<h2>2022 VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY</h2>
<h3>VSBA Legislative Update Blog</h3>
For up-to-the-minute Action Alerts during the 2022 Virginia General Assembly, please visit the <a href="http://vsbalegislativeupdate.blogspot.com/" data-cke-saved-href="http://vsbalegislativeupdate.blogspot.com/">VSBA Legislative Update Blog</a>.

<strong>Legislative Action Alert: Ask Your Senator to Vote NO on SB 739</strong>

Please contact your Senator TODAY and urge him or her to VOTE NO on SB739.

SB739 (Dunnavant) mandates in-person instruction for all students and would prevent schools from closing due to COVID-19 outbreaks and other health related concerns.

More problematic, however, is a floor amendment that was adopted today that would take away local school boards’ authority to require masks under any circumstances. VSBA believes that the decision to require or not require masks in schools can and should be made only by the local school board.

<strong><u>This is about more than the mask debate – this is about state versus local control of our public schools. </u></strong>

<strong>Please ask your Senator to </strong><strong>VOTE NO on SB739.</strong>

Here is a link to find your Senator:<a href="https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/">https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/</a>
Here is a link to the bill: <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001dB3MZkmUoHzQx3IcjamOEd5PMtJ8Ej8zUkABUdTmxWOCqP42nBlrkmZMzr5t7U-RVaN0fe9avcxRhkI1_wLmhoWvOnTZsUFHbOO1oUmx2W3nTQP2sCAFITeK-jxitZXADIb7vA9igoGC0hP9ZPfcB2w_URHkPAAz_QTdocH8ZFj_yz-qgqlYjtvogGFrkUZ-UQXrxpJbRn0=&amp;c=SyePNdPccruHlz3zT82V2EcDoE8t1C09quusL1_v3f71bHtkq9gPqg==&amp;ch=n5ZGH5deNYNgvs9YpctlON2np4vDIIrECcZ4mkIAECSt3wVGqsPsQA==">https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+ful+SB739S1</a>

<strong>Legislative Action Alert: Thank Senator McClellan, Senator Stanley, and Delegate Bourne
</strong>Please take a moment and send a Thank You to Senator Jennifer McClellan, Senator Bill Stanley, and Delegate Jeff Bourne for their commitment to school modernization in the Commonwealth.

Tell Senator McClellan, Senator Stanley, and Delegate Bourne that you support the recommendation of the Commission on School Construction and Modernization that would permit school boards to retain any unexpended local funds at year end to finance capital projects.

Ask them to make NO changes to the Commission’s recommendation as introduced in SB 276 (Stanley) and HB 608 (Bourne).

Contact Senator McClellan:
district09@senate.virginia.gov ,  (804) 698-7509

Contact Senator Stanley:
district20@senate.virginia.gov ,  (804) 698-7520

Contact Delegate Bourne:
DelJBourne@house.virginia.gov , (804) 698-1071

&nbsp;

<hr>

<h2></h2>
<h2>ARCHIVED ACTION ALERT</h2>
<h3><strong>VSBA Legislative Update Blog </strong></h3>
For up-to-the-minute Action Alerts during the 2021 Virginia General Assembly, please visit the <a href="http://vsbalegislativeupdate.blogspot.com/" data-cke-saved-href="http://vsbalegislativeupdate.blogspot.com/">VSBA Legislative Update Blog</a>.

<hr>

<h3>February 22, 2021</h3>
<strong>Action Alert: Oppose SB 1303 (Dunnavant)</strong>

Contact your Delegate and strongly encourage them to<strong> VOTE NO on Senate Bill 1303 (Dunnavant) </strong>which would remove Local Control over school division instruction decisions for the 2021-2022 academic year. <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/39n/a7hv5bGwS8qBqskTi3pthg/h0/5P4EdvzeMkEPEQ9wIxPtKs8k_cuq5nLl4nl4ILxLGsM">Click here</a> to find your Delegate!

If passed, school boards will be mandated to provide full-time in-person instruction for all students. This legislation would prevent local school boards from factoring in community needs and student/staff safety when considering in-person instruction. Hybrid instruction will not be an option under this legislation. The legislation will also tie the hands of school board and administrators to address staff members who have previously been accommodated by mandating that the accommodations be continued regardless of the fact that we will now be mandated to provide in-person instruction.

VSBA believes that local school boards are in the best position to determine when and how to reopen their schools in their communities. Local school boards must weigh multiple factors when deciding when to provide in-person, hybrid, or all virtual learning for students. School board members consult with local health department professionals to review local and regional COVID-19 transmission data, the current capacity of our local and regional hospitals to provide bedspace for patients, and the overall safety of having students and staff in the classroom. School board members balance these community factors with guidance provided from the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Education as they make the difficult decision regarding student instruction. School board members know their communities and are held accountable by the citizens they represent. They are the best suited to make decisions for when students return to the classroom.

<strong>(Localize the issue- Add a story from your school board)</strong>

VSBA asks that you <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/39n/a7hv5bGwS8qBqskTi3pthg/h1/Gribp9M2q2kOxgD62vpNRPsXLI8iDOHAU6jjILzgwEc">contact your </a><u>Delegate</u> and urge them to <strong>Vote NO Senate Bill 1303 (Dunnavant)</strong><u>.</u>
<h3>February 13, 2021</h3>
<strong>Legislative Action Alert: Vote NO on SB1322</strong>

Please <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/39e/7IDvxTlbQkyvEDyFFCewOA/h0/UtoICHryqgOs4So9VVLZO6rp3z9Jt0Wt-HVgmcVFhbs">contact your </a>Delegate <strong>TODAY</strong> and urge him or her to <strong>VOTE NO</strong><strong> </strong>on <strong>SB1322</strong><strong>.</strong>

<strong>SB1322 (DeSteph)</strong> will be heard Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. by the House Education Committee. This legislation mandates that all school nurses and all school division employees who have regular contact with students to be trained every two years regarding treating students with seizures and seizure disorders. <strong>Virtually all school-based staff, even those not directly responsible for supervising students and those who do not even have contact with students with seizure disorders, will be required to complete this training. </strong>This is an unfunded mandate.

SB1322 also allows parents of such students to submit a seizure management plan to the school. There will be no opportunity for school staff to have any input into the plan. This will allow parents to unilaterally dictate to school staff how a student will be accommodated within the school. <strong>This is contrary to how all other medical conditions are handled in schools, in which school staff and parents work in cooperation to develop Section 504 plans and/or health plans. </strong>

SB1322 is unnecessary. <strong>Local school divisions are in the best position to determine which staff require training and school staff should be involved in the development of the seizure management plan.</strong>

Please ask your Delegate to <strong>VOTE NO on SB1322. </strong>
<h3>February 11, 2021</h3>
<strong>Please Contact Delegate Avoli TODAY and ask him to Vote NO on SB 1322</strong>

<strong>Senate Bill 1322 (DeSteph)</strong> <u>will be heard tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. in the House Education PreK-12 Subcommittee</u>. VSBA stands in opposition to SB 1322. This legislation mandates that all school nurses and all school division employees who have regular contact with students to be trained every two years regarding treating students with seizures and seizure disorders. <u>Virtually all school-based staff, even those not directly responsible for supervising students and those who do not even have contact with students with seizure disorders, will be required to complete this training.</u> Please contact Delegate Avoli via email, <a href="mailto:%20DelJAvoli@house.virginia.gov">DelJAvoli@house.virginia.gov</a> and ask him to Vote NO on SB 1322.

SB1322 allows parents of such students to submit a seizure management plan to the school. There will be no opportunity for school staff to have any input into the plan. This will allow parents to unilaterally dictate to school staff how a student will be accommodated within the school. <strong><u>This is contrary to how all other medical conditions are handled in schools, in which school staff and parents work in cooperation to develop Section 504 plans and/or health plans. </u></strong>

Federal 504 plans are designed to protect students with medical conditions. If this legislation passes, we fear additional groups seeking to have trainings for staff on all types of medical conditions will seek to have their training program embedded into the Code. SB1322 is not necessary because there is already appropriate Federal law that schools must follow that protects students.

<strong>Contact Delegate Avoli via email, <a href="mailto:%20DelJAvoli@house.virginia.gov">DelJAvoli@house.virginia.gov</a> and ask him to Vote NO on SB 1322.</strong>
<h3>February 1, 2021</h3>
<strong>Action Alert: Oppose SB 1303 (Dunnavant)</strong>

SB 1303 (Dunnavant) would require every school board to offer both in-person and virtual instruction to every student. This bill is not limited to the current pandemic, so if it passes this will be a permanent mandate on all school boards. <strong>VSBA believes that local school boards – not the General Assembly – are in the best position to determine when and how to reopen their schools in their communities and to decide what services to provide in-person or virtually.</strong> Please contact your Senator today and urge him or her to VOTE NO on SB 1303.

VSBA asks that you <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/392/SeFBUSPSQQS0v-0lfLtHyg/h0/5Cv1XX1nGh-EBNYuBhz0kov5C-IEjyD60VKA9k9h5_I">contact your </a><u>Senator</u> and urge them to Oppose <strong>Senate Bill 1303 (Dunnavant)</strong>.

<a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/392/SeFBUSPSQQS0v-0lfLtHyg/h1/Nhvv2p0mJ32qe5YckX2LVSA1LeC2zHaYSkOihm5RaYA">Click here</a> to find your Senator!
<h3>February 1, 2021</h3>
<strong>Action Alert: Oppose SB 1317 (Dunnavant)</strong>

SB 1317 (Dunnavant) would mandate that every school board adopt policies to permit open enrollment of any student who qualifies for free and reduced lunch. <strong>School boards can already adopt such policies if they choose – and many do but there are numerous logistical challenges posed by having an open enrollment policy mandated by the General Assembly. </strong>Please contact your Senator today and urge him or her to VOTE NO on SB 1317.

VSBA asks that you <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/392/rzcRnGkiR72_OSi47Aqt1w/h0/XzgraoG7MPZJwe47VdlmDZGC6_EMDLllpvL-N2y2Lhg">contact your </a><u>Senator</u> and urge them to Oppose <strong>Senate Bill 1317 (Dunnavant)</strong>.

<a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/392/rzcRnGkiR72_OSi47Aqt1w/h1/F2s0judKyrDBhj6RObbaUcXxgDlBU_TJ_uDjbaIcl58">Click here</a> to find your Senator!
<h3>January 20, 2021</h3>
<strong>Action Alert: Oppose SB 1322</strong>

Please <a href="https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/">contact your Senator</a> <strong>TODAY</strong> and urge him or her to <strong>VOTE NO</strong><strong> </strong>on <strong>SB1322.</strong>

<strong>SB1322 (DeSteph)</strong> mandates that all school nurses and all school division employees who have regular contact with students to be trained every two years regarding treating students with seizures and seizure disorders. <strong><u>Virtually all school-based staff, even those not directly responsible for supervising students and those who do not even have contact with students with seizure disorders, will be required to complete this training.</u></strong> This is an unfunded mandate.

SB1322 also allows parents of such students to submit a seizure management plan to the school. There will be no opportunity for school staff to have any input into the plan. This will allow parents to unilaterally dictate to school staff how a student will be accommodated within the school. <strong><u>This is contrary to how all other medical conditions are handled in schools, in which school staff and parents work in cooperation to develop Section 504 plans and/or health plans. </u></strong>

SB1322 is unnecessary. <strong><u>Local school divisions are in the best position to determine which staff require training and school staff should be involved in the development of the seizure management plan.</u></strong>

Please ask your Senator to <strong>VOTE NO on SB1322. </strong>

Here is a link to find your Senator: <a href="https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/">https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/</a>

Here is a link to the bill: <a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?211+sum+SB1322">https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?</a>
<h3><strong>August 25, 2020</strong></h3>
<strong>Action Alert: Oppose HB 5028 (Jones)</strong>

Please contact your Delegate and ask them to oppose HB 5028 (Jones). If passed, this legislation would create a presumption that COVID-19 is an occupational disease for school board employees.<u> While VSBA is sensitive to our teachers’ concerns about potential exposure</u>, creating a presumption that COVID-19 is an occupational disease goes too far.

VSBA opposes this legislation because it is an unfunded mandate that has a potential $80 million dollar price tag for local school divisions. If passed, this legislation will increase legal and administrative burdens on local school boards at a time when budgets are severely strained due to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.

Schools have been closed since mid-March and most schools remain closed to in-person instruction. Thus, a presumption that a teacher who contracts COVID-19 contracted it at work is nonsensical in the context of remote learning.  Moreover, the retroactive nature of this bill to January 1, 2020 is very problematic.

VSBA asks that you <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34m/WQdMj1slROapb2srJ0T8TQ/h0/gypxzNvLBNX8dbAUiAk71CUz95omMkVTJ-IC8PeG2V8" data-cke-saved-href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34m/WQdMj1slROapb2srJ0T8TQ/h0/gypxzNvLBNX8dbAUiAk71CUz95omMkVTJ-IC8PeG2V8">contact your </a><u>Delegate</u> and urge them to <u><strong>Oppose House Bill 5028</strong>.</u>

<a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34m/WQdMj1slROapb2srJ0T8TQ/h1/Bi1KWBENzmkHOs1cmBbKUWh_fl96AqKkrRdkFoht_qY" data-cke-saved-href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34m/WQdMj1slROapb2srJ0T8TQ/h1/Bi1KWBENzmkHOs1cmBbKUWh_fl96AqKkrRdkFoht_qY">Click here</a> to find your Delegate!
<h3><strong>August 19, 2020</strong></h3>
<strong>Action Alert: Oppose SB 5004 (Kiggans)</strong>

SB 5004 (Kiggans) would require local school boards to employ at least one full time registered nurse in each elementary, middle, and high school in their divisions. This legislation is a significant human resource and financial burden on local school boards.

VSBA opposes this legislation as requiring local school boards to employ a registered nurse in every school within their division is extremely problematic. The number of registered nurses are at critically low numbers across the nation making it difficult to comply with any mandate requiring a full time registered nurse in every school in their division.

VSBA further opposes this legislation due to the significant financial impact such a mandate would place on local school boards to employ additional staff. Local school divisions are operating under tight budgets and continue to face uncertainty over fiscal matters due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on local revenue.

VSBA asks that you <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34g/mOinhsxwSpm4kuZYgWcRkg/h0/MWYko-kQ7RD1ek4TApQ2-E-Ovx0a5SK0DIx9UHQp840" data-cke-saved-href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34g/mOinhsxwSpm4kuZYgWcRkg/h0/MWYko-kQ7RD1ek4TApQ2-E-Ovx0a5SK0DIx9UHQp840">contact your Senator</a> and urge them to <strong><u>Oppose Senate Bill 5004</u></strong>.

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<h3><strong>August 19, 2020</strong></h3>
<strong>Action Alert: Oppose SB 5094 (Dunnavant)</strong>

SB 5094 (Dunnavant) would require school boards to provide 14 days of paid leave,<u> in addition to any other paid leave that is already provided</u>, to any teacher who has been exposed to COVID-19 and is required to self-quarantine, who contracts COVID-19, or is required to care for a family member who contracts COVID-19.

VSBA opposes this legislation because it would impose a significant unfunded mandate on local school boards.

School Boards are already required by the Regulations of the Board of Education to provide all teachers a minimum of ten days of paid sick leave each year (8 VAC20-460-10).  School boards are also required to allow teachers to accumulate up to 90 days of unused paid sick leave (8 VAC 20-460-20).

In addition to the paid sick leave school boards are already required to provide, the Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires school boards to provide an additional two weeks of Emergency Paid Sick Leave.

Thus, while we are not unsympathetic of the need to take leave to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we believe that there are already ample leave requirements in place.  Adding this additional paid leave is an unnecessary unfunded mandate at a time when local school boards are not able to absorb additional costs.

VSBA asks that you <a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34g/K_Qota3hTjSAcJr-jJp-bw/h0/Ld5Bmwsxd7G2JHX3pCiNge4pkd3IJkvct16jmvSQmdA" data-cke-saved-href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34g/K_Qota3hTjSAcJr-jJp-bw/h0/Ld5Bmwsxd7G2JHX3pCiNge4pkd3IJkvct16jmvSQmdA">contact your Senator</a> and urge them to <strong><u>Oppose Senate Bill 5094</u></strong>.

<a href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34g/K_Qota3hTjSAcJr-jJp-bw/h1/aowXW9-WEPlHqiRPzY_cVEiYKYybfcD3hhoI0leD90c" data-cke-saved-href="https://u3352875.ct.sendgrid.net/ss/c/qiFDLNv_nH48tAE0aRgYb9SlBy4Mp8aSjG19Fa4mxaIDz9XOxC70Pw4Etcqi4yL-9kH-nJHUYClObMdFdA_C6A/34g/K_Qota3hTjSAcJr-jJp-bw/h1/aowXW9-WEPlHqiRPzY_cVEiYKYybfcD3hhoI0leD90c">Click here</a> to find your Senator!
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