Newsletter 2022 Issue 4
From the President's Desk
Dear Fellow School Board Members,

The VSBA has been quite active this past month. The April Hot Topic Conference focused on Cybersecurity was timely and important to all school divisions. The conference was full of first-hand experiences that we all can learn from. If you were unable to attend, I encourage you to check out the recording. It was also a treat to be able to address our School Board Clerks at the Spring Clerks Conference and emphasize their importance to each of us.

As we communicated earlier, we also became a founding member of the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA), along with 21 other states, enhancing collaboration across the states with a full complement of training and networking opportunities forthcoming. You may expect more information in June.
From the Executive Director
The VSBA just finished wrapping up the last of our 2022 Spring Regional Networking Meetings, with the Blue Ridge Region closing out the 2022 sessions. Unfortunately, because of advance planning, and most of the regional meetings being hosted in schools, the regional meetings were all virtual. Hopefully next year we will be able to have the nine regional meetings in person. The regional officers did an excellent job finding timely speakers and entertainment for the meetings. As I say each year, and this year is no exception, the artwork is amazing. If you haven’t had a chance, please go to the VSBA website and check out the winning art from this year. Click here to view the 2022 student artwork.


As the school year slows down, it is a perfect time to schedule a customized board retreat. VSBA recommends every governance team (the board and superintendent) hold a retreat at least once a year. A small investment of time in targeted board development can pay big dividends. If you have new members as of January or new ones coming on in July, this is the perfect time for a retreat. VSBA offers customized facilitated training based on the governance teams' individual needs. By meeting at the VSBA Center for Board Development in Charlottesville, boards have the opportunity to meet in an environment that is unrestricted by routines allowing them to focus on the work of the board. It permits more time for discussion, creative thinking, and strategic planning. Remember, a retreat is an excellent time to introduce and discuss new topics and perhaps provide a timely opportunity for the board to hit that reset button.
Issue Highlights

Virginia General Assembly: Reconvene Session 2022

Insights from the 2022 Virginia Education Broadband Grant

2022 VSBA Business Honor Roll

Division Spotlight: Radford City Public Schools

Application Process for Nomination and Election of At-Large Officers

Application Process for Nomination and Election of Regional Officers
Virginia General Assembly: Reconvene Session 2022
On Wednesday April 29, 2022, the Virginia General Assembly met for the 2022 Reconvene Session. This yearly occasion consists of members of the Senate of Virginia and Virginia House of Delegates convening to consider legislative vetoes and recommendations by the Governor to legislation passed in the regular session of the General Assembly. In the 2022 Reconvene Session, there were ten pieces of legislation of interest to K-12 public education that received action by the Governor following adjournment of the 2022 General Assembly session on March 12th. 

SB 36 (Norment)/ HB 4 (Wyatt) Requires that school principals report to law enforcement certain enumerated acts that may constitute a misdemeanor offense and report to the parents of any minor student who is the specific object of such act that the incident has been reported to law enforcement. Under current law, principals are required to make such reports only for such acts that may constitute a felony offense. 
Insights from the 2022 Virginia Education Broadband Grant: Examining Key Takeaways and Celebrating Awardees of the Grant.
The Digital Divide in Virginia
In Virginia, one in five students lack high-speed Internet at home. This digital divide, also known as the Homework Gap, puts students at a significant disadvantage to their more connected peers. It is incumbent upon education leaders to ensure that all students have a way to engage in online learning and access digital educational resources outside the classroom.

Kajeet Virginia Education Broadband Grant
In honor of the 115th anniversary of the Virginia School Boards Association, Kajeet partnered with VSBA to launch the Virginia Education Broadband Grant program. Out of the thirty applicants, nine school divisions, one per VSBA region, are being awarded up to $30,000 to support their digital equity initiatives. Awardees may use the grant for any combination of Kajeet Education Broadband solutions, including Wi-Fi hotspots, school bus Wi-Fi, LTE-embedded Chromebooks, and routers.
VSBA Profile in Leadership- Meet Amy McClure, VSBA Southern Region Chair
What do you do when you're not working on School Board items?

I am currently the Coordinator of Federal Programs for Prince Edward County Public Schools. I also teach adjunct Education courses for Southside Virginia Community College. When I am not working, I love camping with my husband Corey and my two daughters, Aubrey and Ally.  
 
Where do you turn for new ideas about serving your community?

I enjoy attending local events such as the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, sporting events, and theatre.

What are one or two issues/topics/challenges that are especially important to you and why?
 
Amy McClure,
VSBA Southern Region Chair,
Lunenburg County School Board
Richmond County School Governance Team Earns First 2022 VSBA Master Board Designation
The Richmond County School Board and Superintendent recently earned the designation of a VSBA Master Board. The Team attended four sessions totaling over twenty hours of professional development beginning in March and ending on May 17. The discussions, facilitated by staff of the Virginia School Boards Association, focused on team building, improving communication, listening, and board building behaviors.
Division Spotlight: Radford City Public Schools
In each newsletter VSBA will spotlight a recent initiative or best practice taking place in a school division in Virginia. If you have a story you would like to submit for inclusion in the spotlight section of the VSBA newsletter, please contact Brittany Moore, member services coordinator, for more information. We look forward to hearing about the great things going on in your divisions.
McHarg PBIS Big Rig Day
McHarg Elementary School uses Kid Cash for our Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). Students earn Kid Cash by exhibiting schoolwide expected behaviors. Kid Cash can be used in the classroom to purchase relationship-based experiences as well as material objects.
 
In addition to the classroom purchases, students also have the opportunity to purchase tickets to larger schoolwide events. These events help build schoolwide community, school spirit, and encourage saving as well as providing an opportunity to experience delayed gratification.
The importance of advocacy and grassroots engagement is a central component of the Virginia School Boards Association. It is imperative for board members to engage the stakeholders of their community including parents, business, community and higher education leaders, local community organizations, and policy makers in the work of building a successful public-school system in each community across the Commonwealth.

VSBA invites your board to nominate a member for the annual VSBA Advocate for Education Award, to be presented at the VSBA Annual Convention in November. This award was created to recognize school board members who have demonstrated significant and outstanding leadership, commitment, and contribution to public education that has impacted their region, the Commonwealth, and who have actively participated in local, state, and federal advocacy on behalf of their division, VSBA, and public schools.

Each local school board may submit one name/nomination for consideration. The nomination must be the approved by the school board, and the nominee must be a current school board member. Nominations are due no later than August 12, 2022. Please submit your nomination via email to J.T. Kessler, VSBA Government Relations Specialist, at [email protected]. Nominations will undergo a review by the selection committee which will determine the award winner.

Thank you for your continued interest in advocacy and all you do to support public education!
The VSBA has three recognition programs that school boards and school board members may apply for each year. Please review the below information for a description of each award and a link to the nomination forms.

To be considered by the judges, the official nomination form and supporting materials for each of the award programs must be received by July 20, 2022.

Please do not hesitate to contact VSBA should you have any questions. For questions, please contact Brittany Moore, membership services coordinator at [email protected] or by calling 800-446-8722.
Application Process for Nomination and Election of At-Large Officers
Application Process for Nomination and Election of Regional Officers
Those who wish to be considered by the Nominating Committee must submit the completed form, pertinent biographical information and statement of willingness to serve by July 1. The members of the Nominating Committee appointed at the March 9, 2022 VSBA Board of Directors meeting are:
Karen Corbett Sanders (Fairfax County), Diana Williams (Waynesboro City), James Bryant (Charlottesville City), Amy McClure (Lunenburg County), and Chaired by Past President Janet Turner-Giles (Nelson County).

Please return the nomination form and attachments by July 1 to the VSBA Nominating Committee Chair at 200 Hansen Road, Suite 2, Charlottesville, VA 22911. If you have any questions about the process, please call Gina Patterson, executive director, at 1-800-446-8722.
Elections of VSBA Regional Officers take place at the Fall Regional Meeting held in conjunction with the VSBA Annual Convention. In 2015 the VSBA Delegate Assembly voted to change the regional positions from a one-year to a two-year term. For those regions that will be holding an election this year, a nominating committee was formed and announced at your Spring Regional Networking Forum. Those interested in serving as chair or vice-chair of the region should complete the application form and contact the members of the regional nominating committee. The regions below will be looking for nominations for a chair and vice-chair for a two-year term:
  • Eastern Region
  • Southside Region
  • Southwest Region
  • Valley Region
VSBA Affiliate Member Profiles
In each issue of the VSBA newsletter, we will feature three VSBA Affiliate Members.
Thank you for your support of the VSBA and Virginia's public education system.
Complete Services in the areas of Educational Planning, Architecture and Engineering, Site planning, Interior Architecture, and Security Design.

Laura Sterling
Phone: (434) 975-7262
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric offers its clients design build energy and infrastructure solutions to help them make necessary improvements to existing facilities without increasing taxpayer funds.

Chris Dellinger
Phone: (240) 469-5771
Assura, Inc.
Assura is a cyber security firm who is securing the future one client at a time. We help schools provide a safe computing environment for children.

Tracy Gran
(804) 767-4549
200 Hansen Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911
Tel: 434-295-8722 Fax: 434-295-8785

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