<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/webinars/live-webinars/">December 9 &amp; 10, Two Part Insights for Budget Basics &amp; Finance 101
</a>Virginia public school budgeting will be discussed, including roles of elected officials, fiduciary requirements, stakeholders, and budget reports. Revenue categories will be explained, including state formulas, federal funding, local funding, and tax rates. Reserve your webinar…

<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I0sfqzbyCgllb-DwQV0XhzPAO_xP8ayx/view">The Show Must Go On
</a>Senior Spencer Gallon can clearly remember when curtains closed on Turner Ashby High School’s musical production of “Hello, Dolly!” mere weeks before COVID-19 was a household name. As he looks to his last high school musical experience with the same virus limiting the…

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-virginia-beach-reopening-20201202-ts7224pknbetpbcoxnrv3nehy4-story.html">1,200 special education students are back in Virginia Beach classrooms amid coronavirus spike
</a>Some 1,200 students with special needs returned for in-person learning Tuesday, the first batch of children to come back to Virginia Beach public schools since coronavirus cases spiked throughout the region two weeks ago. And that group will likely remain in person moving…

<a href="https://starexponent.com/news/culpeper-parents-with-child-care-costs-due-to-pandemic-may-apply-for-grants/article_9c13fc89-56ce-5ce3-a026-46654b42eaf9.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">Culpeper parents with child care costs due to pandemic may apply for grants
</a>Parents and legal guardians residing in Culpeper with children in kindergarten through 8th grade may qualify to receive pandemic-related financial assistance. The county on Wednesday morning released more information about the new, “Childcare/Workforce Relief” grant…

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/in-person-return-to-classrooms-will-continue-in-prince-william-county-for-now/article_68b40976-351e-11eb-a02d-e3cfcc0619e6.html">In-person return to classrooms will continue in Prince William County, for now
</a>After a review of COVID-19 metrics across the region, Prince William County Schools Superintendent Steve Walts told the school board Wednesday he’s not recommending any changes to the division's plan to bring students back into classrooms. About 3,000 county…

<a href="https://www.breezejmu.org/news/african-american-history-elective-proposed-to-rockingham-schools/article_b6bbca48-34ef-11eb-ab7a-17b36ce08ac3.html">African American history elective proposed to Rockingham schools
</a>Rockingham High School students may see a new African American history class on the horizon. The Rockingham County School Board met Nov. 23 to discuss a list of additional classes to add to next year’s curriculum, including the new history class. Oskar Scheikl…

<a href="https://godanriver.com/news/local/education/danville-public-schools-and-pittsylvania-county-schools-confirm-new-covid-19-cases/article_e74cb81c-eac1-5c09-b5a1-d4ce33037d98.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">Danville Public Schools and Pittsylvania County Schools confirm new COVID-19 cases
</a>Both Danville Public Schools and Pittsylvania County Schools confirmed new cases of COVID-19 within their respective school systems Tuesday. The city schools learned of positive tests for one student at Grove Park Preschool, one student at Galileo Magnet High School, a student…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/12/02/high-school-sports-unlikely-to-start-in-roanoke-county-next-week/">High school sports unlikely to start in Roanoke County next week
</a>High school winter sports are slated to start Monday, but it seems unlikely that will be the case in the Roanoke Valley. Because the area still has a high transmission of COVID-19, school leaders say contact sports could be risky. “So, according to our criteria, we have to get down to…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/hampton/hampton-superintendent-wins-2020-mary-peake-award-for-excellence-in-education-equity/">Hampton Superintendent wins 2020 Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity
</a>Hampton City School’s Superintendent Dr. Jeffery Smith was selected as the recipient of the 2020 Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity in the school leader category on Thursday. The Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity features individuals and…

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/central-virginia-high-school-students-discuss-breaking-the-cycle-of-prejudice">Central Virginia High School students discuss breaking the cycle of prejudice
</a>Nearly 100 high school students and educators met online Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss ways to end the cycle of prejudice in communities. The 11th annual Diversity Dialogue Day, put on by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, brought students and educators together…

<a href="https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/a-teachers-union-is-urging-governor-northam-to-close-va-schools-until-the-state-has-covid-19-under-control/">A teachers union is urging Governor Northam to close VA schools “until the state has COVID-19 under control”
</a>The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers Union (FCFT) is pushing back against FCPS and the state to delay the return to in-person instruction until “until the state has COVID-19 under control.” According to FCFT, the positivity rate within the county is two times more than New…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/vdoe-releases-recommendations-to-achieve-equity/article_5862f079-90ff-5c6e-843f-be8a43c15800.html">VDOE releases recommendations to achieve equity
</a>State education leaders are calling for greater teacher diversity and decreases in disproportionate rates of Black student suspensions in the Virginia Department of Education’s latest recommendations to address equity. The department is hosting a symposium this week…

<a href="https://www.cbs19news.com/story/43004005/new-virginia-laws-seek-to-close-school-to-prison-pipeline">New Virginia laws seek to close ‘school-to-prison pipeline’
</a>The near future of in-person schooling is uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Virginia students will return to a system where several penalties for misbehavior have been taken off the table. Two new laws seek to stop criminal punishments in elementary, middle and secondary…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/12/03/bedford-county-public-schools-announces-interim-superintendent/">Bedford County Public Schools announces interim superintendent
</a>The Bedford County School Board has appointed an interim superintendent. Dr. Julia Rogers will serve beginning January 4. Rogers is a retired secondary English teacher, principal, director of instruction and assistant superintendent for instruction and human resources. She has an…

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/virtual-learning-a-mixed-bag-for-special-education-students-teachers">Virtual learning a mixed bag for special education students, teachers
</a>Sebastian and Gabriel Saxon wake up at the same time every day and log into online classes. Sebastian has Cerebral palsy and is diagnosed with autism. Gabriel has hearing loss and wears hearing aids. The twins’ mother, Judi Saxon, said that Google Meet, the platform used to…

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/local-news/lynchburg-central-virginia-news/campbell-county-public-schools-plans-underway-to-return-to-vhsl-competition/">Campbell County Public Schools’ plans underway to return to VHSL competition
</a>Campbell County Public Schools announced Thursday that plans are underway to return to Virginia High School League (VHSL) competition amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to the school district’s statement released on Thursday, Dec. 3, Campbell County students and…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/community/community-service/high-schoolers-collect-nearly-400-cans-of-food-for-isle-of-wight-outreach-program/">High schoolers collect nearly 400 cans of food for Isle of Wight outreach program
</a>Smithfield High School students were busy from mid to late-November hosting a canned goods drive for a food pantry in Isle of Wight. Officials with the school say the participating students were with Smithfield’s National Honor Society. The drive was held from November 9 until…

<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…

<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…

<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>