July 20, 2021, VSBA Conference on Education
Join hundreds of school division leaders from across Virginia at the 35th Annual VSBA Conference on Education. We are pleased to have Governor Ralph Northam in attendance, with our afternoon keynote presentation from the Aldrin Foundation! There will also be a time for…
Redistricting Commission to Begin Drawing Districts by August 16
James Whitehorne from the US Census Bureau told commissioners that they’d receive legacy census data by August 16th. That’s in line what they knew before: that they’d have to start work on new maps in mid-August. The Virginia constitution says they need to submit maps to the…
Anonymous student ‘Bias Reporting’ form sparks outrage among Virginia parents
Parents in Loudoun County, Virginia, are outraged over the public school district’s decision to start using an anonymous “Bias Reporting” form. The parents, who are part of a recently formed political action committee called “Fight for Schools,” say the form “asks students to…
Rockingham County school leaders reflect on pandemic response
Members of the Rockingham County School Board heard how the school division responded and implemented new changes to help students get through the pandemic. The Virginia Department of Education released guidance for public schools to implement as they reopen…
Floyd one year later: Rasheeda Creighton on fighting for change at Maggie Walker Governor’s School
When the board of the Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Richmond signed a pledge in June to be anti-racist in direct response to the killing of George Floyd, Rasheeda Creighton still carried some of the memories of the microaggressions and racism as one of the first Black…
Hanover school officials seek input on new elementary school for Gandy, Henry Clay
Hanover County is building its first new school since 2008 and school officials want community input. Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary Schools — both in Ashland — are being combined into one new school under a capital improvement plan approved in 2018 by the…
Excellent Educators: Susan McAuliffe, adaptive PE teacher from Newport News, earns grant for equipment for virtual teaching
When the coronavirus pandemic made schools go virtual across Hampton Roads, the concerns surrounding students’ social and mental well being were obvious. Less time with peers, more time in front of a computer and distractions at home were on the minds of educators…
Two local students elected among seven officers for FCCLA’s state executive council
Emma Sellers from Page County High School and Joey Miller from Page
County Middle School were two of seven state officers elected to serve on the Family, Career
and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) State Executive Council (SEC) at the Virginia…
At end of academic year, schools collect technology handed out for remote learning
Most schools in our hometowns have relied on remote learning, and that meant getting computers in the hands of students. But now that the year is over, what happens to all those machines? At Parry McCluer High School, one by one they came in, dozens of chrome books…
Petersburg will start testing public-school students for COVID-19 on May 25
As part of the Increased Community Access to Testing (ICATT) Program, Petersburg City Public Schools will be the only school in Virginia to offer free COVID-19 testing for students and staff in the school setting beginning May 25. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services…
School board honors teachers of the year, approves wrestling field trip
The Dinwiddie School Board recognized its Teachers of the year for the 2020-2021 school year, recognized its outstanding new teachers for the 2020-2021 school year, approved a submission for the Excellence in Workforce Readiness Award and approved a field trip for the wrestling…
Charlottesville school officials hope to boost bus driver pay
In light of a continued bus driver shortage, officials in the Charlottesville school division want to boost the pay of drivers. “Pupil driver availability continues to be a serious concern,” said Kim Powell, the division’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, at the School…
Gifted Students Lead Projects
Gifted Students at Buckingham County Public Schools (BCPS) were challenged to think outside the box this year and use the COVID-19 pandemic as inspiration to engage in some problem-based learning projects. According to Linda Ruffner, Buckingham County Elementary School…
OCHS grads look toward the future
The Class of 2021 at Orange County High School is just days away from graduating and heading out into the world to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. A survey completed by 213 of the roughly 300 seniors displays the wide variety of schools, training and…
VSBA: School Board News Podcast- Episode 35, VSBA Policy Services & Va. Code § 22.1-23.3
In the newest episode of VSBA School Board News, executive director, Gina Patterson is joined by VSBA Legal and Policy Services Director, Elizabeth Ewing. Together they discuss the VSBA Policy Services Subscription and updates. They also discuss more about Va. Code…