March is VSBA Equity in Education Month
In an effort to encourage equity in education, the VSBA Board of Directors has designated the month of March as VSBA Equity in Education Month. For more information on the month long webinar series, a copy of the governor’s proclamation and additional resources follow the link above.
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…
As one Virginia school district prepares to reopen, educators and families balance Covid precautions and normal instruction
Rose Moore stands in front of a classroom, training a teacher about technology and safety for in-person learning. It’s the 44th time the assistant principal at Holmes Middle School in Fairfax County, Virginia, has done this in recent weeks, meticulously explaining everything from the…
What’s in a name? Community torn over Magruder Elementary School’s namesake
As institutions around the country take time to reflect on practices and orientations, many are looking into the possibility of changing names. Just last week, board members of Thomas Nelson Community College voted to recommend a name change. Now Magruder Elementary…
Area marching bands adapt practices, performances to unusual circumstances
Ginny Bruno is ready for home football games at Albemarle High School. “Even though there aren’t going to be fans, it’s a good time to have school spirit, which hasn’t happened in a super long time,” said Bruno, a junior at AHS and drum major of the school’s marching band. “It was…
Radford City Public Schools return to in-person learning
Radford City Public Schools have returned to in-person learning on March 1, some calling it similar the first day of school. “I don’t think we could’ve had a better, better restart —if I can use that word —-restart to have them all of our students who want to be back,” said Robert…
Amherst schools’ budget plan includes 3% pay raise for employees
A 3% pay raise for employees is recommended in Amherst County Public Schools’ proposed $53.8 million budget for fiscal year 2022, which includes a $1.3 million increase in operating spending. Superintendent Rob Arnold presented the proposal at the Amherst County School…
Hanover School Board debating changes to IB program
Hanover County Public Schools officials could be consolidating the International Baccalaureate (IB) program within the school division as soon as the upcoming academic year. Data presented to the School Board at its Monday work session shows that right now in Hanover County…
Teachers, staff welcome students back as Nelson County transitions to hybrid learning
For many pre-K through third grade students at Nelson County’s elementary schools, it wasn’t exactly a welcome back to school as they stepped off the bus Monday morning, but rather a welcome back to the building. After repeated delays, Nelson County Public Schools officially…
A standout among thousands: Warren County student wins Horatio Alger scholarship
Warren County High School senior Alexa Gilbert says she plans to study communications in college and go into politics. A $25,000 scholarship should help her when she enrolls at University of Pennsylvania in the fall. The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished…
General Assembly wraps up with raises for teachers, state workers, transformation of criminal justice
Under the shadow of a police officer’s violent death in a small Shenandoah Valley town, the General Assembly completed the work of a hybrid legislative session on Saturday that sought to transform Virginia’s criminal justice system and restore public schools that have been partly or…
Henrico 4-H, local nonprofit to launch computer coding club for 4th-8th graders
Fourth- through eighth-graders in Henrico will soon be able to enroll in a computer coding club through Henrico 4-H and nonprofit STEM Z. STEM Z, which is led by Henrico High School students, is teaming up with Henrico 4-H to offer a free, virtual SPIN club. It will teach the…
Richards To Present Proposed Budget At Tuesday’s City School Board Meeting
At Tuesday’s Harrisonburg City School Board meeting, Superintendent Michael Richards will present his proposed budget and will reveal his proposed salary increase for employees. For the past few months, Richards has worked with school principals, department directors and…
Facing $42.5 Million Budget Gap, APS Looks to Biden Stimulus Package
For his first budget as Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools, Francisco Durán said he is proposing a conservative budget “that reflects our most urgent needs.” The 2022 budget for APS, which he presented to members of the School Board on Thursday, comes to $704.4…
Portable internet tower puts Botetourt County school back online
Botetourt County’s brand-new Colonial Elementary School is filled with top-notch technology; however, just over a week ago, stepping into the school was like stepping back in time as the school was off the grid for a month. During construction, the incumbent internet provider…
Richmond School Board approves plan for 800 student in-person return
The Richmond School Board voted to approve Superintendent Jason Kamras’ spring re-opening proposal. With his proposal in place, 800 Richmond Public Schools students will resume in-person learning on April 12. Now that the School Board has voted, 300 seats will open up in…
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…
VSBA Showcases for Success
As a means of encouraging community awareness and positive press coverage of public education, the Virginia School Boards Association is inviting school divisions to recommend programs and initiatives that would serve as appropriate “Showcases for Success” in public…