January 25-26, 2021, VSBA Capital Conference, Virtual
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…
January 26, 2021, VSBA Orientation for New School Board Members and Superintendents, Virtual
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 & Superintendents. Many important topics will be covered, including the roles and…
Fairfax school board switches to ‘holistic review’ admissions system for Thomas Jefferson High School
The Fairfax County Public Schools board voted Thursday to adopt a “holistic review” for admissions to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a revision meant to boost diversity at the top-tier magnet school and that ends months of fraught and fiery debate…
Funding tops county schools’ legislative wish list
More school funding tops the list of legislative priorities for the Albemarle County School Board during the upcoming General Assembly session. The Albemarle County School Board met with area lawmakers virtually Thursday to discuss the session. The board would like more state…
Williamsburg leaders, legislators discuss priorities, including education, broadband, continued widening of I-64 around New Kent
The city of Williamsburg is prioritizing the widening of Interstate 64 north to Richmond in its legislative requests for the 2021 session. The city held a legislative priorities briefing with its legislative delegation on Monday. Williamsburg officials and council members discussed its…
Charlottesville schools revamp in-person learning plan
Charlottesville City Schools has dialed back its plans to restart in-person classes next month with a focus on providing classes to its youngest learners and assistance to students in need. Schools Superintendent Rosa Atkins said during Thursday’s School Board meeting that the…
Lynchburg City School Board temporarily suspends in-person public comments, citing concern over COVID-19 spread
The Lynchburg City School Board voted this week to affirm a ban on in-person public comments at its meetings beginning in January. In a 5-4 vote at its work session Tuesday, the Lynchburg City School Board passed a motion to temporarily suspend in-person public comments at…
Virginia Beach will cancel winter sports if COVID-19 metrics don’t drop by Tuesday
Virginia Beach City Public Schools will decide Tuesday whether to cancel the winter sports season. During its school board meeting on Tuesday, the division announced a “Go, No Go deadline.” If the district is in the red/red zone according to its Fall 2020 Plan, then the division…
‘We don’t know what we’re doing on Jan. 4’ … it’s ‘wait and watch’
Toward the end of the Page County School Board meeting Monday night, Superintendent Wendy Gonzalez addressed a question on the minds of students, parents, teachers, coaches and staff alike — what do we do beyond the current closure of schools through Jan. 4? Do we…
Chesterfield searching for teachers during ‘critical needs’ and elementary job fairs
Teachers in the Central Virginia area can apply to work for Chesterfield’s public schools during two job fairs. The school district is looking to hire those who are licensed to teach math, science, special education, world language, English as a Second Language, and career and technical…
Arlington students are failing at higher rates. The most vulnerable are struggling most.
Students in Arlington Public Schools are failing classes at a higher rate during the pandemic, newly released data show, and the most vulnerable students are struggling most. The percentage of middle and high school students earning E’s in Arlington, which serves 26,000…
As COVID-19 cases rise, teachers say they don’t feel safe at school
Masks slide down little noses repeatedly; arms reach out for hugs that teachers and counselors don’t have the heart to deny; and restless feet stray from squares taped on classroom floors intended to keep kids and teachers at least 6 feet apart. Those are some of the typical…
Enrollment decline at Virginia public schools could have impact on state funding
Public school enrollment in this pandemic-riddled school year has dropped about 3.5% in Virginia, which could create a funding challenge for schools that Gov. Ralph Northam is trying to solve through a budget amendment. To help curb the spread of COVID-19, Northam…
Students in Bedford County can practice sports but cannot compete
Students in Bedford County will have to wait a while to compete in athletics following a vote on Thursday evening during a special meeting. The board voted to play it safe with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future. Last Thursday, the board voted to use the CDC’s metrics for sports…
New survey shows Virginia parents worried about their child falling behind while learning from home
A new survey from the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University found that even though majority of parents in Virginia are satisfied with the way their child’s school district has responded to COVID-19, roughly 75% are worried about their child falling…
‘These are my children’: Franklin County’s Anthony Swann carries message of love and compassion as state’s top teacher
At first glance, Anthony Swann’s fifth grade classroom is no different from any other. Students sit at their laptops on a recent December morning, completing reading assignments as the Rocky Mount Elementary teacher walks around the room answering questions. A white…
NEW- Virginia Freedom of Information (FOIA) Training
The requirements of FOIA impact every school board meeting, from initial notice of the meeting to what must be included in the minutes. Board members’ thorough familiarity with FOIA helps school board meetings flow smoothly and shows the community that the board is committed…