February is VSBA School Board Appreciation Month
Join VSBA President Janet Turner Giles in saluting the service of the almost 850 school board members in Virginia all February 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 school board members as they serve their local divisions and advocate for public education with local, state, and federal leaders on behalf of all students.
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…
Virginia Beach elementary school has therapy dog join the team
North Landing Elementary has a four-legged friend that roams the halls providing some much-needed smiles for students and staff. The school has less than 450 students currently enrolled, according to the Virginia Department of Education, and only one school counselor, Annie…
Shenandoah County Public Schools to celebrate School Board Appreciation Month
February is School Board Appreciation Month, and Shenandoah County Public Schools is joining 132 other school divisions throughout the commonwealth to celebrate. The theme of this year’s celebration is “115 Years of Providing Leadership Advocacy and Support.” According…
ACPS exploring new school security officers to replace canceled program
Nearly a year after ending its school resource officer (SRO) program through the Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD), Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is putting together a new program to take its place. The county tells NBC29 that despite the ending of…
Snow Changes Schedule For Loudoun County Public Schools
Loudoun County schools are dealing with a winter storm that is expected to bring 4 to 6 inches of snow, plus a bit of ice, to eastern parts of the county, while western Loudoun County could see a whopping 14 inches of snow by Tuesday morning. The storm means some changes…
Wise County students connect with new Starlink internet service
Students in Wise County are some of the first in the country to benefit from a new high speed internet service delivered by satellite. 45 households are now taking advantage of a pilot project with the company SpaceX. Wise County Public Schools received the equipment last month…
Henry County Schools’ plan to reopen for hybrid instruction moves forward; gives parents options for hybrid, remain virtual
Officials with Henry County Schools are moving forward with plans to reopen schools on a hybrid schedule beginning on March 10. With this decision, though, the district is allowing parents to choose whether or not they want their student to return to the classroom via a…
Schools set plan for second semester
Pulaski County Public Schools have now released their plans for attendance as well as COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers and other employees. Teachers who have already received the first COVID-19 vaccine injection will receive their second shot in the coming month. Schools will…
Chesterfield elementary students to return in-person on Tuesday
Elementary school students in Chesterfield will be returning to in-person learning. School officials said they believe conditions will be well enough to reopen on time on Tuesday for the start of the second semester. Elementary school students who have chosen to return to…
New Kent school division moves forward with new elementary school, choosing name, redistricting options, and breaking ground this week
Soon, the New Kent County school division will house its third elementary school in the county — meeting the ongoing demand for more space as the county sees the second-fastest growth in the state. For years, the need for a new school has been at the forefront of School Board…
Bedford County School Board to consider resuming competition for fall, spring sports
The Bedford County School Board will convene in a special-called virtual meeting Thursday to consider resuming competition for fall and spring sports. Bedford County is the only school division in the Seminole and Blue Ridge districts that has not engaged in winter sports…
Blacksburg High students ‘Bridge the Pond’
Josiah Shrestha’s morning this past Wednesday involved much of the same daily routine from the past several months. The Blacksburg High School sophomore turned on the computer and connected with his classmates and teacher. This time, however, there were some new faces…
Martinsville City School Board approves $22.98 million budget includes raises for teachers, new positions
The Martinsville City School Board has approved a $22.98 million budget for the upcoming year, but state legislators and Martinsville City Council still could change those figures as they complete their respective budgeting processes. MCPS’ budget for fiscal year 2022, which…
Henrico Schools face online backlash over ‘no snow day’ decision
Henrico schools are closed Monday. . . but also open. Confused? So are many parents, who have flooded the Henrico County Public Schools social media platforms with hundreds of mostly negative comments, following the school system’s decision to close school buildings but hold…
Rockingham Teacher Named Ag In The Classroom Teacher Of The Year
For years, Phil Satolli tried to get a garden or composting project off the ground at Lacey Spring Elementary School, where he teaches first grade. And for years he was met with a myriad of reasons why that wouldn’t work. In 2018 that changed when Principal Tammy May came to…
2021 VSBA Business Honor Roll Open Now
Local businesses have the power to shape community attitudes about public schools. Every spring, the VSBA Business Honor Roll provides a way for local school divisions to recognize local businesses for their support, especially as schools face increasing budget uncertainty…