<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.progress-index.com/story/news/2021/07/30/hopewell-reports-six-covid-positive-students-first-week-school/5431891001/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopewell says six student COVID cases are from community, not classroom transmission</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The school system says six students who have tested positive for COVID-19 less than a week into the balanced calendar school year apparently contracted the virus from sources outside of the classroom. Three of the six cases were reported at Harry E. James Elementary School in…</span>

<a href="https://richmondmagazine.com/news/education/schools-back-in-session/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">School’s Back in Session</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reaching another milestone in the slow return to normalcy, students across the region will be going back to school in the coming weeks — for some, it’ll be their first time in a classroom in more than a year. After Gov. Ralph Northam called on Virginia’s school districts to begin…</span>

<a href="https://heraldcourier.com/news/washington-county-virginia-school-board-to-leave-fleenors-seat-vacant-for-now/article_701c7ee2-f408-11eb-ba3b-5f695cc36bac.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Washington County, Virginia School Board to leave Fleenor's seat vacant for now</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Members of the Washington County School Board decided Monday night to leave former member Terry Fleenor’s seat vacant – for now. Fleenor resigned effective July 31 following a contentious school board meeting July 19, when dozens of people spoke on possible policy…</span>

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/charlottesville-schools-stay-with-indoor-mask-requirement/article_ce8085de-f3bb-11eb-b897-6f9136644e37.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Charlottesville schools stay with indoor mask requirement</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Charlottesville school division will require that all students and staff wear a mask when inside to start the school year. The division’s announcement Monday comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended universal indoor masking for all teachers…</span>

<a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/virginia-beach-schools-covid/291-9c89ad73-fc26-420d-9edb-f5514311800a"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Individuals test positive for COVID-19, affect four Virginia Beach City Public School facilities</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Virginia Beach City Public Schools announced Monday that individuals visited four of their facilities last week who have since tested positive for COVID-19. According to the district's COVID-19 dashboard, individuals who have tested positive were at First Colonial High…</span>

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/02/henry-county-public-schools-host-new-teacher-orientation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Henry County Public Schools host new-teacher orientation</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">After hosting new-teacher orientation by way of a virtual conference in 2020, 50 new Henry County Public School teachers will be at Bassett High this week preparing for the school year. “I’m talking with them about social emotional learning and effective practice, so they feel…</span>

<a href="https://www.nbc29.com/2021/08/02/african-american-teaching-fellows-adds-more-people-their-program/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">African American Teaching Fellows adds more people to their program</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The African American Teaching Fellows says for every 122 students in the Charlottesville area there is only one teacher of color. AATF is bringing seven new people into its program to help turn this around. “It was not unusual for students to navigate their educational journey from…</span>

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmond-school-board-approves-plan-for-federal-relief-spending-changes-to-high-school-bell-schedule/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richmond school board approves plan for federal relief spending, changes to high school bell schedule</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Richmond School Board met on Monday night, discussing topics including how the district will spend hundreds of millions of dollars in federal COVID relief funding, a change to the high school schedule and the ongoing George Wythe High School reconstruction efforts. The…</span>

<a href="https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/education/fredericksburg-public-schools-will-require-masks-inside/article_ca1abb76-2b1c-5ad0-921b-982b4ff1debd.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fredericksburg public schools will require masks inside</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fredericksburg City Public Schools will require students in all grades, as well as staff and visitors, to wear masks while in school buildings and on school buses this school year. “We’re going to begin the year with universal masking,” Deputy Superintendent Matt Eberhardt said…</span>

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/dp-nw-lee-hall-cox1-profile-20210802-qattdd6pvfethffyh4y4l2lwha-story.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For two generations at a Newport News elementary school, what does a name change mean?</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">In her first year as principal of Lee Hall Elementary, Raquel Cox had face masks for her school, black cloth stitched with “#LeeHallLegacy.” They’re the Engineers — a reference to the old Lee Hall train depot down the street, in turn named for the mansion used as a Confederate…</span>

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/07/31/cave-spring-high-school-holds-open-house-class-2000-unwraps-time-capsule/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cave Spring High School holds open house, class of 2000 unwraps time capsule</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cave Spring High School held its first open house Saturday, giving alumni and the community an inside look of its halls. This was the first time many say they came back to visit their alma mater after its renovations. “And it just, I think it’s just a really good feeling to look back on...</span>

<a href="http://vsbalegislativeupdate.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">VSBA Legislative Update Blog- Stay Up to Date on the General Assembly Special Session</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stay tuned for the latest updates out of the latest updates from the special session by visiting the VSBA Legislative Update Blog. If you have questions about the special session be sure to reach out to VSBA Government Relations Specialist, J.T. Kessler. </span>