September 14, 2021, 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…
In a school featuring ‘stewardship’ learning, solar array will be the newest teaching tool
Shortly after Bluestone Elementary School opened in 2017, third grade students buried milk containers on the school grounds. A few months later, they dug up those coated cardboard single-serve milk cartons to see how much they had decomposed. What they found were…
Halifax County schools still debate masking mandates
With the new guidance released last week — and students not heading back into the classrooms until Aug. 30 — Halifax County Public Schools has not yet made a final determination on its mask wearing policies for the 2021-2022 school year. The Virginia…
Washington County, Va school board member announces resignation
A school board member in Washington County, Virginia has announced his resignation. In a letter to the school board, Terry Fleenor said he will resign on July 31st. “I have become increasingly ashamed to even be called a citizen of Washington County, much less a…
Northam wants $500M for school air quality projects
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced plans Monday to allocate $250 million of the state’s federal coronavirus relief money to projects that will improve air quality in public schools. In a statement, the Democratic governor said the state funding would be matched with another…
Masks now optional at Chesapeake Public Schools facilities
Students and staff at Chesapeake Public Schools now have the option of not wearing masks on school grounds, after the city’s school board voted in June to lift the mask mandate if the statewide mandate expired. Gov. Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 79, which required those…
Summer academy program keeps Goochland elementary students on track for fall
Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam took a visit to Goochland Elementary School Thursday morning to tour the school as students learned through a summer program. During her visit, Northam got to engage with elementary and kindergarten students who are in the ‘Powers…
Unvaccinated but not unprotected: School districts express plans to keep 12 and under age group safe this school year
The COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in those 12 and up; however, it leaves parents wondering if their children who fall in the ineligible age group will be safe this school year, especially with dangerous variants popping up closer to home each day. After the last…
Prince George’s Co. public schools to require masks this fall
Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland will require that students, teachers and staff wear masks this fall. The school system said it is continuing its mask guidance that was in effect last school year. Schools CEO Monica Goldson tweeted the updated guidance Monday…
Schools win big as Virginia Lottery announces a record-setting year.
The Virginia Lottery reported record sales and profits for the state budget year ending on June 30th. The successful launch of new online games and the continued strength of traditional lottery products sold at retail pushed the Lottery’s annual sales to nearly $3.3 Billion in FY21…
Amherst schools hire new principal at Madison Heights Elementary, supervisor of maintenance
Amherst County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Arnold on July 15 publicly announced the recent hiring of Jeremy Hutchinson as the new principal of Madison Heights Elementary School and Gary Roakes as the division’s new supervisor of maintenance. Hutchison, who has…
Deadline Friday- 2021 VSBA Advocate for Education Award!
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…