<b>Friday, August 20, 2021</b>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/legislative-advocacy-conference/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">September 23, 2021 VSBA Legislative Advocacy Conference, Registration Open for In-Person Event</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2021, Virginians will decide who will lead the Commonwealth by electing the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, as well as deciding control of the Virginia House of Delegates. Being informed on the issues shaping Virginia and learning how to advocate on…</span>

<a href="https://vpap.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ff263b31cd155e10062269b86&amp;id=124d554b86&amp;e=fbcce3d3a1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fredericksburg-area school divisions report positive COVID cases, quarantines </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Local divisions are reporting positive cases of COVID-19 and staff and student quarantines after the first week of school. The first day of school for King George County was Aug. 9. For the week of Aug. 9–13, the division is reporting four positive cases among staff and 10 positive…</span>

<a href="https://vpap.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ff263b31cd155e10062269b86&amp;id=6eed3f8335&amp;e=fbcce3d3a1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">School Board adopts policy protecting transgender students</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Largely overshadowed by ongoing debate over the mandatory use of face masks in K-12 schools, the Chesterfield School Board approved new guidelines for the treatment of transgender and nonbinary students last week with little of the rancor and resistance that has…</span>

<a href="https://vpap.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ff263b31cd155e10062269b86&amp;id=d9aadeab9a&amp;e=fbcce3d3a1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">McAuliffe backs vaccine requirement for school teachers and staff</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who is vying for another term at the helm of the state, says that all school districts should require their teachers and school staff to be fully vaccinated as the school year nears. “A fully vaccinated school workforce is imperative to our next generation’s…</span>

<a href="https://vpap.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ff263b31cd155e10062269b86&amp;id=6e7c3b5591&amp;e=fbcce3d3a1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">FCPS workers would support vaccine requirement, teachers’ union says</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The union that represents Fairfax County Public Schools teachers and staff says it would back a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees if the school system decides to institute one. Fairfax County Federation of Teachers leaders released a statement expressing their support...</span>

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/this-is-a-sign-of-recovery-u-s-secretary-of-education-visits-henrico-school/article_e6af3075-e9ec-580f-9d8c-ececfefcf666.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">'This is a sign of recovery': U.S Secretary of Education visits Henrico school</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">On a visit to Glean Allen High School in Henrico County. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Was excited to hear the sound of high schoolers playing drums, tubas and French horns. As he watched Henrico students ease back into extracurricular activities lost during...</span>

<a href="https://www.whsv.com/2021/08/18/harrisonburg-city-public-schools-becomes-living-wage-certified/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harrisonburg City Public Schools becomes living wage certified</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Back in March, Harrisonburg School Superintendent Michael Richards said it was “mission critical” to attract and retain exceptional staff. Richards said the way to do that is through wage increases. And that mission was recognized Wednesday. The Harrisonburg City Public…</span>

<a href="https://www.whsv.com/2021/08/19/governor-northam-announces-grants-replace-83-diesel-school-buses-with-clean-alternatives/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Governor Northam announces grants to replace 83 diesel school buses with clean alternatives</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Governor Ralph Northam announced Thursday that more than $10.5 million in funds from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, to replace 83 diesel school buses with electric and propane buses in…</span>

<a href="https://www.cbs19news.com/story/44549658/school-board-approves-name-change-of-jack-jouett-middle-school-broadus-wood-elementary-to-have-name-reviewed"><span style="font-weight: 400;">School board approves name change of Jouett Middle, Broadus Wood to have name reviewed</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Albemarle County School Board approved the recommendations from Albemarle County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas and the volunteer community advisory committee for the name change of Jack Jouett Middle School to Journey Middle School…</span>

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/reopening-plans-covid-19-mitigation-on-richmond-public-schools-meeting-agenda-for-wednesday/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richmond Public Schools officials discuss reopening plans, COVID-19 mitigations on Wednesday</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richmond Public Schools is reviewing its reopening and COVID-19 mitigation plans at a meeting on Wednesday night. Superintendent Jason Kamras will be joined by the coordinator of health services and the nurse specialist for an online discussion. They’ll be discussing how…</span>

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/charlottesville-division-to-hold-webinar-on-creating-covid-safe-schools/article_42b65148-006b-11ec-a386-4bb59aa63a5c.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Charlottesville division to hold webinar on creating COVID-safe schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ahead of the start of the academic year, Charlottesville City Schools will host a series of public conversations, starting Sunday, to share details about plans to keep school buildings safe during the pandemic. The school year is set to start Aug. 25. Meanwhile, cases in the Blue...</span>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/title-ix-workshop/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">September 14, 2021 VSBA Title IX: Best Practices in Training &amp; Compliance Workshop</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">With claims of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct hitting newsstands everywhere, Title IX coordinators and other senior staff need to be confident in their knowledge and enforcement of their divisions’ policies. Prevention and thorough investigations are the best ways to...</span>