<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.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-dan-edwards-school-board-20201216-2lv556qyczdu3js7oncssji2ry-story.html">After 22 years, a Virginia Beach school board member signs off with cookies and a thank you from the governor
</a>With special nods from Gov. Ralph Northam, Mayor Bobby Dyer and Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, Virginia Beach School Board member Dan Edwards wrapped up his last meeting Tuesday night after more than two decades on the body. Edwards, who won his first election…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2020/12/17/louisa-co-schools-receive-k-help-start-cybersecurity-program/">Louisa Co. schools to receive $100K to help start cybersecurity program
</a>Louisa County Public Schools will receive $100,000 after becoming one of five finalists in the U.S. Department of Education’s Rural Tech Project. The project is an effort to “advance technology education, support rural educators, and prepare students for the careers of today…

<a href="https://www.gazettejournal.net/school-board-recognizes-media-business-honor-roll-recipients/">School board recognizes media, business honor roll recipients
</a>The Gloucester County School Board named Gazette-Journal reporter Kim Robins to the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2020 Media Honor Roll. The board also named WXGM radio to the Media Honor Roll. The Media Honor Roll certificate presented to Robins at the…

<a href="https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/lcps-announces-interim-superintendent/">LCPS announces interim superintendent
</a>The Loudoun County School Board has announced Dr. Scott A. Ziegler as the Interim Superintendent for LCPS, effective January 1. Dr. Ziegler has been with LCPS since December of last year, serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Talent…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2020/12/17/superintendent-kamras-details-how-school-district-will-handle-snow-days/">Superintendent Kamras details how school district will handle snow days
</a>Superintendent Jason Kamras details how the school district will handle snow days amid virtual learning. “No child should be required to hop on screen for several hours of virtual classes with an empty stomach,” Kamras said in a statement. Kamras says the rule the district will follow…

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-norfolk-vote-return-metrics-20201217-hkfe3lc6bjgrhmc5jf33tuvr2q-story.html">Norfolk schools relax rules for bringing students back to the classroom. When that will happen is still unclear.
</a>The Norfolk School Board has relaxed its standards for when students will return to classrooms in person. The plan remains tied to the key health metrics that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend districts consider, such as the number of new cases per…

<a href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/12/17/some-local-health-districts-have-urged-schools-to-close-but-that-advice-isnt-always-being-shared-publicly/">Some health officials have urged schools to close. But that advice isn’t always being shared publicly.
</a>Kathryn Brown, an elementary school teacher in Waynesboro, was initially puzzled when she noticed other local schools transitioning back to online learning after Thanksgiving break. “Rockbridge County, for example, announced they were switching to a virtual model,” Brown…

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/culpeper/culpeper-school-board-opts-against-providing-the-public-a-weekly-covid-19-report/article_58fd213e-3e74-11eb-997e-9394f4330260.html">Culpeper School Board opts against providing the public a weekly COVID-19 report
</a>An attempt to have Culpeper County Public Schools release a weekly coronavirus rundown to the public failed during a Dec. 14 school board meeting. As the meeting began, board member Barbara Brown suggested an agenda amendment to include a vote whether the school…

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/local/roanoke-county-urges-lawmakers-fund-broadband-education/article_9b4c8cdc-3fdc-11eb-9c9a-77e30010d5f2.html">Roanoke County urges lawmakers fund broadband, education
</a>Roanoke County has approved its 2021 legislative agenda, listing political priorities and positions to send the Virginia General Assembly ahead of the state’s January lawmaking session. A legislative agenda is approved by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/northams-budget-plan-protects-school-funding-pushes-teacher-pay-raises-and-adds-to-cash-reserve/article_e7ed7af1-fa94-5ccc-a525-642f74f532dc.html">Northam's budget plan protects school funding, pushes teacher pay raises and adds to cash reserve
</a>Gov. Ralph Northam would spare public schools the loss of more than a half-billion dollars from a drop in enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic under the new two-year budget he proposed on Wednesday, nine months after the public health emergency began. Northam’s…

<a href="https://richmond.com/sports/high-school/hanover-schools-to-start-playing-winter-sports-jan-4-prep-league-lis-delayed-until-january/article_7955b833-447a-5e34-8b0e-c2551ed8e705.html">Hanover schools to start playing winter sports Jan. 4; Prep League, LIS delayed until January
</a>Hanover County Public Schools gave the OK to start high school winter sports on Jan. 4, but its schools will only compete against each other during the shortened regular season. Petersburg, on the other hand, joined the list of schools that have canceled winter sports. Its school board…

<a href="https://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/articles/during-covid-spike-student-athletes-return-to-practices/">During COVID spike, Chesterfield student athletes return to practices
</a>Monacan High School’s girls basketball team was preparing to face Hampton in the Class 4 state championship game March 13 when Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in response to the growing threat from COVID-19. Schools across the…

<a href="https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/clarke-school-board-declines-to-cancel-wrestling-season/article_c26ecfb0-d3bf-5719-83f8-f4317d367a08.html">Clarke School Board declines to cancel wrestling season
</a>The Clarke County wrestling team took its first step toward having a season on Monday night. The School Board for Clarke County Public Schools will re-evaluate whether to go ahead with a winter sports season when the division returns from winter break on Jan. 4 (no winter sports…

<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia/articles/2020-12-16/governors-proposed-budget-restores-many-earlier-covid-cuts">Governor's Proposed Budget Restores Many Earlier COVID Cuts
</a>Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam outlined his proposed amendments to the two-year state budget Wednesday, presenting a plan that includes hundreds of millions on the pandemic response and restores Democratic priorities put on hold in the spring over economic uncertainty…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/services/board-training-development/new-virginia-freedom-of-information-foia-training/">NEW- Virginia Freedom of Information (FOIA) Training
</a>The requirements of FOIA impact every school board meeting, from initial notice of the meeting to what must be included in the minutes. Board members’ thorough familiarity with FOIA helps school board meetings flow smoothly and shows the community that the board is committed…

<em>Missed the Virtual VSBA Annual Convention? It is not too late to register to gain access to over 35 hours of educational content. Contact your school board clerk for more information. </em>