacks, students in Lynchburg City Schools and Bedford County Public Schools returned to the classroom Wednesday for the start of the fall semester. In contrast to the unusual 2020-21 school year where many schools operated on a hybrid...</span>

<a href="https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2021/august/headline-902544-en.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Governor Northam Announces Public Health Order to Require Universal Masking in K-12 Schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Governor Northam today announced a Public Health Emergency Order requiring universal masking in all indoor settings in Virginia’s K-12 schools. This order reinforces current state law, which requires Virginia schools adhere to mitigation strategies outlined by the Centers for…</span>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/title-ix-workshop/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">September 14, 2021 VSBA Title IX: Best Practices in Training &amp; Compliance Workshop</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">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...</span>