<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.winchesterstar.com/coronavirus/handley-student-receives-covid-19-vaccine-for-volunteering-at-local-dental-clinic/article_eaf7f5d9-2cbd-5f12-9f7f-3c3b830c38a5.html">Handley student receives COVID-19 vaccine for volunteering at local dental clinic
</a>Kayla Echegoyen, 17, volunteers three hours per week at the Dental Clinic of Northern Shenandoah Valley helping sterilize equipment, shadowing dentists, cleaning work spaces and assisting patients at the front desk. Kayla, who is a senior at Handley High School, has…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/01/18/hanover-schools-present-proposed-budget-upcoming-meeting/">Hanover schools to present proposed budget at upcoming meeting
</a>Hanover families can watch on Wednesday a livestreamed budget presentation for Hanover County Public Schools. Michael Gill, Hanover’s superintendent of schools, will present the school system’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2021-22 during a meeting on Jan. 20. The…

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/prince-william-halts-covid-19-vaccine-appointments-due-to-limited-supply/article_a55b69ca-58f8-11eb-a9f0-57d90b1023e6.html">Prince William halts COVID-19 vaccine appointments due to limited supply
</a>The Prince William Health District has filled all available COVID-19 vaccine appointments through Feb. 15 and is not scheduling any more appointments because it will not receive enough vaccine doses from the federal government, according to a memo to local elected…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/01/18/rps-school-board-meeting-slated-tuesday/">RPS school board meeting slated for Tuesday
</a>Richmond Public Schools is holding a virtual school board meeting on Tuesday to discuss budget planning, student schedules and Fall 2021. The meeting is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. Families can livestream the meeting on Facebook, and Spanish interpretation will be…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/virginia-beach/vb-school-board-to-hold-special-meeting-on-option-1-students-returning-to-in-person-learning/">VB School Board to hold special meeting on Option 1 students returning to in-person learning
</a>The Virginia Beach School Board sent a letter to student families letting them know about the upcoming special meeting. According to the posted agenda and the letter, on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m., the special workshop session will discuss the motion that passed last Tuesday…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/01/15/local-superintendents-react-to-governor-northams-push-to-return-to-the-classroom/">Local superintendents react to Governor Northam’s push to return to the classroom
</a>A major factor in fully reopening Virginia schools is COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As Governor Ralph Northam laid out his expectations for reopening schools across the state, some superintendents were left with questions. “Is there any room to re-look at the mitigation efforts…

<a href="https://wtop.com/coronavirus/2021/01/virginia-offers-updated-guidance-for-schools-on-in-person-learning-amid-pandemic/">Virginia offers updated guidance for schools on in-person learning amid pandemic
</a>The Virginia Department of Health, along with the Department of Education, has released an updated interim guidance for schools navigating when to bring students back to in-person classes. The new guide incorporates and replaces the phased guidance for schools released…

<a href="https://heraldcourier.com/news/state-and-regional/virginia-schools-should-now-prioritize-in-person-instruction-state-officials-say/article_a0ad76e5-1c98-59f1-8e58-a114a02f887d.html">Virginia schools should now prioritize in-person instruction, state officials say
</a>State agencies say Virginia will now prioritize in-person instruction going forward in the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education released new guidance on how to safely reopen school buildings…

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/coronavirus/chesterfield-unveils-timeline-for-monumental-effort-to-vaccinate-teachers-staffers">Chesterfield unveils timeline for 'monumental effort' to vaccinate teachers, school staffers
</a>Teachers and staffers at Chesterfield County Public Schools could begin receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations as early as next week, district leaders posted on Facebook Saturday evening. The news comes as much of Central Virginia is set to move to Phase 1B of the vaccination…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/albemarle-schools-to-stick-with-plan-to-re-evaluate-in-person-learning/article_4e8f6860-5792-11eb-a6e4-83af2ad8cde3.html">Albemarle schools to stick with plan to re-evaluate in-person learning
</a>Albemarle County Public Schools is sticking with a plan to look at COVID-19 data on Wednesday, Jan. 27 and decide whether to reopen in-person classes to some students. Teachers, parents and School Board members asked the division Wednesday for less back…

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/colonial-heights-back-to-virtual-learning-due-to-spike-in-covid-cases/">Colonial Heights back to virtual learning due to spike in COVID cases
</a>Colonial Heights Public Schools will be holding all classes virtually this week due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Colonial Heights in particular saw a large increase in coronavirus cases this week with their 7-day average of new cases per 100,000 people reaching over 100. The city’s…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/health/coronavirus/busted-budgets-smaller-school-districts-worried-about-sports-ticket-revenue-loss/">Busted budgets: Smaller school districts worried about sports ticket revenue loss
</a>It’s been more than a year since we’ve seen a high school football game, after the fall season both here in Virginia and North Carolina had to be cancelled because of COVID-19. There’s still hope a shortened season will begin in a few weeks, but for smaller schools, no football has…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/01/18/elon-elementary-to-temp-halt-on-site-learning-after-two-individuals-test-positive-for-covid-19/">Elon Elementary to temp. halt on-site learning after two individuals test positive for COVID-19
</a>Elon Elementary School is temporarily stopping all on-site instruction after two individuals within the school community have tested positive for COVID-19. According to the announcement Monday from Amherst County Public Schools, the building will reopen Monday, January 25…

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/back-to-school/some-franklin-county-students-set-to-return-to-classroom-starting-next-week/">Some Franklin County students set to return to classrooms starting next week
</a>Some students in Franklin County will be returning to in-person learning starting Jan. 26. In a Monday night meeting, the Franklin County School Board voted to allow Pre-K through seventh-grade students to return to the classroom four days a week. Some students in Franklin …

<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.