<a href="https://www.vsba.org/meetings-conferences/capital-conference/">January 25-26, 2021, VSBA Capital Conference, Virtual
</a>Advocacy by local school board members is a year-round job but is never more critical than when the Virginia General Assembly is in session. With the Virginia State Capitol and Pocahontas Building closed to visitors for the unforeseeable future, it is imperative for school…

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/New-Board-Member-and-Super-Orientations-Brochure.pdf">January 26, 2021, VSBA Orientation for New School Board Members and Superintendents, Virtual</a>
Becoming a new school board member or superintendent is an honor and a privilege. Enjoy a successful and less stressful transition by attending the VSBA Orientation for New Board Members &amp; Superintendents. Many important topics will be covered, including the roles and…

<a href="https://www.wric.com/news/education/hopewell-city-public-schools-will-shift-to-virtual-learning-on-inauguration-day/">Hopewell City Public Schools will shift to virtual learning for Inauguration Day
</a>Hopewell City Public Schools students will be learning from home on Inauguration Day. The school system announced the decision on Facebook citing predicted threats of violence in the Richmond area. All HCPS buildings will be closed and staff is being asked to work from home…

<a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2021/01/18/wythe-county-announces-return-to-100-in-person-school/">Wythe County announces return to 100% in-person school
</a>Soon, students, teachers and school staff in Wythe County will be back in the classroom. The Wythe County School Board voted on Jan. 14 to return to in-person learning, five days a week, with a 2 p.m. daily dismissal beginning Monday, Jan. 25. In the Facebook post announcing…

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/botetourt-schools-superintendent-puts-pressure-in-perspective/article_4dded58e-5771-11eb-a4ad-43c3cf530af7.html">Botetourt schools superintendent puts pressure in perspective
</a>The Botetourt County School Board found itself in a bit of a situation last spring. The board and its superintendent had parted ways after less than a year, and a global pandemic was on. Jonathan Russ, a Washington County native who was an assistant superintendent in…

<a href="https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/virtual-mlk-service-highlights-love-equity/article_f73a72a0-f923-58f6-b28a-5d208ffdb45e.html">Virtual MLK service highlights love, equity
</a>Equity and love are strongly connected, Winchester Public Schools Equity Coordinator Carl Rush said during a virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Service of Remembrance hosted by Shenandoah University on Monday, which was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The COVID-19…

<a href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/01/18/bill-to-add-cultural-competency-training-for-virginia-teachers-moves-forward-in-house-committee/">Bill to add ‘cultural competency’ training for Virginia teachers moves forward
</a>A House committee voted Monday to approve a bill requiring new cultural competency training for Virginia educators — part of a sweeping effort to reform the commonwealth’s what critics says is outdated curriculum on African American history. The legislation, sponsored by…

<a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/virginia-politics/bill-moving-local-elections-from-may-to-november-advances-in-va-senate-mayors-call-it-a-power-grab/">Bill moving local elections from May to November advances in VA Senate; mayors call it a power grab
</a>A bill aimed at moving all local elections in Virginia from May to November is moving forward, despite strong opposition from mayors whose cities will be affected. On Monday, legislation overriding election dates set by existing city andtown charters was passed by the Senate…

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/01/18/national-guard-teacher-capitol-inauguration/">This teacher was called to protect the U.S. Capitol as a National Guard member. He now holds class from a Humvee.
</a>D.C. National Guard Sgt. Jacob Kohut was on his only break during a 12-hour shift standing guard outside the U.S. Capitol. In the back of a Humvee, flute in hand, Kohut was teaching students how to play Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” through his laptop. Kohut…

<a href="https://roanoke.com/news/franklin-county-modifies-return-plan-after-teachers-protest/article_6f17cfe4-59f1-11eb-a48e-2f1b86282b57.html">Franklin County modifies return plan after teachers protest
</a>“We deserve a safe return,” chanted about a dozen Franklin County teachers and supporters as the Franklin County School Board gathered for an emergency meeting Monday evening. The school system was set to bring back students for in-person classes four days a week starting…

<a href="https://www.fauquier.com/news/students-return-to-classrooms----again/article_c1d31cd6-5a94-11eb-987a-bbf064fcc2ee.html?fbclid=IwAR1fwvWZiZe0DdZlxi40dHHgwYcGWAo-iAJQHILWerIpyohQe-yRrZhjGqE">Students return to classrooms -- again
</a>Fauquier County’s 20 public schools welcomed students back to school buildings this week after two weeks of all-remote learning following the holiday break. Although smiles were mostly hidden behind masks Tuesday, teachers and students seemed excited to be taking another…

<a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2021/01/19/dominion-energy-rolls-out-more-electric-school-buses/">Dominion Energy rolls out more electric school buses
</a>Middlesex County Public Schools and Dominion Energy celebrated more electric school buses hitting the road in Virginia on Tuesday. The division received two electric buses as part of Dominion Energy’s electric school bus program. The electric buses produce zero emissions…

<a href="https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/education/bus-driver-shortage-in-fredericksburg-leads-to-change-in-hybrid-program/article_a6401df8-fa15-5da1-aa04-0e6f0d9bb4ee.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">Bus driver shortage in Fredericksburg leads to change in hybrid program
</a>A shortage in the transportation department at Fredericksburg City Public Schools has resulted in changes to the hybrid in-person model that began this week. Under the approved return-to-school plan, city school students who chose the hybrid model were divided into one of four…

<a href="https://fcnp.com/2021/01/19/11-seek-appointment-to-f-c-school-board-77-to-naming-committees/">11 Seek Appointment to F.C. School Board; 77 to Naming Committees
</a>After the deadline last Friday, the number of applicants seeking appointment to fill an unfinished term on the School Board ballooned to 11 in the last 24 hours. When the News-Press went to press last week, the number was two. In addition, a total of 77 citizens submitted notification…

<a href="https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/regional-news/virginia-news/general-assembly-to-discuss-4-5-raise-for-virginias-teachers/">General Assembly to discuss 4.5% raise for Virginia’s teachers
</a>A bill to raise teacher pay is making its way through the General Assembly. House Bill 1915, introduced by Hampton Del. Martha Mulger (D), would push an increase in teacher salaries to four-and-a-half percent each year for the next five years. According to the National Education…

<a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/videos/outdoor-learning-carries-on-through-winter-months/FTVHkCaw">Outdoor learning carries on through winter months
</a>Some school systems have adopted outdoor learning to curb the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms. Classrooms at Blue Stone Elementary School in Harrisonburg Virginia are being reimagined. They’ve identified several spaces outside where students can learn…

<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.