<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/March-Hot-Topic-Brochure.pdf">March 17, 2021, VSBA March Hot Topic</a>
Join us as we gather virtually for an informative and important conference. This conference will be focusing specifically on multiple hot topics in education. You will hear from three leaders in public education throughout the event speaking on the topics of Race and Equity…

<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hf83gcp">Call for Proposals for Conference on Education: <strong>Deadline Friday, Feb. 26</strong>
</a>The ever-popular Annual VSBA Conference on Education is taking proposals for the 2021 virtual event on July 20, 2021. Mini workshops are a fast-track way of learning. Workshop presenters make short, informative, fast-paced presentations while attendees viewing can ask questions and make connections within the chat box the entire time while your presentation is being streamed….

<a href="https://www.winchesterstar.com/coronavirus/winchester-school-board-to-consider-expanding-in-person-learning/article_271a65b9-cab6-51c8-9ea8-bf0587e4e961.html">Winchester School Board to consider expanding in-person learning
</a>Next month, the Winchester School Board will consider options to expand in-person learning to four or five days per week, according to Winchester Public Schools Superintendent Jason Van Heukelum. “Our first priority will be elementary school children, however our team is analyzing…

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/rebound/state-of-education/how-virginia-lawmakers-are-pushing-to-get-students-back-in-the-classroom">How Virginia lawmakers are pushing to get students back in the classroom
</a>Virginia public schools would be required to offer in-person instruction, with a preference towards five days per week by the fall under the latest “school reopening” proposal advanced by state lawmakers. The final details were crafted by a House Democrat and Senate Republican…

<a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/state-reform-of-virginia-governors-schools-blocked/291-6eff03bc-11f5-418c-a5af-15901eafef27">State reform of Virginia Governor's Schools blocked; local boards act
</a>A push to increase the number of Black and Hispanic students admitted to the elite “Governor’s Schools” in Virginia has failed, despite the support of Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration. But what advocates sought in the bill is happening to some extent anyway as some school boards…

<a href="https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/manassas-school-board-votes-to-return-pre-k-through-fourth-grades-no-decision-on-older/article_866e6fa4-764d-11eb-adf1-3fb562954b80.html">Manassas School Board votes to return pre-k through fourth grades; no decision on older students
</a>Pre-K through fourth-grade students in Manassas City Public Schools will have the option to return to hybrid in-person learning starting March 23, but the school board Tuesday night once again declined to set any timetable for the return of older students. For those general…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/02/24/richmond-school-board-votes-approve-relief-funding/">Richmond School Board votes to approve relief funding
</a>In a near-unanimous decision, the Richmond School Board voted 8-1 to approve the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund to receive $54 million to be used for FY22 and FY23. The board approved the funding with the following amendments…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/02/23/martinsville-schools-to-start-in-person-learning-for-some-students/">Martinsville schools to start in-person learning for some students
</a>After months of virtual learning, Martinsville City Public Schools are planning to reopen their doors. On March 8, preschoolers, kindergartners, special population students and English Learners will be able to return to in-person classes. “I want everybody back in school too but…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/02/23/new-outdoor-classroom-coming-to-lynchburg-middle-school/">New outdoor classroom coming to Lynchburg middle school
</a>A new outdoor classroom is coming to Lynchburg in a space that’s going unused. “You can kind of see it from most of the windows from all the staircases in our school. We would walk by it every day and we were thinking it would be nice if that area was utilized because it has so…

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/bedford-county-public-schools-looks-to-dismantle-suspension-center-continue-behavioral-supports-at-base-schools/article_b7c367d8-9898-5f02-95cd-6d7fbf90a63f.html">Bedford County Public Schools looks to dismantle suspension center, continue behavioral supports at base schools
</a>Bedford County Public Schools is working to improve behavioral and mental health support for its students by shifting services offered at the Alternative Education Center to the division’s base schools. In a presentation to the Bedford County School Board at its Thursday night meeting…

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-virginia-beach-special-education-20210222-2kexcn3ofra5bl5vn6a76vqo2e-story.html">Roughly half of special education students in Virginia Beach have opted to remain virtual for the year
</a>Thirty alarms sound off throughout a normal school day in Jillian Maclauchlan’s household as she tries to keep her second grader and kindergartner on schedule for their lessons. After nearly a year of virtual classes, Maclauchlan has gotten her kids’ routine — both in special education…

<a href="https://richmond.com/community/mechanicsville-local/news/gill-reviews-details-of-hcps-budget-proposal/article_f8d72412-7609-11eb-ad80-8b2efc2f8c97.html">Gill reviews details of HCPS budget proposal
</a>A day after the Hanover County School Board unanimously approved his proposed FY2022 budget, Michael Gill, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, presented the Hanover County Board of Supervisors with the details of the $215 million spending plan. Gill said this…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/02/24/montgomery-county-bringing-students-back-four-days-a-week-starting-next-month/">Montgomery County bringing students back four days a week starting next month
</a>Students in Montgomery County schools will be back in the classroom four days a week starting in March. On Tuesday night, the school board approved moving to the next phase on a split vote, 4-3, after initially delaying the vote in a meeting that went until nearly 1 a.m. earlier this…

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/roanoke-school-board-seeks-feedback-from-parents-about-proposal-to-increase-in-person-learning/article_7037e57c-761a-11eb-8b04-2f7f6ba7a661.html">Roanoke School Board seeks feedback from parents about proposal to increase in-person learning
</a>The Roanoke School Board still must decide whether elementary and designated secondary students can attend school in person four days per week beginning next month. After hearing a detailed proposal Tuesday, the school board unanimously decided to hold a special meeting…

<a href="https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/clarke-schools-to-expand-in-person-learning-to-four-days-a-week-effort-will-be/article_9cdbbdff-c193-561a-9e37-0e0716d9bba2.html">Clarke schools to expand in-person learning to four days a week; effort will be phased in starting next month
</a>As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Clarke County Public Schools (CCPS) will begin holding in-person classes four days a week in mid-March. If the pandemic eases enough, the school division intends to resume in-person instruction five days a week for the 2021-22 school year…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/02/23/halifax-county-schools-return-to-in-person-learning/">Halifax County Schools return to in-person learning
</a>Students in Halifax County returned to the classroom for the first time in nearly a year on Monday. Students were originally supposed to return last week; however, weather and power outages caused schools to remain closed until Friday. Monday was the first-time Pre-K…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/news/vsba-launches-school-board-u/">VSBA School Board U</a>
School Board U is an area of the VSBA website filled with learning opportunities for school board members to explore important topics related to your service on the school board. Complete certain courses and earn a certificate for your hard work. For more information visit the member section of the VSBA website. School board members and division staff, please check your email to find the log in and password information or contact VSBA.

<a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYbzN7mWhM2jHRaapUU29SJunMNZEvcBx_2F1s7MKoShYZ944rUXHjig0is7q1L2DjeIjtLYf_4c0vPq3hOeY1TZI/39h/zUahEOrOTB2IV6Sbi3JiuA/h17/vP_1jqhY20xxPs7NvPjY71aia4t3T0mutWn60GUt1dM">2021 VSBA Business Honor Roll Open Now
</a>Local businesses have the power to shape community attitudes about public schools. Every spring, the VSBA Business Honor Roll provides a way for local school divisions to recognize local businesses for their support, especially as schools face increasing budget uncertainty…