December 8, 2020
NewsDaily NewsDecember 8, 2020

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…

Halifax County schools awarded security funds
Halifax County Public Schools is set to receive $230,273 from the Virginia Department of Education as part of $12 million announced in state school security equipment grants to protect students, faculty and visitors. Clays Mill Elementary, Cluster Springs Elementary, Halifax…

Charlottesville High School student presents to Virginia School Board Association
A Charlottesville student got the chance to address educators from around Virginia about increasing volunteerism in the state. Jamez Lynch Jr., a senior at Charlottesville High School, presented to the Virginia School Board Association about “Y Street.” He says he gave his…

Applications open for Chesterfield County high school programs
Interested students have 10 more days to apply to Chesterfield County Schools specialty centers and governor’s schools for the 2020-2021 school year. These applications are for eighth grade students who live in Chesterfield County. The applications opened on Dec. 1 and will…

Fairfax County teacher renovates treehouse for virtual classroom
When sixth-grade Fairfax County, Virginia, teacher Nellie Williams realized virtual learning would continue at the start of the school year, she knew she needed to change her environment. Her two teenage daughters’ old treehouse in the backyard of her home looked…

Richmond Public School Board to decide second semester plans tonight
Tonight, the Richmond Public School Board will be making a decision on whether or not students will return to in-person learning for the second semester. Last week, RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras said he will recommend that the district remain virtual citing…

F.C. Schools Launch ‘15 Days of Joy’
Starting on Nov. 29, the Falls Church City Schools are engaged in a ‘15 Days of Joy’ celebration this month that promotes focused activities to brighten the season locally. It began with Be Cozy on Nov. 30, followed by Be Adventurous Dec. 1, Be Local Dec. 2, Be Grateful Dec. 3, Be…

Schools Monitoring Bullying In Online Learning
Mohamad Badawa’s time at Broadway High School is one he will never forget. Keenly interested in athletics, he sported the coveted green Gobbler jersey while playing football and basketball. Badawa also wrestled for the school. Juggling the average school responsibilities…

Baylor helps feed Buckingham
The Baylor University Collaborative Hunger and Poverty (BCHP), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and key public and private organizations, announced that it served more than 38.7 million meals between March and August to more than 270,000…

Refusing to teach in-person, a Falling Creek Middle teacher’s job was in limbo for weeks. Now back virtually, she wants to create a safe space for teachers
Falling Creek Middle School teacher Emma Clark refused to teach in person when called back to the classroom. For weeks her job was in limbo and her paycheck withheld. Now she’s back in the virtual classroom, where she wanted to be all along — and hoping to create a safe space…

Mecklenburg Schools move to all virtual as COVID numbers rise
Due to significant COVID-19 community transmission rates as reported by the Virginia Department of Health, Mecklenburg County Public Schools will switch to a fully remote teaching and learning model for all students effective Thursday, December 10th. While learning…

PGCPS Journalism teacher receives National Scholastic Press award
Prince George High School Journalism/Yearbook/Broadcast Advisor and educator Chris Waugaman is this year’s recipient of the National Scholastic Press Association Pioneer Award in recognition of Waugaman’s career of mentoring aspiring journalists, the school division…

Spotsylvania supervisors to address school budget adjustment, industrial park development
The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors will address an industrial park mixed-use development and several million dollars in adjustments to the school budget at its meeting Tuesday. The meeting, which will be held at the Holbert building, starts at 4:30 p.m. Public hearings will be…

Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth schools postpone the start of high school sports
Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Portsmouth public schools postponed the start of the high school sports season Monday amid concerns over the recent surge of coronavirus cases. “As of today, all activities related to varsity winter sports are postponed until further notice,” a letter to…

School COVID-19 dashboard helps inform parents on transmission risks in division
Parents in Henry County can stay up to date with coronavirus transmission in the schools through the county’s COVID-19 dashboard. The website has been in operation for approximately a month and cases can be tracked all the back to Oct. 12. Recently, eight staff…

December 9 & 10, Two Part Insights for Budget Basics & Finance 101
Virginia public school budgeting will be discussed, including roles of elected officials, fiduciary requirements, stakeholders, and budget reports. Revenue categories will be explained, including state formulas, federal funding, local funding, and tax rates. Reserve your webinar…

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…

Missed the Virtual VSBA Annual Convention? It is not too late to register to gain access to over 35 hours of educational content. Contact your school board clerk for more information.