<a href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/coronavirus_covid_19/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/coronavirus_covid_19/">VSBA Resources related to COVID-19 </a>
Visit the dedicated Coronavirus resource page on the VSBA website to see the latest updates and resources.

<a href="http://vsbalegislativeupdate.blogspot.com/" data-cke-saved-href="http://vsbalegislativeupdate.blogspot.com/">VSBA Legislative Update Blog: Special Session Action Alert! Oppose SB 5004</a>
SB 5004 (Kiggans) would require local school boards to employ at least one full time registered nurse in each elementary, middle, and high school in their divisions. This legislation is a significant human resource and financial burden on local school boards…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings_conferences/legislative_advocacy_conference/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings_conferences/legislative_advocacy_conference/">September 24,2020 VSBA Legislative Advocacy Conference </a>
Now, more than ever, school board member voices need to be heard! The stakes for public education have never been greater and school board members must be prepared to advocate effectively for public schools. Join VSBA at our 2020 Legislative Advocacy Conference.…

<a href="https://www.gazettejournal.net/gloucester-board-gets-remote-learning-update/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.gazettejournal.net/gloucester-board-gets-remote-learning-update/">Gloucester board gets remote learning update</a>
The Gloucester County School Board heard an update Tuesday on the school division’s “GCPS Learns Anywhere” remote learning framework that will be in place this fall. This was the first in-person meeting the board has held since April. Six members attended the meeting in the T.C…

<a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/hampton-city-schools-teachers-talk-about-instructing-virtually-from-empty-classrooms/291-b4657980-ddad-4c89-8a31-3a7efc33f6c2" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/hampton-city-schools-teachers-talk-about-instructing-virtually-from-empty-classrooms/291-b4657980-ddad-4c89-8a31-3a7efc33f6c2">Hampton City Schools teachers talk about instructing virtually from empty classrooms</a>
Different districts and divisions have plans for the first quarter of the new school year. Hampton City Public Schools board members voted to have teachers instruct virtually, from inside their classrooms, at least three days a week. 13News Now spoke with teachers on the decision…

<a href="https://www.nbc29.com/2020/08/19/nelson-co-public-schools-goes-virtual-first-eight-weeks/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.nbc29.com/2020/08/19/nelson-co-public-schools-goes-virtual-first-eight-weeks/">Nelson Co. Public Schools goes virtual for first eight weeks</a>
A sign outside Tye River Elementary says all visitors must check into the front office. But for this school, and others in Nelson County, that won’t happen for a while. “We will be 100% virtual for the start of school, and we start school on Monday,” Janell Stinnett, director of secondary…

<a href="http://www.wboc.com/story/42523265/state-superintendent-announces-expansion-of-virtual-virginia-online-learning-system" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.wboc.com/story/42523265/state-superintendent-announces-expansion-of-virtual-virginia-online-learning-system">State Superintendent Announces Expansion of 'Virtual Virginia' Online Learning System</a>
Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane announced today announced Thursday that every teacher in the commonwealth’s public schools will be able to host virtual classes on the Virginia Department of Education’s Virtual Virginia online learning system throughout the…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/08/20/craig-county-needs-school-supplies-as-students-prepare-for-in-person-and-virtual-learning/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/08/20/craig-county-needs-school-supplies-as-students-prepare-for-in-person-and-virtual-learning/">Craig County needs school supplies as students prepare for in-person and virtual learning</a>
Craig County Public Schools has pushed back its first day of school from Aug. 24 to Aug. 31. That first week will be a “soft opening” to ease teachers, students and parents into the new way of doing things. Superintendent Jeanette Warwick spoke to WDBJ7 inside the administration…

<a href="https://www.whsv.com/2020/08/19/waynesboro-public-schools-releases-community-survey-on-virtual-learning/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.whsv.com/2020/08/19/waynesboro-public-schools-releases-community-survey-on-virtual-learning/">Waynesboro Public Schools releases community survey on virtual learning</a>
Waynesboro Public Schools released the results of their community survey regarding virtual learning. It showed that families were mostly wondering how instruction and participation would work. Some of the concerns addressed were that students who do not learn well online will…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/virginia-beach/vb-public-schools-hosts-zoom-initiative-vbsafetogether-being-safe-learning-together-in-the-classroom/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/virginia-beach/vb-public-schools-hosts-zoom-initiative-vbsafetogether-being-safe-learning-together-in-the-classroom/">VB Public Schools hosts Zoom initiative: ‘#VBSafeTogether — Being Safe Learning Together in the Classroom’</a>
Virginia Beach City Public Schools is hosting its third Zoom call tonight as part of the “#VBSafeTogether — Being Safe Learning Together in the Classroom” five part series initiative. The Thursday night session will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and focus on providing additional…

<a href="https://vpm.org/news/articles/15839/beyond-band-aids-bill-calls-for-nurses-in-every-public-school" data-cke-saved-href="https://vpm.org/news/articles/15839/beyond-band-aids-bill-calls-for-nurses-in-every-public-school">‘Beyond Band-Aids’: Bill Calls for Nurses in Every Public School</a>
A proposal to get nurses on every public school campus in Virginia passed its first hurdle Wednesday. Lawmakers and advocates say nurses play a crucial role to keep students safe in the coronavirus pandemic. The bill is being proposed by Sen. Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia Beach)…

<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/some-culpeper-students-return-to-school-in-person" data-cke-saved-href="https://wjla.com/news/local/some-culpeper-students-return-to-school-in-person">'It's not safe for us:' Some Culpeper students return to school in person, others opt out</a>
Culpeper freshman Ximena Hernandez knows Latinos are more susceptible to getting COVID-19, so this school year she is opting to learn virtually. “Personally, it’s not really safe for us," said Hernandez. “I have two younger siblings so going back to school for them is harder because…

<a href="https://www.loudountimes.com/news/more-loudoun-county-public-schools-aims-to-expand-exceptions-to-distance-learning/article_27f4a1f4-e1c5-11ea-a2f6-238fb1d774fa.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.loudountimes.com/news/more-loudoun-county-public-schools-aims-to-expand-exceptions-to-distance-learning/article_27f4a1f4-e1c5-11ea-a2f6-238fb1d774fa.html">Loudoun County Public Schools aims to expand exceptions to distance learning</a>
The Loudoun County School Board during its Tuesday meeting voted to direct Loudoun County Public Schools staff to work toward part-time in-person learning for select special-education students on Oct. 13, as well as certain English-learning students and preschoolers by Oct. 27…

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/back-to-school/roanoke-city-public-schools-to-hold-drive-thru-back-to-school-extravaganza-on-aug-29/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/back-to-school/roanoke-city-public-schools-to-hold-drive-thru-back-to-school-extravaganza-on-aug-29/">Roanoke City Public Schools to hold drive-thru ‘Back to School Extravaganza’ on Aug. 29</a>
With Roanoke students less than two weeks away from returning to the classroom — virtually, that is — Roanoke City Public Schools is helping students prepare for the new year by hosting a “Back to School Extravaganza” next weekend. For students in need of school supplies, they…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/community/greenenews/news/schools-adopt-stricter-mask-policy/article_2b53e2c8-e185-11ea-817d-3f867d167195.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://dailyprogress.com/community/greenenews/news/schools-adopt-stricter-mask-policy/article_2b53e2c8-e185-11ea-817d-3f867d167195.html">Schools adopt stricter mask policy</a>
The Greene County School Board approved a stricter mask-wearing policy for in-person learners at its Aug. 12 meeting, in alignment with recently released guidance from the Thomas Jefferson Health District (TJHD). “We are here once again tonight having been on a long road…

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/08/20/wythe-co-schools-delay-start-will-begin-virtually/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/08/20/wythe-co-schools-delay-start-will-begin-virtually/">Wythe Co. Schools delays start, will begin virtually</a>
In Wythe County, the start of school has been pushed back, and students will now begin the year all virtually. After a unanimous vote last Thursday, the start of school also got delayed until Sept. 8. It was a tough decision for Wythe County Public Schools to go 100-percent virtual…

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/hanover-school-system-confirms-2-students-test-positive-for-covid-19-county-still-plans-for/article_ee1e0c8a-196b-54c3-a944-b89e09534150.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" data-cke-saved-href="https://richmond.com/news/local/hanover-school-system-confirms-2-students-test-positive-for-covid-19-county-still-plans-for/article_ee1e0c8a-196b-54c3-a944-b89e09534150.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">Hanover school system confirms 2 students test positive for COVID-19; County still plans for in-person learning</a>
With less than three weeks before the start of its school year, Hanover County Schools has confirmed that two students have tested positive for COVID-19. On Wednesday, school division spokesman Chris Whitley said employees and families were recently notified of potential…

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/news/education/prince_william/prince-william-schools-prepare-in-person-instruction-for-nearly-1-900-students/article_44f27916-e288-11ea-972d-6fc355f1f839.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.insidenova.com/news/education/prince_william/prince-william-schools-prepare-in-person-instruction-for-nearly-1-900-students/article_44f27916-e288-11ea-972d-6fc355f1f839.html">Prince William schools prepare in-person instruction for nearly 1,900 students</a>
Facing new COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, Prince William County Public Schools plans to offer in-person instruction for about 1,894 students starting Sept. 8. Superintendent Steve Walts told the school board Wednesday the division is preparing to provide four days of in-person…

<a href="https://www.henricocitizen.com/articles/heres-how-virginia-school-systems-are-planning-to-reopen/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.henricocitizen.com/articles/heres-how-virginia-school-systems-are-planning-to-reopen/">Here’s how Virginia school systems are planning to reopen</a>
The Virginia Department of Education has created an interactive map that shows how each public school system in Virginia is planning to reopen. According to the VDOE, all school systems have offered the option for students to learn in a fully virtual mode if they choose…

<a href="https://richmond.com/community/powhatan-today/powhatan-county-public-schools-continues-to-offer-return-to-learning-updates/article_ef950034-e2fe-11ea-ab44-9f860e80447c.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://richmond.com/community/powhatan-today/powhatan-county-public-schools-continues-to-offer-return-to-learning-updates/article_ef950034-e2fe-11ea-ab44-9f860e80447c.html">Powhatan County Public Schools continues to offer return to learning updates</a>
With less than a week to go before Powhatan County Public Schools starts the 2020-2021 school year, new details continue to emerge about what families can expect when classes resume. During the school board’s meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, Dr. Eric Jones…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/richmond-officials-want-to-know-what-parents-need-to-make-online-schooling-work/article_6e072305-9507-50b4-b096-427b1f6a4ced.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/richmond-officials-want-to-know-what-parents-need-to-make-online-schooling-work/article_6e072305-9507-50b4-b096-427b1f6a4ced.html">Richmond officials want to know what parents need to make online schooling work</a>
Mayor Levar Stoney asked Wednesday that city residents with school-age children take an online survey to indicate what kind of help they will need this fall as education is conducted remotely. Businesses are beginning to reopen, but students in Richmond Public Schools will…

<a href="https://www.nbc29.com/2020/08/20/acps-homeless-program-keeping-up-with-students-no-matter-where-theyre-living/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.nbc29.com/2020/08/20/acps-homeless-program-keeping-up-with-students-no-matter-where-theyre-living/">ACPS homeless program keeping up with students no matter where they’re living</a>
Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) has 300 to 400 homeless children in its Families in Crisis Program, and now it is working to make sure those students can keep up with the virtual learning model. “There’s definitely anticipation of an increase in homelessness in our area…

<a href="https://www.whsv.com/2020/08/20/plains-elementary-transforms-cafeteria-into-pre-k-classroom-to-accommodate-social-distancing-guidelines/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.whsv.com/2020/08/20/plains-elementary-transforms-cafeteria-into-pre-k-classroom-to-accommodate-social-distancing-guidelines/">Plains Elementary transforms cafeteria into pre-K classroom to accommodate social distancing guidelines</a>
Teachers have had to get creative to make sure young students heading back to school for in-person instruction are safe. Rockingham County Public Schools will be welcoming back pre-K, kindergarten and first grade in just a few weeks. The first challenge teachers at Plains…

<a href="https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7202037965473544718" data-cke-saved-href="https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7202037965473544718">Wednesday, August 26, 2020, How School Board Can Improve School Mental Health</a>
There was already a mental health epidemic facing schools across the nation prior to Covid-19.  Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems build the foundations for schools to be able to create thriving environments and develop sustainable supports.  A school board is a vital…