February is VSBA School Board Appreciation Month
Join VSBA President Janet Turner Giles in saluting the service of the almost 850 school board members in Virginia all February during School Board Appreciation Month. The theme — 115 Years of Providing Leadership Advocacy and Support — reflects the partnership of the Virginia School Boards Association with local school board members as they serve their local divisions and advocate for public education with local, state, and federal leaders on behalf of all students.
State reading assessments show jump in number of students at risk of reading failure
Reading assessments for Virginia’s youngest learners show that significantly more kindergartners and first-graders are struggling to read on grade level than the year prior. The number of kindergartners and first-graders in need of early reading intervention shot up 10%…
Virginia Department of Education announces 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant competition
Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane announced Friday that the Virginia Department of Education is inviting school divisions, nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, faith-based organizations, colleges and universities and for-profit corporations to apply for 21st…
Newport News Public Schools stops some exams due overload in virtual testing
Newport News Public School students are getting a break from some exams this semester. The school division says it’s due to technical issues. Superintendent Dr. George Parker explained their virtual testing system could not handle so many students testing at the same time….
Governor visits mass vaccination clinic for Prince William schools employees
Nearly 1,250 Prince William County Public Schools employees received COVID-19 vaccines Saturday at Unity Reed High School in Manassas, with another 1,250 vaccines scheduled today. The mass vaccination event drew a visit from Gov. Ralph Northam and his wife…
Early data shows extent of learning loss among Virginia students
Early data from Virginia schools suggest that more students are struggling academically as the majority of divisions continue to operate totally or partially remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a concern that educators have raised as they continue to navigate virtual…
Chesterfield’s youngest are returning to school Monday, two months earlier than originally recommended
Come Monday morning, nearly 14,000 of Chesterfield County Public Schools’ youngest learners will be back in a classroom five days a week. The elementary schoolers will join 1,000 select special K-12 education students who returned at the end of September. Students in the career…
32 COVID-19 cases linked to three school outbreaks in Danville and Pittsylvania County
Details emerged Friday surrounding four COVID-19 outbreaks in Danville and Pittsylvania County — three in schools and one at a long-term care facility — the same day two additional virus deaths were added to the toll. The location and caseloads for the outbreaks were…
Lynchburg-area school divisions report 55 new cases of COVID-19 this week
Fifty-five new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in Lynchburg-area school divisions this week. Together, Lynchburg City Schools and public schools in the counties of Campbell, Bedford, Amherst and Nelson have reported 727 positive cases of COVID-19 since their…
Hampton school nurses, EMS staff team-up for vaccination clinics
In one week, more than 3,500 people received COVID-19 vaccinations with the help of school nurses and EMS staff members. “It’s beautiful,” said Hampton city manager Mary Bunting. “It’s really, really beautiful.” The Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts share similar concerns…
Franklin County School Board votes to keep high school on hybrid schedule in emergency meeting
Franklin County High School will stay on a hybrid schedule for the third nine weeks of school instead of returning to in-person classes four days a week. At an emergency meeting Thursday evening, the Franklin County School Board unanimously approved this change of plans after…
Loudoun Co. schools chief responds after frustrated parent’s comments go viral
The head of a Northern Virginia school system is asking for patience, grace, flexibility and comfort with the unknown amid increased media attention after a parent expressed his frustration during a school board meeting on school reopening. “Following Tuesday’s School…
Goochland Superintendent proposes $36.3 million budget for 2021-22 school year
Goochland County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Raley presented a $36,322,000 budget for the 2021-22 school year to the School Board Tuesday. The proposal includes revisions to the teacher salary scale in order to improve existing salary compression. If this…
Senate bill seeks to allow Virginia school boards to use state money for broadband expansion
Legislation that would allow school boards to appropriate money to fund broadband internet expansion to unserved areas has advanced past a second Virginia Senate committee. Senate Bill 1225, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Herndon, advanced through the Education…
Some Fairfax County teachers say they’re ready to return to the classroom
FOX 5 has learned some teachers may feel differently about getting back in the classroom and now, after weeks of union leaders guiding the conversation, they’re speaking out. FOX 5’s Tisha Lewis spoke with some Fairfax County Public School teachers with years of experience who…
Henrico schools chief proposes $665.2 million spending plan; teacher raises not included yet in the process
The spending plan Henrico County Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell wants for the fiscal year that begins July 1 would restore some of last years’ reductions, unfreeze positions and pay for professional development and technology equipment. The $665.2 million blueprint…
Charlottesville, Albemarle Public Schools work on budgets for next fiscal year
Both Charlottesville and Albemarle County public school systems are working on complicated budgets for fiscal year 2022. This budget cycle is complex for everyone due to the pandemic and changing expectations for student needs and revenue projections. The timeline for the…
February 17, 2021, VSBA Title IX Best Practices in Training & Compliance
With claims of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct hitting newsstands everywhere, Title IX coordinators and other senior staff need to be confident in their knowledge and enforcement of their divisions’ policies. Prevention and thorough investigations are the best ways to…
March 17, 2021, VSBA March Hot Topic
Join us as we gather virtually for an informative and important conference. This conference will be focusing specifically on multiple hot topics in education. You will hear from three leaders in public education throughout the event speaking on the topics of Race and Equity…