<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/superintendent-evaluation-workshop/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">October 6, 2021, Superintendent Evaluation Workshop</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Are you prepared to evaluate your Superintendent? Register now for the Superintendent Evaluation Workshop! The Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Superintendents developed by the Virginia Department of Education provide a…</span>

<a href="https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/wise-county-va-residents-rally-against-state-policy-on-transgender-students-in-schools/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wise County, Va. residents rally against state policy on transgender students in schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 70 people gathered outside the Wise County School Board building to rally against policies they say go against their religious beliefs. The policy in question is the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools. That bill was adopted... </span>

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/mcdade-hires-from-chicago-for-prince-william-schools-chief-of-staff/article_734c0c8c-ee76-11eb-b8ed-671482c73cec.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">McDade hires from Chicago for Prince William schools chief of staff</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elisa M. Botello, an administrator from Chicago Public Schools, has been appointed chief of staff for the Prince William County school division. Botello most recently served as director of special projects for Chicago schools. In that role, she supported then-Chief Education Officer…</span>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/schools-virginia-air-quality-covid/2021/07/26/432bfb12-ee0c-11eb-bf80-e3877d9c5f06_story.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Northam proposes spending $500 million in federal relief money for school air quality projects</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gov. Ralph Northam on Monday proposed spending $500 million in federal coronavirus relief money to improve ventilation and air quality in public schools around the state. “This investment will help families, educators, and students feel more confident about the quality of the air they…</span>

<a href="https://loudounnow.com/2021/07/26/school-board-recall-effort-nears-signature-thresholds/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">School Board Recall Effort Nears Signature Thresholds</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">As conservative group Fight for Schools edges closer to its signature collecting goal to recall six Loudoun School Board members, an effort by activists in neighboring Fairfax County reached its community support threshold, as The Open FCPS Coalition submitted its first recall petition to…</span>

<a href="https://www.progress-index.com/story/news/2021/07/26/governor-joins-hopewell-open-year-round-public-education/5376012001/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopewell raises the curtain on year-round instruction in all of its public schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The city school system officially went into year-round learning mode Monday, a year after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its planned launch, but in the eyes of Hopewell's schools chief, that could have been a "blessing." "It has only strengthened our confidence and our resolve…</span>

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/07/27/botetourt-franklin-and-roanoke-county-schools-not-requiring-masks-for-students-and-staff/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke County schools not requiring masks for students and staff</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two school districts in Southwest Virginia just voted to make masking optional this upcoming school year, Botetourt County and Franklin County. On Monday night, cheers erupted during the Franklin County School Board meeting when the board voted to make masking optional for…</span>

<a href="https://www.whsv.com/2021/07/27/judge-dismisses-legal-challenges-transgender-student-protections/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Judge dismisses legal challenges to transgender student protections</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Lynchburg Circut Court Judge dismissed legal challenges to block the Virginia Department of Education’s new policies on protecting transgender students. Earlier this spring, two lawsuits were filed, which were eventually consolidated into one lawsuit by the Christian Action…</span>

<a href="https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/back-to-school-news/unvaccinated-but-not-unprotected-school-districts-express-plans-to-keep-12-and-under-age-group-safe-this-school-year/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unvaccinated but not unprotected: School districts express plans to keep 12 and under age group safe this school year</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in those 12 and up; however, it leaves parents wondering if their children who fall in the ineligible age group will be safe this school year, especially with dangerous variants popping up closer to home each day. After last…</span>

<a href="https://richmond.com/community/mechanicsville-local/news/students-fall-return-seeks-normality/article_671784d8-ee52-11eb-b664-57f2bf1db2c1.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students’ fall return seeks normality</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">When almost 16,000 Hanover County Public Schools students return to the classroom this fall, the future of mandatory masks in the classroom is on the minds of some parents. While other mandates have been eased or lifted, school officials are still awaiting guidance on policies...</span>

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/back-to-school/masks-to-be-optional-at-grayson-county-public-schools/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Masks to be optional at Grayson County Public Schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students at Grayson County Public Schools will not be required to wear masks at school during the 2021-2022 academic year, the superintendent announced Monday. In a Facebook post on Monday, July 26, Grayson County Public Schools Superintendent Kelly B. Wilmore....</span>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-VSBA-Advocate-for-Education-Award-nomination-form.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Application Process is Open- 2021 VSBA Advocate for Education Award!</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The importance of advocacy and grassroots engagement is a central component of the Virginia School Boards Association. It is imperative for board members to engage the stakeholders of their community including parents, business, community and higher education leaders, local…</span>