<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://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-virginia-masks-cdc-20210805-wwa4f44bvnaifer4npxcte5lce-story.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Schools must follow CDC guidelines, Northam says. For now, that means requiring masks.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">School districts that aren’t requiring masks, including several in Hampton Roads, are running afoul of state law, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday. The basis for Northam’s pronouncement is the law that requires schools to open fully in-person this fall. A provision of it also requires…</span>

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/coronavirus/hopewell-covid-cases-update"><span style="font-weight: 400;">COVID cases among Hopewell students, staff continue to rise</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopewell Public Schools confirmed there are now 27 COVID-19 cases among students and staff as of Thursday afternoon.Superintendent for Hopewell Public Schools, Dr. Melody Hackney, said two of those 27 cases, were from students who contracted the virus while at…</span>

<a href="https://loudounnow.com/2021/08/05/public-will-have-restricted-access-to-loudoun-school-board-meetings/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Public Will Have Restricted Access to Loudoun School Board Meetings</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">School Board meetings will look a bit different this year, as no spectators will be allowed in the room for public comment. The policy change comes in response to the chaotic June 22 board meeting that resulted in the unruly public being cleared from the boardroom. The district’s…</span>

<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/education/va-superintendent-schools-face-significant-legal-pressure-if-they-dont-follow-cdc-mask-guidance/article_1ea28c36-6faa-5e8f-944e-078bd38ffff9.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Schools face 'significant legal pressure' if they don't follow CDC mask guidance</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Virginia’s schools could face “significant legal pressure” if they don’t follow federal recommendations that teachers, students and staff should wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane said Thursday…</span>

<a href="https://alextimes.com/2021/08/acps-requests-private-security/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ACPS requests private security</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory Hutchings Ed.D. and staff sent a proposal to the School Board on July 16 requesting increased security inside school buildings. The report comes after City Council reallocated funds from the School Resource Officer…</span>

<a href="https://www.rappnews.com/news/coronavirus/despite-cdc-guidance-rappahannock-school-board-moves-forward-with-optional-masking/article_85d5ee84-f5a8-11eb-9995-4b062ce95064.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite CDC guidance, Rappahannock School Board moves forward with optional masking</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Rappahannock County School Board on Wednesday at a special meeting held in the elementary school gymnasium opted to not mandate universal masking in classrooms for the upcoming school year, instead maintaining its previously established stance of strongly…</span>

<a href="https://www.winchesterstar.com/coronavirus/winchester-public-schools-superintendent-to-recommend-mask-mandate/article_64d5be32-21d4-50ab-a412-b0ae8649513d.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Winchester Public Schools superintendent to recommend mask mandate</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Winchester Public Schools Superintendent Jason Van Heukelum wrote in a letter to families on Wednesday afternoon that he will be recommending a universal mask mandate for all students and staff during Monday's upcoming Winchester School Board meeting. "No one is happy...</span>

<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-virginia-masks-cdc-20210805-wwa4f44bvnaifer4npxcte5lce-story.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Schools must follow CDC guidelines, Northam says. For now, that means requiring masks.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">School districts that aren’t requiring masks, including several in Hampton Roads, are running afoul of state law, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday. The basis for Northam’s pronouncement is the law that requires schools to open fully in-person this fall. A provision of it also requires…</span>

<a href="https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/74-of-city-employees-at-least-partially-vaccinated-school-personnel-must-be-inoculated-or-submit/article_37cae270-f6f8-11eb-880b-cb5ec34cdfcf.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">74% of city employees at least partially vaccinated; school personnel must be inoculated or submit to testing</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">While 74% of Charlottesville city employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, city officials are working to increase that number. “We feel like we have more work to do on that front,” city spokesman Brian Wheeler said at a recent City Council meeting…</span>

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/interest-growing-rapidly-in-hampton-roads-for-virtual-virginia-states-online-school-platform/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interest growing rapidly in Hampton Roads for Virtual Virginia, state’s online school platform</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Virtual Virginia is part of the Virginia Department of Education, and it’s becoming more and more popular. With COVID-19 numbers now heading in the wrong direction, that popularity is already accelerating. Data from Virtual Virginia shows enrollments — both full- and part-time students…</span>

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/lynchburg-city-school-board-once-again-rejects-board-member-health-insurance/article_db63dba0-f6bf-11eb-8e59-bb6802ca1b5a.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lynchburg City School Board once again rejects board member health insurance</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Members of the Lynchburg City School Board won’t be eligible to participate in the division’s health insurance plan, the board decided in a split vote at its Tuesday meeting. The board voted 5-4 against revising its policy on school board member compensation and benefits to allow...</span>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/resources/recognition/media-honor-roll/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2021 VSBA Media Honor Roll- Open Now!</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reporters and local media outlets play an important role in public education. School division leaders rely on responsible reporting by local media representatives so that our community members receive timely information about division initiatives and programs. Considering the…</span>