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<p><a href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/vsba_bullying_prevention_month/">October is VSBA Bullying Prevention Month</a><br>
In an effort to promote awareness of school bullying, the VSBA Board of Directors has designated the month of October as VSBA Bullying Prevention Month. Childhood bullying is a significant problem nationwide. It can cause school absenteeism, mental and physical stress…</p>

<p><a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings_conferences/vsba_annual_convention/">November 18-20, VSBA Virtual Annual Convention</a><br>
The VSBA Annual Convention is the largest and most anticipated VSBA meeting of the year. While this year our Annual Convention may look a little different, and we won't get to see your smiling faces in person, we hope you'll find our event schedule to be just as enriching and…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/2020/10/06/augusta-county-public-schools-remote-attendance-policy/3635431001/">Remote attendance policy discussed by Augusta County School Board</a><br>
Donna Wells raised a topic at last week's school board meeting that may be on the minds of both parents and students this year in Augusta County. The Beverley Manor representative on the Augusta County School Board asked about the school division's attendance policy this…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/virginia-beach/virginia-beach-school-board-to-discuss-in-person-learning-options/291-7148101b-a312-4778-932d-10b4cd68e2d7">Virginia Beach School Board to discuss in-person learning options</a><br>
Virginia Beach City Public Schools is looking to bring more students back into the classroom. Pre-k and kindergarten students, as well as first grade through sixth grade, and ninth graders have already returned to face-to-face learning. In a new email sent to parents on Tuesday, the…</p>

<p style="vertical-align:baseline;"><a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/lynchburg-students-return-to-school-for-hybrid-learning/collection_51f418f0-301a-5f31-8692-55b9b969c50f.html">Lynchburg students return to school for hybrid learning</a><br>
After beginning the school year in a completely remote instructional model, Lynchburg City Schools opened its doors to pre-K through second grade students Tuesday for the first time since schools were ordered to close amid the coronavirus pandemic in March. Last month…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://swvatoday.com/news/article_b9f37fa7-4d6e-5ffa-9465-ed9b489582d7.html">Washington County School Board moves up start date by 2 weeks</a><br>
Schools are now slated to open two weeks earlier than what was originally decided by the Washington County School Board. In the wake of parent and student protest and concern, the board has decided to implement its hybrid plan Oct. 12. The plan is a combination of in…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://richmond.com/community/mechanicsville-local/news/hcsb-agrees-to-consider-2-new-names-next-week/article_d0b61e0a-07de-11eb-9442-2fc3beab953f.html">HCSB agrees to consider 2 new names next week</a><br>
In an effort to conclude the renaming process and move forward, a press release from Hanover County Public Schools last week announced what may be the final chapter in the renaming saga. Following a workshop retreat session held by Hanover County School Board members…</p>

<p style="vertical-align:baseline;"><a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/parents-questioning-how-acps-selected-students-for-in-person-classes/article_a98dca1c-0838-11eb-a485-bb6cdecd5c1f.html">Parents questioning how ACPS selected students for in-person classes</a><br>
When the Albemarle County School Board voted to start the school year in Stage Two of its reopening plan, Bettina Stevens expected that her son, a third-grader at Mountain View Elementary with severe autism, would go to school. The division had said it would invite…</p>

<p style="vertical-align:baseline;"><a href="https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/2020/10/06/staunton-city-schools-earns-statewide-recognition-innovation/5896541002/">Staunton City Schools earns statewide recognition for innovation</a><br>
Staunton City Schools (SCS) was recently designated a "School Division of Innovation" by the Virginia Board of Education. The school division was one of just 15 school divisions in the state to earn the honor, a three-year designation. The schools were recognized for "designing and…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://www.cbs19news.com/story/42731207/seeking-public-comment-on-proposed-edits-to-history-standards">Seeking public comment on proposed edits to history standards</a><br>
Education officials are looking for public comment regarding edits to Virginia’s history standards. According to a release, the Virginia Board of Education wants to hear from the public about the edit recommended by the Commission on African-American History Education. The board will…</p>

<p style="vertical-align:baseline;"><a href="https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/roanoke-county-plans-to-offer-more-in-person-options-to-students/article_50196dff-aa7c-5011-914d-a990e8d483fc.html">Roanoke County plans to offer more in-person options to students</a><br>
Roanoke County Public Schools’ reopening plan will expand within the next month, paving the way for students to be in the classroom more often. Third grade students will be able to attend five days per week, fourth and fifth grade students with Individualized Education Plans who…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://heraldcourier.com/news/bristol-virginia-school-board-aproves-outreach-plan-for-struggling-virtual-learners/article_a95f4946-3657-5e92-816c-37f5943068bd.html">Bristol Virginia School Board approves outreach plan for struggling virtual learners</a><br>
The city School Board on Monday approved spending some federal CARES Act funding to expand outreach to students struggling in the virtual learning environment. About 30% of the city’s 2,100 students — more than 600 — remain at home in a virtual classroom, rather than…</p>

<p style="vertical-align:baseline;"><a href="http://www.alleghanyjournal.com/aj_article.php?ndx=22031&amp;fbclid=IwAR3CdNsIVJPrWVTAZ1uub-VCCSAIScYFEw1gLWlgMe7FpRlSFvaoLF7ClOQ">Callahan Named Acting Superintendent For Alleghany Co. Schools</a><br>
At a called meeting on October 5, 2020, the Alleghany County School Board appointed Sherman B. Callahan to serve as the division acting superintendent, effective October 5, 2020. Mr. Callahan currently serves as the Director of Elementary Instruction. Mr. Callahan received…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/10/07/years-of-understaffing-have-taken-a-toll-on-how-virginia-assists-local-school-divisions/">Years of understaffing have taken a toll on how Virginia oversees struggling local school divisions</a><br>
Staffing at the Virginia Department of Education is significantly lower than surrounding states in several key offices — and it’s taking a toll on the agency’s ability to help local school districts, including making sure that struggling systems meet state standards. It’s an issue that hasn’t…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2020/10/fairfax-county-teachers-union-again-calls-for-delay-in-restarting-in-person-learning/">Fairfax County teachers union again calls for delay in resuming in-person learning</a><br>
The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers has again asked Virginia’s largest school system to delay this month’s start of in-person learning. Fairfax County Public Schools said it’s ready to safely bring back special education students and English language learners — about 3.5% of…</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><a href="https://loudounnow.com/2020/10/06/diversity-effort-may-cut-loudouns-seats-at-thomas-jefferson-hs/">Diversity Effort May Cut Loudoun’s Seats at Thomas Jefferson HS</a><br>
As the Fairfax County School Board prepares to move to a lottery system for admission to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, fewer Loudoun students may be able to attend the magnet school starting next year. Meanwhile, Loudoun’s School Board this…</p>

<p style="vertical-align:baseline;"><a href="https://www.vsba.org/images/uploads/conferences/TitleIXP2Brochure.pdf">October 28, 2020, Title IX Best Practices in Training &amp; Compliance, Level 2 Training</a><br>
Registration is now open for the <strong>NEW</strong> VSBA Title IX Level 2 Workshop in conjunction with Sands Anderson PC. New Title IX Regulations went into effect in August and require training for staff people who fill several roles in the Title IX process, including Investigators and Decision…</p>
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