<a href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/initiatives/equity-in-education-month/">March is VSBA Equity in Education Month
</a>In an effort to encourage equity in education, the VSBA Board of Directors has designated the month of March as VSBA Equity in Education Month. For more information on the month-long webinar series, a copy of the governor’s proclamation and additional resources follow the link above.

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/March-Hot-Topic-Brochure.pdf">March 17, 2021, VSBA March Hot Topic</a>
Join us as we gather virtually for an informative and important conference. This conference will be focusing specifically on multiple hot topics in education. You will hear from three leaders in public education throughout the event speaking on the topics of Race and Equity…

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-virginia-beach-covid-safety-plans-20210314-wagarv263feofipzleevm2nohm-story.html">In Virginia Beach schools, COVID safety inspections yield good results, data shows
</a>In Virginia Beach public schools, officials have stressed that the division’s ability to keep classrooms open the rest of the year depends on students and staff following the system’s safety plans, including mandatory masks, plexiglass between desks and maintaining social…

<a href="https://www.dailypress.com/news/education/dp-nw-school-closure-anniversary-20210313-wga4ry7nrjgo7mgme7to6qhtry-story.html">In their own words: What students have learned in a year away from school
</a>Things happened fast on Friday, March 13, 2020. At 7:47 a.m., Hampton City Schools tweeted that Andrews Prek-8 School would close after a person from the school came in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. At 10:30 a.m., a school in Williamsburg closed after a volunteer…

<a href="https://www.nbc29.com/2021/03/12/charlottesville-schools-superintendent-rosa-atkins-retire-after-years/">Charlottesville City Schools Superintendent Rosa Atkins to retire after 15 years
</a>Dr. Rosa Atkins, who has served as Charlottesville City Schools Superintendent since 2006, has announced she will retire effective May 31. She says she had postponed her decision due to the pandemic. “I’m so honored to have served the students, families, staff, and community…

<a href="https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/virginia-first-lady-pamela-northam-visits-celebrates-local-schools-offering-in-person-learning/article_930ce003-86a3-5158-9f47-4cda611d362e.html">Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam visits, celebrates local schools offering in-person learning
</a>Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam and State Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane visited Handley High School and Frederick County Middle School on Friday to celebrate the efforts being made by the local divisions to keep schools open for in-person instruction to…

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/rps-education-foundation-to-raise-1-million-for-affordable-childcare-if-year-round-schedule-is-approved/">RPS Education Foundation to raise $1 million for affordable childcare if year-round schedule is approved
</a>Richmond Public Schools is partnering with several organizations to ensure that students have access to affordable childcare if a year-round schedule is adopted. The school system is partnering with the RPS Education Foundation and the Greater Richmond Alliance for Out of…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/gloucester-schools-to-add-more-in-person-learning-days/">Gloucester schools to add more in-person learning days
</a>Gloucester County students will soon be able to be in the classroom more days of the week if they choose to do so. Gloucester Superintendent Dr. Walter Clemons says starting March 22, the district will have students with disabilities in grades 6 through 12 return to in-person…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/amherst-school-board-oks-budget-with-4-raise-2-2m-in-cares-act-money/article_7257fe9a-82dc-11eb-8391-ab1480279eef.html">Amherst school board OKs budget with 4% raise, $2.2M in CARES Act money
</a>Amherst County Public Schools employees will see a 4% raise in the fiscal year 2022 budget, which the county school board approved March 11. The Amherst County School Board unanimously backed the $54.4 million spending plan that includes a $4.1 million increase…

<a href="https://www.henricocitizen.com/articles/a-year-into-covid-virginia-school-reopenings-still-in-doubt/">A year into COVID, Virginia school reopenings still in doubt
</a>Jessica Delk has been waiting months for Henrico Public Schools to open back up for in-person learning. Delk’s three children spent nearly a year in the virtual world of online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were ready, Delk said, when they started to go back to school…

<a href="https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/warren-county-schools-watch-for-students-falling-behind/article_70e913dd-653e-53f6-adf8-6623efbce7a4.html">Warren County schools watch for students falling behind
</a>Public school officials continue to face the task of making sure students don’t fall behind during the pandemic. Warren County School Board members heard last week from a resident who expressed concern that children in her family in elementary grades are falling behind in…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/albemarle-set-to-decide-on-2021-22-learning-plan-in-may/article_3d58a75c-837d-11eb-a886-0f319caa4590.html">Albemarle set to decide on 2021-22 learning plan in May
</a>The Albemarle County School Board will hold a special meeting May 6 to hear about plans to open schools next school year. “We will have gotten a good feel for how things are going in Stage Four,” schools Superintendent Matt Haas said at Thursday’s meeting of that date. “We…

<a href="https://heraldcourier.com/community/mlk-art-show-winners-announced/article_e00c3b62-11f6-566c-a538-7f109b27fd81.html">MLK Art Show winners announced
</a>The Bristol Martin Luther King Jr. Committee announced the winners of the second annual 2021 MLK Day Art Show and Competition that took place during the month of February. The deadline for entry was Feb. 18. Local high school students submitted their work, with the theme…

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/arlington-virginia-schools-five-days-fall-plan/2021/03/11/4186b316-82c7-11eb-9ca6-54e187ee4939_story.html">Arlington public schools will offer five days of in-person school in the fall
</a>Arlington Public Schools will bring all students who choose it back for five days of in-person learning every week starting in the fall, Superintendent Francisco Durán told the school board Thursday. He emphasized that any families in the Northern Virginia district of 23,000 who…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/03/11/gov-ralph-northam-visits-salem-schools-as-deadline-nears-to-offer-in-person-learning/">Gov. Ralph Northam visits Salem schools as deadline nears to offer in-person learning
</a>It was made clear in February by Gov. Ralph Northam that all state public school systems must offer some form of in-person learning by mid-March. While most systems in Southwest Virginia have long offered in-person instruction, 40 systems across the state were not. On Thursday…

<a href="https://www.wtkr.com/news/newport-news-public-schools-partners-with-buspatrol-to-keep-students-safe">Newport News Public Schools partners with BusPatrol to keep students safe
</a>The City of Newport News is committed to keeping students safe on their way to and from school. Newport News Public Schools, the Newport News Police Department and the city have launched a school bus safety program in partnership with BusPatrol. As part of the BusPatrol…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/title-ix-workshop/">2021 VSBA Title IX: Best Practices In Training &amp; Compliance
</a>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…