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…
Virginia Democrats to unveil plan to reopen schools as political pressure mounts
Democrats in the House of Delegates are set to unveil legislation on Monday to get students across Virginia back into public school classrooms by summer, signaling a way forward for a topic that has become increasingly politically urgent as the coronavirus pandemic drags on…
Discipline incidents down in some Lynchburg-area school divisions; officials cite COVID-19 measures
Lynchburg-area school divisions are seeing at least one positive effect of the COVID-19 pandemic: fewer discipline cases. With fewer students in buildings, fewer students to a classroom and more distance between students, some school divisions are seeing a massive…
Comprehensive Policies Proposed To Protect Transgender Students
On March 13, life came to a halt for much of Virginia. Gov. Ralph Northam closed schools and many other aspects of life were put on hold as the COVID-19 pandemic raged. But for one Harrisonburg High School student, life was changing in another way — it was his birthday…
Grayson County Public Schools close as staff recovers from vaccine side effects
Grayson County Public Schools closed Monday because several of their employees were still recovering from their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials say having symptoms after the second dose is common. “I was sick for about 8 or 10 hours I was very…
COVID pen pals: Staunton students connect through lost art of letter writing
Taya Blackwell wants to help people or maybe animals when she grows up. So when the 9-year-old was matched with Kara Butler, a Staunton police officer, as a pen pal, she couldn’t have been happier. “It was kind of the best pen pal because she helps people,” Blackwell said…
School superintendent: Four-day in-person school will require relaxed physical distancing
When school buildings open back up on March 15 for four-day-a-week, in-person learning, students in pre-kindergarten to second grade will probably be sharing bus rides with more of their classmates — two to a seat instead of one to a seat — and social distancing rules may be…
Education Department investigates Fairfax schools for services to disabled students during pandemic
The U.S. Education Department launched an investigation last month into reports that the Fairfax County school system failed to provide appropriate educational opportunities to students with disabilities during the pandemic. In a Jan 12. Letter to Fairfax County Schools…
Census delay could complicate some Fredericksburg-area supervisors, school board elections
Several regional county supervisors and school board members facing reelection in November may have to campaign twice for the same office as a result of a delay in receiving federal census data and the redistricting of voting precincts that follows. Every 10 years, states…
Cheerleaders, band members to count as participants for Pulaski County Public Schools’ football games
As part of a plan developed by Pulaski County Public Schools, the New River Health District, and the Virginia High School League (VHSL), cheerleaders and band members will be considered participants in the upcoming football games this year. Pulaski County Public…
Governor Northam announces 2nd annual Black History Month Historical Marker Contest
Governor Ralph Northam invites Virginia students, educators, and families to participate in the second annual Black History Month Historical Marker Contest. The initiative gives Virginians opportunities to learn about African Americans who have made important contributions to…
Virginia lawmakers make push on return to in-person school
Virginia House Democrats unveiled legislation Monday morning that would require public school districts to offer at least some access to in-person learning by the 2021-2022 school year. The bill, which has the support of House leadership and Gov. Ralph Northam, says districts must…
Bills on educators’ cultural competency pass both chambers of Virginia legislature
Legislation backed by Gov. Ralph Northam that would require teachers to complete cultural competency training to keep their license is on the fast track to becoming law. Identical bills sponsored by Del. Clint Jenkins, D-Suffolk, and Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, cleared both…
Pittsylvania County Schools reports a significant number of students with failing grades
Students in all grades, kindergarteners through seniors, have been asked for nearly a year to learn under a most extraordinary set of circumstances required by the COVID-19 pandemic. And many of them are failing, some at alarming rates. The question is, exactly how many and…
2021 VSBA Business Honor Roll Open Now
Local businesses have the power to shape community attitudes about public schools. Every spring, the VSBA Business Honor Roll provides a way for local school divisions to recognize local businesses for their support, especially as schools face increasing budget uncertainty…
VSBA School Board U
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.