November 20,2020
NewsDaily NewsNovember 20,2020

VSBA Virtual Annual Convention, Daily Crier Day 3
Check in on what today’s session of the annual convention has in store for you. Join our Coffee & Convos Session at 8 AM to hear from the Students and Schools in Challenged Environments Task Force or at 9:15 AM for the first set of breakout sessions.

Charlottesville-based architecture firm VMDO wins accolade for work with Greene County Schools
A Charlottesville-based architecture firm just won accolades for its work revamping schools in Greene County. VMDO Architects received the Platinum award, the top reward, in the 2020 Virginia School Boards Association’s Exhibition of School Architecture. The firm renovated…

Williamsburg, James City middle, high school students return to classrooms delayed as COVID cases surge
James City County Schools has postponed plans to return high school and middle school students to classrooms at the end of the month as COVID-19 cases surge across the district. WJCC Schools will also temporarily return all students to remote learning only the…

Poquoson parents want to send their children back to in-person learning
A parents group in Poquoson got part of what it wants Tuesday night when the School Board agreed unanimously to resume high school sports next month with other school systems in the region. Several parents rallied outside Poquoson City Hall before the board meeting, and…

School Board Member Reprimanded for Disclosing Information Deemed Confidential
The Loudoun County School Board on Tuesday night issued a formal reprimand to a member who was found to have disclosed on social media confidential information presented by the division attorney during a closed meeting. Following a closed session to discuss the issue…

Group calls on Virginia officials to offer school guidance
An education group that accused a public school district in Virginia of pursuing a “reckless” return to in-person classes has called on Gov. Ralph Northam and other state leaders to intervene and offer guidance on school reopening plans. Chesterfield Educators United, the…

Albemarle County schools to expand mental health services for students, families
Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is expanding its mental health programs and services over the next two years. The effort is helped by an anonymous $500,000 donation. The school board has already approved a division-wide program to broaden support for students in crisis…

Superintendent calls for no changes to Prince William County school plan
Prince William County’s school superintendent told the school board Wednesday night he is not recommending any changes to the current plan for bringing students back – at least for now. Superintendent Steven Walts also announced a major change for high school sports…

Superintendent Backs T.C. Williams Name Change Ahead of School Board Vote
Heading into a School Board vote on Nov. 23, Superintendent Gregory Hutchings had thrown his support in with those supporting changing the names of T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School. Hutchings explained his support for the name change in…

Why virtual learning works for this Henrico family
Several school districts continues to debate whether to send students back into the classroom versus maintaining virtual learning. One Henrico County family solidified their decision before the COVID-19 pandemic even started. For years, 13-year-old Trenell Milana fell behind while…

Page County Public Schools offers free meals for children
Page County Public Schools will now be serving meals at no charge to all children 18 and under, according to a press release from the division. The release says, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved waivers for local school division and other federal meal program…

Powhatan schools gather data on student return decision
The Powhatan County School Board is looking for input from families ahead of a likely decision they will make in December about how many more students, if any, to bring back to in-person instruction in the near future. During the school board’s meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Dr. Eric…

Parents collect coats and Thanksgiving meals for Richmond elementary school students
PTA leaders from Overby-Sheppard and John B. Cary elementary schools are now on a mission to make Thanksgiving memorable for children in need. They are collecting hundreds of meals and warm coats for the holiday. They plan to spread out the 400 collected coats to…

Goochland looking for opponents as schools in its district opt out of playing winter sports
Goochland High School activities director Joe Fowler says the Bulldogs are “all in” for playing winter sports. One catch: They need to find some other schools to play. Six of the nine schools in the James River District, where Goochland is a member, have decided not to play in the…

Culpeper School Board views construction of Technical Education Center
Culpeper school officials have spent years sweating the details of the county’s Technical Education Center, but Tuesday brought home how well the project is coming along. For the first time, the School Board toured the $17.3 million school being built beside Germanna…

Norfolk School Board members postpone reopening plan discussions to December
As the coronavirus pandemic evolves, so do reopening plans for school districts across Hampton Roads. The Norfolk School board revisited the topic yet again at their meeting Wednesday night, but no progress was made because discussions didn’t quite go as…