Overview
The VSBA Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments was created by the VSBA Board of Directors at its June 6, 2013 meeting to make recommendations to the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education on ways to help challenged schools in Virginia. The task force was created as a result of requests for assistance and concerns among VSBA member boards related to school divisions struggling to reach their most challenged student populations. Since its creation, task force highlights include:
- Hosting members of the Virginia Board of Education and the state superintendent of public instruction at a task force meeting
- Presenting to the Virginia Board of Education
- Holding a September 2013 roundtable discussion session with school board members, superintendents, and Virginia Board of Education members to discuss challenged schools
- Conducting a webinar, “Real Numbers, Real Challenges”, with Virginia legislators
- Having a “Students and Schools in Challenging Environments” track at the VSBA Annual Convention
- Holding a joint meeting with the VSBA Task Force on Virtual Learning
- Hosting “The School Board’s Role in School Improvement and Turnaround Conference”
- Initiating the “Practices of Promise for Schools in Challenging Environments Summit”
- The creation of a comprehensive report that outlines specific strategies to assist schools in challenging environments
- Presenting to the Virginia House of Delegates Education Committee
- Holding a “VSBA Task Force Day on the Hill” during the 2015 General Assembly
Task Force Members
Co-Chair, Rodney Jordan, Norfolk City
Co-Chair, Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, Winchester City
Douglas Brown, Newport News City
David Woodard, Tazewell County
Barry DuVal, Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Bob Hundley, Hanover County
Dr. Michael Thornton, Retired Superintendent
Dr. Angela Hairston, Danville City
Emily Webb, Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Amy McClure, Lunenburg County
Cheryl Burke, Richmond City
Mark Lineburg, Campbell County
Task Force Reports
VSBA Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments 3.0 Report, Released June 2022.
VSBA Task Force on Schools in Challenging Environments 1.0 Report, Released October 2014.
Subcommittee on Worforce Readiness
Overview
In March 2015, the VSBA Board of Directors created the VSBA Task Force on Workforce Readiness to study how career and technical education programs are being implemented in Virginia school divisions and how these programs are preparing the state’s future workforce. In subsequent meetings, the task force members established the following mission of the task force:
The mission of the VSBA Task Force on Workforce Readiness is to support school
divisions by identifying and promoting workforce readiness opportunities that enable
students to be prepared to succeed in a new economy.
Primary Goals
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Conduct a statewide survey of Virginia school divisions on workforce readiness programs and initiatives
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Identify and share best practices
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Develop and implement statewide education and advocacy efforts
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Hold a spring VSBA Hot Topic Conference on workforce readiness
Statewide Survey Results
- In October/November 2015, the task force conducted a statewide survey of public school divisions to gather information Career & Technical Education (CTE) across the Commonwealth.
- 115 of 132 school divisions responded, with balanced statewide representation.
- Survey results are available for download here.
- On January 18, 2016, task force co-chair Bill Kidd (school board member, Wythe County) and Dr. Tom Brewster (superintendent, Pulaski County) presented the task force findings to the House Education Committee. Full details of this visit are available on the January 18 posting on the VSBA Legislative Update Blog.
Stakeholder Engagement
An additional priority for the task force has been to involve other key stakeholder groups. As a result, representatives from the following organizations have been active participants in the task force efforts:
- Virginia Association of School Superintendents
- Virginia Chamber of Commerce
- Virginia Department of Education
- Virginia Community College System
- Virginia PTA
- REL Appalachia
Subcommittee Members
Co-Chair, Teddy Martin, Henry County
Co-Chair, Lisa Pennycuff, Prince George County
Breanne Forbes Hubbard, Bristol City
Dr. Brenda Long, VA Assoc for Career and Technical Education
LaVeta Nutter, Virginia Department of Education
Dr. Paul Grinstead, Smyth County
Carol Clanton, Norfolk City
Karen Jenkins, Suffolk City
Dr. Jeff Smith, Retired Superintendent