<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://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/local/education/martinsville-schools-to-become-first-division-in-the-state-with-complete-gunshot-detection/article_1cd94d4e-3f01-11eb-868e-7b39470f14b0.html">Martinsville Schools to become first division in the state with complete gunshot detection
</a>Martinsville City Schools will become the first school division in the state to have a gunshot detection system in all of its buildings. T.J. Slaughter, director of school safety and emergency management, applied for a state grant through the Virginia Department of Education in the…

<a href="http://www.pwcs.edu/news/what_s_new/foodservices_director_receives_leadership_award">Innovation and achievement to PWCS school nutrition program earn Adam Russo the 2021 FAME Silver Leadership Award
</a>School Food and Nutrition Services Director Adam Russo has earned the 2021 Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) Silver Leadership Award. Each year, four food service leaders from across the country are selected to receive FAME awards from Basic…

<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/for-some-students-virtual-learning-means-falling-further-behind">For some students, virtual learning means falling further behind
</a>Despite the fact that many school districts worked at being prepared during the pandemic, this fall has been a tough road for students, parents and educators. Most used some form of hybrid learning, but many have felt it's not safe enough to have children in the classroom. And for…

<a href="https://www.smithfieldtimes.com/2020/12/15/shs-senior-takes-second-place-in-statewide-video-contest/">SHS senior takes second place in statewide video contest
</a>Alexandra Grossman, a senior at Smithfield High School, won second place in the Virginia School Boards Association’s ninth annual student video contest. The contest challenged high school students across Virginia to create a 30-second video around the theme of “How Virtual…

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/sports/madison-county-school-board-pushes-back-winter-sports-until-january/article_21882df2-3f37-11eb-88a0-c740ee7f2b77.html">Madison County School Board pushes back winter sports until January
</a>For the second time this month, a Central Virginia school has pushed back the start of winter sports. The Madison County School Board unanimously voted this week to delay the start of the winter sports season until January because of the recent spike in COVID-19 numbers in the…

<a href="https://wcyb.com/news/local/wise-county-schools-to-become-first-va-school-district-to-use-space-based-internet">Wise County Schools to become first Va. school district to use space-based internet
</a>Wise County Public Schools, in collaboration with the Wise County Board of Supervisors, is launching a new project with SpaceX to expand internet access in the county. Wise County is the first school district in Virginia to utilize Space X's Starlink satellite internet constellation to…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2020/12/15/virginia-lottery-hosting-student-art-contest-part-thank-teacher-campaign/">Virginia Lottery hosting student art contest as part of ‘Thank a Teacher’ campaign
</a>The Virginia Lottery, in partnership with Virginia PTA, is launching its fourth annual “Thank a Teacher Art Contest,” which is open to all public school students in Virginia. K-12 students are encouraged to enter their artwork for the chance to have it featured on thank-you notes that…

<a href="https://www.alxnow.com/2020/12/16/acps-opens-t-c-williams-renaming-question-to-students/">ACPS Opens T.C. Williams Renaming Question to Students
</a>With the school board voting to rename T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School, the question remains: rename them to what? Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has opened that question to students with an essay and poster campaign…

<a href="https://patch.com/virginia/fredericksburg/fredericksburg-students-will-be-remote-two-weeks-january">Fredericksburg Students Will Be Remote For Two Weeks In January
</a>Fredericksburg City Public Schools students will learn virtually for the first two weeks of January 2021 due to the possibility of a surge in COVID-19 cases. School officials announced the change in the school calendar Wednesday, citing concern for the health and safety of…

<a href="https://patch.com/virginia/kingstowne/no-kid-hungry-grants-support-va-school-districts-organizations">No Kid Hungry Grants Support VA School Districts, Organizations
</a>No Kid Hungry announced it has provided $2.4 million in grants to Virginia school systems and organizations providing free meals to kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants were provided to 68 school districts and organizations since March. The assistance as the…

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-county-public-schools-to-resume-winter-sports-in-january/">Hanover County Public Schools to resume winter sports in January
</a>Hanover County Public Schools announced on Twitter today that its winter sports season will start on Jan. 4, 2021. Earlier this month, the district suspended all sports activities in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases. Ultimately they have decided to resume the sports program next…

<a href="https://www.wtkr.com/news/virginia-beach-schools-to-hold-outdoor-job-fair">Virginia Beach schools to hold outdoor job fair
</a>Virginia Beach City Public Schools will hold an outdoor job fair Saturday. It will be held on December 19, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The fair will be located in Pembroke Mall area, east of Kohl's parking lot near Constitution Dr. VBCPS is hiring bus drivers and…

<a href="https://www.nbc29.com/2020/12/11/three-chs-students-surprised-with-stem-award-new-laptops-tech-camp-scholarship/?fbclid=IwAR2ADGVGRzDbM4xrhzNhU4gSwDNsk6nfVqQMttHRowMIPG-IMIS4wNerdD8">Three CHS students surprised with STEM award, new laptops, tech camp scholarship
</a>The school day started as a normal one for three young engineers at Charlottesville High School (CHS) – all girls, and all Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students – but then they got a surprise: an award meant to help them change the world. “ I was like…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/campbell-county-school-board-approves-december-bonus-for-employees/article_8176660e-c70e-5bdc-9239-21fed86621fc.html">Campbell County School Board approves December bonus for employees
</a>Campbell County Public Schools employees will receive bonuses this payday, just in time for the holidays. At its Monday night meeting, the Campbell County School Board unanimously approved a request from Superintendent Robert Johnson to pay a $1,000 bonus to all…

<a href="https://www.wjhl.com/covid-19-keeping-schools-safe/tri-cities-educators-reflect-on-fall-semester-challenges/">Tri-Cities educators reflect on fall semester challenges
</a>As we enter the final week of the fall semester, some school leaders are expressing concerns following their first full semester of virtual and hybrid learning sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grades will not be finalized for this semester until a couple of weeks after this fall…

<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>