<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://roanoke.com/news/local/education/readying-for-second-semester-salem-implements-new-interventions-for-students/article_b2910620-5b52-11eb-ba56-9be467541d1b.html">Readying for second semester, Salem implements new interventions for students
</a>Salem City Schools is rolling out interventions aimed at providing additional support to students who are learning partially or fully virtual. With the second semester set to begin next week, educators are making a concerted effort to give students additional face-to-face opportunities…

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/montgomery-county-schools-to-allow-seventh-to-12th-graders-to-return-to-half-days/article_f39eac68-5ad4-11eb-bf21-6bd93dc42f42.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">Montgomery County schools to allow seventh to 12th-graders to return to half days
</a>Montgomery County Public Schools will return to a phase of instruction next week that will allow seventh to 12th-graders to return to the classroom. The measure, which the county’s School Board passed on a 5-1 vote Tuesday night, ends a phase level that the school district…

<a href="https://www.henricocitizen.com/articles/bill-to-give-vouchers-for-remote-only-students-fails-in-house/">Bill to give vouchers for remote-only students fails in House
</a>A House subcommittee rejected legislation on Friday that would provide financial vouchers to families of students within public-school districts that solely provide remote instruction. Del. Michael Webert, R-Marshall, filed HB 1742 to create a prorated voucher equal to school …

<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/20/feds-probe-fairfax-county-schools-in-person-learni/">Feds probe Fairfax County schools' in-person learning for students with disabilities
</a>The Department of Education has opened an investigation into allegations that Fairfax County Public Schools did not provide a “free appropriate public education” to students with disabilities and special needs during the coronavirus pandemic. The school system was notified last…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/01/20/she-is-one-of-us-virginia-educators-discuss-impacts-of-first-lady-jill-biden/">‘She is one of us’: Virginia educators discuss impacts of First Lady Jill Biden
</a>As President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris make history, another influential figure will be joining them. Dr. Jill Biden has spent her entire career focusing on education and plans to keep teaching as the First Lady of the United States. “Jill Biden is historic though…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/hampton/hampton-city-schools-to-start-vaccinating-some-staff-members/">Hampton City Schools to start vaccinating some staff members
</a>Some staff at Hampton City Schools will start being vaccinated over the next week. According to a school division spokeswoman, front-line city staff and high-priority school staff will begin to be vaccinated on Friday and next Tuesday. The update came during a return-to-learn plan…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/chesterfield-delays-teacher-vaccine-rollout-still-plans-to-bring-elementary-schoolers-back-feb-1/article_343833fc-f0b7-549b-b0e9-db01853d4cad.html">Chesterfield delays teacher vaccine rollout, still plans to bring elementary schoolers back Feb. 1
</a>Chesterfield County Public Schools is delaying its coronavirus vaccine rollout for teachers after receiving only 750 doses instead of an estimated 4,000 shots, schools Superintendent Merv Daugherty told staff in an email Tuesday afternoon. The school system was scheduled to…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/were-not-alone-central-virginia-community-works-to-support-high-school-seniors/article_7bb9a84c-2afb-57d9-9aa1-615ae7fcb9c6.html">'We're not alone': Central Virginia community works to support high school seniors
</a>The Central Virginia community is working to ensure the Class of 2021 feels supported and encouraged to get through this unusual senior year. Lena Ruhland, parent to a Brookville High School senior, created an "Adopt a Senior" Facebook page earlier this month to help connect…

<a href="https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2021/01/20/jenkins-education-bill-gets-committee-approval/">Jenkins education bill gets committee approval
</a>A bill from Suffolk delegate Clinton Jenkins that would require teachers to receive cultural competency training and for history and social science teachers to be trained on Black history  has cleared the House Education Committee. The bill, HB1904, now goes before the full…

<a href="https://www.dnronline.com/news/coronavirus/hcps-hosts-town-hall-on-covid-19-vaccines/article_c33b0d5a-c808-5118-a5ff-ffbb448740f7.html">HCPS Hosts Town Hall On COVID-19 Vaccines
</a>During a work session Tuesday, the Harrisonburg School Board, in conjunction with Superintendent Michael Richards, hosted a number of medical experts to answer questions from staff members about the two COVID-19 vaccines. In attendance virtually were Laura Lee…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/01/21/lynchburg-students-use-inauguration-as-a-teaching-lesson/">Lynchburg students use inauguration as a teaching lesson
</a>Watching the inauguration with their family, 2nd grader Dayquan Jones and 3rd grader Symphony Green had their eyes glued to the television, soaking in every detail they could. “We saw Biden. We saw Lady Gaga,” said Jones. “It had the flags, and then there were people all…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-schools-budget-proposal-includes-employee-raises-new-schools-mental-health-positions/article_ecbd9283-8694-599a-94f0-db5e40ed8396.html">Hanover schools budget proposal includes employee raises, new schools, mental health positions
</a>With an air of optimism, Hanover County schools Superintendent Michael Gill presented his proposed 2021-22 budget to the county’s School Board on Tuesday night, one that calls for a minimum salary increase of 2.5% for all employees and includes plans for at least two new…

<a href="https://richmond.com/sports/high-school/its-been-a-bumpy-ride-but-high-school-basketball-teams-are-continuing-to-play-through/article_125c353d-580f-530c-b7ff-e907694b9d0c.html">It's been a bumpy ride, but high school basketball teams are continuing to play through the pandemic
</a>After Monacan hosted Midlothian for a girls basketball game last week, Chiefs activities director Danny Parsons paced the stands, carrying a jug of sanitizer with a sprayer similar to what one might use to kill weeds in a garden. He disinfected every surface in sight. Monacan allowed…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/community/orangenews/news/schools-extend-all-virtual-learning-athletics-returned-monday/article_09e82aea-5a7f-11eb-a9c1-cf690c6f21cd.html">Schools extend all-virtual learning; athletics returned Monday
</a>Orange County Schools will extend virtual-only learning at least through the end of this month but returned to athletic practices and competitions Monday after a two-week break. A post to the school website Thursday read, “Orange County Public Schools will extend virtual learning to…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/recognition/employer-commendation-program/">VSBA Employer Commendation Submissions Open Now
</a>Would you like to thank your employer for supporting you and your work as a school board member? Every January, the VSBA Employer Commendation Program provides school board members with the opportunity to thank their employers for providing the support and/or…