October is VSBA Bullying Prevention Month
In an effort to promote awareness of school bullying, the VSBA Board of Directors has designated the month of October as VSBA Bullying Prevention Month. Childhood bullying is a significant problem nationwide. It can cause school absenteeism, mental and physical stress…
November 18-20, VSBA Virtual Annual Convention
The VSBA Annual Convention is the largest and most anticipated VSBA meeting of the year. While this year our Annual Convention may look a little different, and we won’t get to see your smiling faces in person, we hope you’ll find our event schedule to be just as enriching and…
‘Teach for the love of your children’: Franklin County teacher named Virginia Teacher of the Year
A local elementary school teacher has earned the state’s highest honor for teaching. Anthony Swann, a fifth-grade teacher at Rocky Mount Elementary, was named the 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year during a virtual ceremony on Thursday night. “First of all, I’d like to thank God for…
CARES money to address emotional needs of city students
New programming at Bristol Virginia public schools is designed to help children and families cope with the added burdens of COVID-19. Highlands Community Services will provide therapists, case workers and a crisis team to offer counseling, behavioral support, crisis…
Hackers post stolen information from Fairfax school district
Hackers who launched a ransomware attack on the Fairfax County Public Schools computer system last month obtained personal information about students and employees and posted it on the Internet, school district officials acknowledged Friday in a letter emailed to parents and…
Stepping up: Schools vote to give staff salary step increases
When Orange County School Board Chair Sherrie Page asked if there were any additions to the agenda at Monday’s meeting, school superintendent Dr. Cecil Snead clearly was excited about adding one item under the “superintendent’s reports and recommendations.” Less than 30…
Va. public schools must spend $220 million in CARES Act funding by Nov. 30
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced $220 million from federal CARES Act funding will be going to public schools around the commonwealth. Public schools in the Shenandoah Valley received millions of dollars, but all…
Pandemic-related drop in enrollment in Fredericksburg-area public schools could have financial effects
Nora Mason’s daughter started kindergarten last year at Ferry Farm Elementary School in Stafford County. “We really liked her experience in public school,” Mason said. “She seemed happy, she adjusted pretty well and she was doing well academically. I feel like [Ferry Farm…
Richmond Middle School reports COVID-19 case
A positive case of COVID-19 has been reported at Frances C. Richmond Middle School, making it the fourth case reported in three days at schools in the Hanover-Lebanon area. Families were informed of the positive case in an email on Saturday signed by principal Tim Boyle, SAU 70…
Nelson County Public Schools to remain in virtual format through end of semester
Nelson County Public Schools will remain virtual through the second quarter which runs Oct. 19 through Dec. 18. Initially expected to transition to a hybrid learning model during the second quarter, the school board voted Thursday night in a split 3-2 vote to continue the 100% virtual…
Shenandoah Co. School Board approves committees for school renaming, mascot change
The Shenandoah County School Board approved its committees for the renaming of Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby Lee Elementary School and the mascot of North Fork Middle School Thursday. At the school board’s public meeting on Oct. 8, the members of the…
Virginia Lee Murray Elementary School name beginning the review process
Albemarle County Public Schools will be looking into Virginia Lee Murray Elementary School’s name as part of an initiative to review all buildings named after people. “What are our values for this school?” Principal Alison Dwier Seldon asked. “What means a lot to us? What do we…
As Henrico School Board weighs return options, most health metrics are encouraging
Limited in-person learning opportunities are underway at Henrico County’s public schools, but it’s the timing of a potential return for all students who choose that path that is on the minds of parents and teachers alike these days. Thursday, the Henrico School Board received…
Lynchburg-area school divisions announce 6 new cases of COVID-19 this week, 47 total
Lynchburg-area school divisions reported six new positive cases of COVID-19 this week and together have reported a total of 47 positive cases since school began. Bedford County Public Schools reported three new positive cases of COVID-19 on Friday- two in individuals at…
Northern Virginia schools want to send kids into classrooms again. Will teachers come back, too?
As schools in Northern Virginia make plans to usher children back inside classrooms, a major question is coming swiftly to the fore: Will teachers return, too? In Fairfax County Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Schools — all of which have…
Monday’s school board meeting will include reopening update
The Fauquier County School Board will meet Monday night, Oct. 12, in the Taylor Middle School auditorium for a closed session from 6 to 7 p.m. and a regular meeting beginning at 7 p.m. The closed session will address student discipline. The latest design for renovations at Cedar Lee…
October 28, 2020, Title IX Best Practices in Training & Compliance, Level 2 Training
Registration is now open for the NEW VSBA Title IX Level 2 Workshop in conjunction with Sands Anderson PC. New Title IX Regulations went into effect in August and require training for staff people who fill several roles in the Title IX process, including Investigators and Decision…