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…
Legislators renew push to fully fund, update standards for public education
The battle over Virginia’s obligation to fully fund the costs of public education has resumed in the General Assembly with the same price tag but a new intensity because of the potentially devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on public schools. Sen. Jennifer McClellan…
Law aiming to help schools and local governments access solar sails through House
Legislation aiming to remove roadblocks that have prevented schools and local governments in Southwest Virginia from accessing solar energy through contracts with renewables companies has sailed through the House with no opposition and will come before a Senate panel this…
Chesapeake moving forward with high school football, other fall sports
The Chesapeake Public Schools’ school board decided Monday night to move forward with a fall sports season. “I am recommending that we proceed with the fall athletic season at the varsity level, but cancel sports at the junior-varsity level,” Jared Cotton, superintendent of…
Richmond school officials, community members at odds over extension of superintendent’s contract
Richmond community members are divided over the length of Superintendent Jason Kamras’ contract renewal, which ends in June. Supporters and detractors of the 2005 National Teacher of the Year are at odds over how long to extend his contract, which is up for renewal. Some…
Bristol, Virginia Public Schools return to in-person learning
Bristol, Virginia public schools opened its doors to students once again for in-person learning. This is the first time students returned to the classroom since early December. Teachers at Van Pelt Elementary School are ready to tackle the COVID-19 slide. That means tackling the…
Virginia Education Association: Schools need virtual instruction until all teachers vaccinated
Some Virginia school districts in the region made the decision to return to in-person learning this week, which comes as teachers begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in the commonwealth’s phase 1b of distribution. Whether looking at schools in Tennessee or Virginia, this is not a…
Fairfax schools superintendent’s latest plan begins bringing students back Feb. 16
The proposed reopening plan for Fairfax County schools has been released, but it’s not sitting well with parents who believe a return to in-person classes should be an option for families who want it. Dr. Scott Brabrand, superintendent of the state’s largest school system, unveiled his…
Verizon Fios experiencing East Coast outage, impacts include No.Va. schools
Verizon Fios is experiencing East Coast outages after a fiber was cut in Brooklyn on Tuesday morning, the company said on Twitter. Customers from Boston to the D.C. metro are dealing with connectivity issues, slow speeds or just plain no internet. The outage is also impacting…
HCPS Gets Helping Hand From Community Partner
It’s going on a year since the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students have not seen the inside of a classroom in 10 months. But during that time, teachers, administrators and other educators stepped up to prove that creativity, learning and…
77 Seek School Naming Committee Appointments
A total of 77 City of Falls Church citizens stepped forward last week to seek appointment to one of two school renaming committees. The two groups will make recommendations to the Falls Church School Board which will have the final say on alternative names for Thomas Jefferson…
Caroline County schools delaying in-person learning until March 1
The Caroline County School Board has voted to delay in-person learning for students until March 1. The division was to begin offering a hybrid in-person program for all students Feb. 1, but the board voted Monday evening to delay this option for one month, stating the desire to…
Henry County School Board hears better-than-anticipated budget news for the next fiscal year
Teacher step increases are back on the table for Henry County Public Schools, as officials expressed cautious optimism about the amount of state funding the district can expect in the coming year. Based on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s budget proposal, announced in…
Community raising money to donate N95 masks to CCPS employees
Chesterfield elementary school teachers and staff are heading back into the classroom on Feb. 1, and a group of parents wants to make sure they are properly protected. The Friends of Chesterfield Schools Coalition has started an online fundraiser to ensure teachers and staff…
February is VSBA School Board Appreciation Month
Salute the service of the almost 850 school board members in Virginia in February 2021 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…
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.