<a href="https://www.vsba.org/news/new-collective-bargaining-service/">New Collective Bargaining Service</a>
In association with Haney Phinyowattanachip PLLC, VSBA is pleased to offer services related to the collective bargaining process. Services would be tailored to the specific circumstances of each school division and may include providing input on the required and recommended…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/budget-training/">2021 Budget Workshop, May 6, 2021
</a>Join us for the VSBA’s Budget Training workshop to learn more about the importance of The Board’s Role in Developing the School Budget. In this virtual workshop, based on member requests, board members will learn their role in the budget process and how it relates to the…

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/botetourt-supervisors-approve-65-2-million-schools-budget/article_db427d1c-a79a-11eb-97ef-b7f0cf4b26f2.html">Botetourt supervisors approve $65.2 million schools budget
</a>The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors, with no questions and no discussion, on Tuesday unanimously approved the county school division’s budget. The $65.2 million budget, which will cover the 2021-22 fiscal year, includes an average 5% raise for teachers, nine new jobs…

<a href="https://shoredailynews.com/headlines/accomack-schools-schedule-drive-in-graduation-ceremonies/">Accomack Schools Schedules Outdoor Graduation Ceremonies
</a>Another step towards normal is in the works. Accomack County Public Schools announced Tuesday it will be conducting a formal graduation ceremony, but outdoors. According to School Superintendent Chris Holland, the ceremonies will be held on the schools football fields with…

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/biden-to-propose-free-preschool-as-speech-details-emerge/article_5f3d50ba-ba62-5332-bfc6-850dbb3d9160.html">Biden to propose free preschool, as speech details emerge
</a>President Joe Biden will call for free preschool for all three- and four-year-old children, a $200 billion investment to be rolled out as part of his sweeping American Families Plan being unveiled Wednesday in an address to Congress. The administration said the historic …

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/04/28/in-the-aftermath-of-multiple-shootings-roanoke-schools-highlight-counseling/">In aftermath of multiple shootings, Roanoke schools highlight counseling</a>
One day after multiple shootings involving teenagers in the Star City, Roanoke City Public Schools is reminding students a counselor is always there. “We want to make sure our students’ needs are being met,” said Assistant Superintendent Haley Poland. Tuesday, the district said…

<a href="https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/thomas-jefferson-high-school-ranked-1-in-the-nation/">Thomas Jefferson High School ranked #1 in the nation
</a>Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) was ranked the number one school nationwide in the U.S. News Best High Schools report. TJ made the top of the list followed by 11 other Fairfax County Public Schools making the top 1,000. The report ranked…

<a href="https://www.thecarrollnews.com/news/8117/trans-policy-questioned">Carroll School Board asked to weigh in on transgender bathroom policy
</a>Carroll County’s School Board was urged to not just do what is required at its April 13 meeting in regards to transgender students’ rights versus the rights of cisgender (students identifying with their birth sex). During the portion of the agenda for public comment, Hillsville…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/funding-for-school-modernization-possible-with-u-s-aid-packages-virginia-awaits-money-and-rules/article_c476eb92-d7bd-55fc-8345-1b8c61fe6b44.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">Funding for school modernization possible with U.S. aid packages; Virginia awaits money and rules
</a>Gov. Ralph Northam is awaiting federal guidance on whether Virginia can use some of the estimated $6.8 billion coming to the state and local governments from the American Rescue Plan Act to make a “generational investment” in renovating or replacing public school …

<a href="https://www.c-ville.com/logged-on">Albemarle County announces new all-virtual school
</a>It’s been over a year since the coronavirus forced local schools to shut their doors and teach thousands of students online. Thanks to a significant drop in COVID cases and the arrival of the vaccine, many students and teachers have returned to the classroom, with health and safety…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/04/27/virginia-teacher-shortage-getting-worse-vdoe-trying-new-recruitment-effort/">Virginia teacher shortage getting worse, VDOE trying new recruitment effort
</a>There’s a big teacher shortage across the country and the pandemic has only made it worse, according to the Virginia Department of Education. The latest data from VDOE showed that there were more than 1,000 openings across the Commonwealth. That number has only gone…

<a href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/04/28/black-and-low-income-students-are-underrepresented-in-virginia-ap-classes-report-finds/">Black and low-income students are underrepresented in Virginia AP classes, report finds
</a>Black high school students in Virginia are sharply underrepresented in Advanced Placement courses even when they’re not low-income — and even when they attend advantaged, largely homogeneous schools, a new report says. The same findings don’t hold true for other student…

<a href="https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/superintendent-urges-city-council-to-help-fund-5-raise-for-wps-staff/article_401a2999-9953-5b60-8e12-994325f18086.html">Superintendent urges City Council to help fund 5% raise for WPS staff
</a>Winchester Public Schools Superintendent Jason Van Heukelum is urging City Council to provide the division with enough funding to give its school staff a 5% pay raise. This follows Frederick County School Board's budget adoption last week, which gives FCPS staff an…

<a href="https://www.dailypress.com/news/education/dp-nw-hampton-school-renaming-20210428-2zqkl6urzjcstjw52eftkigonq-story.html">Hampton set to rename 5 schools named for slave owners, Confederates and segregationists
</a>On Nov. 11, 1929, former Phoebus officer Emil Umlauf and Annie Whitehead were married in New York. A few days later, they were arrested in Phoebus for it. Umlauf was white. Whitehead was Black. Virginia law banned interracial marriage. On April 23, 1930, they appeared before…

<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-UPreo8YTx23kZZ5zURj7G9CUPMS5FCu/view">STEM Day Brings Feeling Of Normalcy To Fulks Run Students
</a>It may sound like a little thing, but getting to move about the school was a huge deal for fifth-grader Hannah Manetta on Tuesday at Fulks Run Elementary School. Most of this year has been spent in the same classroom or classrooms in an effort to comply with all mitigation…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-and-regional/falls-church-renames-schools-that-honored-mason-and-jefferson/article_13292395-f9df-5219-bc67-5d8ec1445ee8.html">Falls Church renames schools that honored Mason and Jefferson
</a>The northern Virginia city of Falls Church has renamed schools honoring Thomas Jefferson and George Mason, founding fathers who also owned slaves. Instead of honoring the nation's third president, Thomas Jefferson Elementary will now be known as Oak Street Elementary. The…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/services/vsba-school-board-news-podcast/">VSBA: School Board News Podcast, Episode 33- Takeaways from the 2021 General Session
</a>In the newest episode of VSBA School Board News, executive director, Gina Patterson is joined by VSBA Government Relations Specialist, J.T. Kessler to debrief and discuss the 2021 General Session. Listen in on the conversation to hear the important information that came…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/competitions-and-challenges/studentessaycontest/">First Annual VSBA Student Essay Contest, Deadline May 1
</a>The Virginia School Boards Association is holding a personal essay/speaking contest where the winner will have an opportunity to present before an audience of more than 300 school board members and administrators at the 2021 Virtual VSBA Conference on Education held July 20…