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…
Call for Proposals for Conference on Education: Deadline Friday, Feb. 26
The ever-popular Annual VSBA Conference on Education is taking proposals for the 2021 virtual event on July 20, 2021. Mini workshops are a fast-track way of learning. Workshop presenters make short, informative, fast-paced presentations while attendees viewing can ask questions and make connections within the chat box the entire time while your presentation is being streamed….
Older students in Virginia Beach to return for in-person classes Tuesday
The remaining older grades will return to in-person classes in Virginia Beach Tuesday, bringing all students back face-to-face for the first time since mid-November. The students, seventh through 12th graders, will return under the same hybrid approach previously used — in…
Ahead of budget reveal, Chesterfield County officials pledge more money for schools, less than what Superintendent requested
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors on Monday pledged to dole out more money for the school system’s next fiscal year, but not enough to meet the needs of a spending plan built on teacher salary decompression. County officials promised an additional $18.2 million to…
Fairfax parent says it took 4 days to learn of son’s potential COVID-19 exposure
A Fairfax County, Virginia, family is in quarantine after an elementary school student was exposed to a teaching assistant who tested positive for COVID-19. That student at Sleepy Hollow Elementary is in the individualized education program there, and was among the first…
Virginia lawmakers pass bill to stop student meal debt lawsuits
Del. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, introduced House Bill 2013 that would prohibit school boards from suing families to collect school meal debt. The bill passed the House of Delegates late last month with a 69-31 vote. The Senate passed the bill Monday with a 29-10 vote. The bill now…
New Virginia school-reopening bill tightens requirements
Virginia lawmakers have advanced a new version of bipartisan school-reopening legislation that would tighten the requirements for in-person instruction that districts must offer in the next school year. The lawmakers negotiating the bill said Monday that the aim of the latest version…
State reform of Governor’s Schools blocked; local boards act
A push to increase the numbers of Black and Hispanic students at Virginia’s selective “Governor’s Schools” by changing admissions policies has failed, despite the support of Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration. But what supporters were unable to achieve at a statewide…
SHS band hits high note despite pandemic
On a recent sunny afternoon, evidence of a modest return to the pre-pandemic normal was audible from the front doors of Smithfield High School — the excited voices of band students and the thump of percussion. Joel Joyner, Smithfield High’s director of bands, said the…
Most Fauquier Co. children set to resume 4-day in-school learning
Fauquier County Public Schools Superintendent David Jeck said 78% of families plan to have their children attend four days per week of in-school learning, with the youngest returning to school buildings in the Virginia county on March 15. The Fauquier County School Board…
Campbell County Public Schools adopts $90 million budget
The Campbell County School Board on Monday unanimously approved a budget for fiscal year 2022 that totals nearly $90.3 million and includes a 3% salary increase for division employees. The adopted budget has more than $55.5 million in state funding, nearly $6 million in federal…
Williamsburg-James City Co. to begin hybrid learning March 1st
All students will rotate on a hybrid learning schedule starting March 1, attending school in-person two days a week based on their last name and learning remotely the other three days. March 1st. Updated In-Person Learning Schedule- February 22: Grades 6 and 12, March 1…
$9m addition planned at Jouett
County leaders are preparing to borrow about $9 million to add 20,000 square feet of classroom space at Jouett Elementary School. Citizens will have a chance to weigh in on the bonds that will pay for the school expansion during a public hearing at the Louisa County Board of…
Student driver safety bill, prompted by York County crash that killed three teens, passes through General Assembly
The student driver safety bill — House Bill 1918 — that came about as a result of the death in October 2019 of York County high school student Conner Guido and two other teenagers has passed the General Assembly and is awaiting the governor’s signature to become law…
Draft state budget would boost salaries, school spending
New Mexico’s state government is likely to deliver a jolt of one-time spending amid the pandemic while boosting sustained funding for health care and public education under a newly drafted budget bill. The lead House budget committee on Monday unanimously endorsed the…
March 2, 2021, Superintendent Evaluation Workshop
Are you prepared to evaluate your superintendent? The Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Superintendents developed by the Virginia Department of Education provide a wealth of information regarding the requirements. Filtering through this…
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…