As each locality determines how to best meet the needs and fulfill the desires of their community, I encourage you all to keep the exchange of ideas open. Network, reach out, use one another as a resource and a sounding board. Continue to communicate not only within your division but outside it as well. Together we will develop new traditions that with any luck will be remembered fondly once
we
are on the other side.
I would like to thank the VSBA Executive Director and her staff for all the support they have provided to the board of directors as well as the membership, by keeping us engaged and informed at the state and federal level. The VSBA staff has compiled information about plans for commencement ceremonies across the commonwealth. You can access that database
here
. In addition, the VSBA continues to offer webinars, and virtual conferences to provide opportunities to engage in dialogue and continue growing as leaders and education advocates.
Here is a link
to a list of upcoming webinars and conferences.
I would also like to thank the VSBA regional chairs for all their flexibility and leadership during this time, continuing to provide information to the members in their regions. I am proud to be serving as your President during this time when each of you are answering the call of service in completely new ways. We Can Make It… Together!
-RJ
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Rodney A. Jordan
VSBA President
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Issue Highlights
VSBA Leadership Spotlight: Sherrie Page, Central Region Chair
Spotlight Article on Amelia County Public Schools
2020 VSBA Business Honor Roll Recipients
Remote Training & Board Development
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Executive Director
Gina G. Patterson
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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This month we celebrate many of the amazing individuals that make our schools the well-oiled machines that they are. We kicked off the month on May 1st with showering our School Lunch Heroes with appreciation. These heroes have seriously stepped up to the plate to serve our students like never before. Below is a touching tribute to the School Lunch Heroes in Winchester City Public Schools.
This week we celebrate the incredibly resourceful, and flexible educators that have been working tirelessly to make sure that they can keep any semblance of normalcy intact for our students. All of us are working harder than ever before to meet the needs of Virginia's students, and it is important not to lose sight of the individuals who are making plans a reality. I am encouraged by your efforts to recognize your teachers, whether it be working with local media to showcase good news stories, taking to social media to post and praise, hosting virtual celebrations, and even parades of thanks. It is hard not to feel the love each of you have for these keystone educators.
Thank you for being a champion for education, and for supporting your division through this crisis, and into the next chapter.
-GP
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J.T. Kessler, Government Relations Specialist
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Legislative Updates
There is no denying these are extraordinary times as we all continue to adjust to living during this pandemic that is changing every facet of our lives. To provide school board members with the most up-to-date information, the VSBA Government Relations team continues to monitor the Federal and State response to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic. When important updates are available, we provide these updates to our school board members and school division leaders via email, the
VSBA Legislative Update Blog
, and through social media posts on the VSBA Facebook page.
As you are aware, the United States Congress passed the CARES Act in late March which will provide funding for school divisions for programs addressing the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic. These funds were released to state education agencies in late April and will begin being distributed to local school divisions in May. We anticipate Congress will return to debate further relief measures in early May. Please stay tuned for updates from VSBA on these matters.
The Virginia General Assembly met for the 2020 Reconvened Session on Wednesday, April 22. Each year, lawmakers meet in the reconvened session to consider legislative vetoes and recommendations by the Governor to legislation passed in the regular session of the General Assembly. During the Reconvened Session, the VSBA Government Relations team monitored developments to legislation pertinent to school boards across the Commonwealth.
Prior to the Reconvened Session, Governor Northam made the several recommendations to both the “Caboose Bill”
HB29
(Torian) and the Biennium Budget
HB30
(Torian) The following is a selected list of recommendations approved by the General Assembly to the budget:
H.B. 29 “Caboose Bill” Recommendations (These changes remain in effect until June 30, 2020.)
- The General Assembly approved the recommendation authorizing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to grant temporary flexibility and issue waivers in areas such as accreditation, testing, and reports. Similar language is included in the amendments to the biennial budget. (Amendment 5)
- The General Assembly approved the authorization of the Virginia Department of Education to temporarily suspend Supplemental Lottery Per Pupil Allocation payments made to school divisions in the event of a shortfall in lottery proceeds. (Amendment 6)
- The General Assembly approved the waiver of required local effort and requiring local match obligations for FY 2020 due to the state of emergency and school closures. (Amendment 7)
- The General Assembly approved the recommendation to allow public bodies to hold meetings by electronic means under certain circumstances during a state of emergency, when it is impracticable or unsafe to assemble a quorum in a single location, provided certain notice and record-keeping provisions are met. (Amendment 28) This language is also included in the biennial budget amendments approved by the General Assembly.
H.B. 30 2020-2022 Biennial Budget Recommendations/Unallotments (Once signed by the Governor, these changes go into effect July 1, 2020 and will remain in effect until June 30, 2022.)
- The General Assembly approved the unallotment of $7.1 million in FY 2022 that would develop the Virginia Learner Equitable Access Platform, an online depository of curriculum and other educational resources to be used and shared among school divisions to aid in classroom instruction (Amendment 27)
- The General Assembly approved the unallotment $21.7 million in FY 2021 and $28.4 million in FY 2022 to retain school counselor ratios at FY 2020 levels. (Amendment 28).
- The General Assembly approved the unallotment $185.3 million in FY 2021 and $305 million in FY 2022 in discretionary spending amounts related to Direct Aid to Education. (Amendment 29)
- $1.8 million in FY 2021 and $2 million in FY 2022 for no-loss funding to localities to ensure that no school division loses state funding in FY 2021 or FY 2022 as compared to that school division’s FY 2020 state distribution.
- $94.7 million in FY 2021 and $192.5 million in FY 2022 for 2 percent salary increases in each year for the state share of funded Standards of Quality instructional and support positions.
- $26.2 million in FY 2021 and $35.2 million in FY 2022 for At-Risk Add-On funding disbursed to local school divisions based on the estimated number of federal Free Lunch participants, in support of programs for students who are educationally at risk.
- $2.5 million in FY 2021 and $2.1 million in FY 2022 for relief to school divisions with fewer than 10,000 students experiencing unexpected enrollment loss greater 2 percent over the summer between school years.
Please
click here
to read the full report from the 2020 Reconvened Session on the VSBA Legislative Update Blog. If you have any questions regarding the Reconvened Session, legislation passed during the 2020 session of the General Assembly, or the response of the Federal/State government to the pandemic, please contact me at
jason@vsba.org
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Samantha Bosserman, Director of Communications and Board Development
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Tips for Online Learning
Due to social distancing and safety precautions, many in person conferences and meetings have shifted to webinars or other online learning platforms. You may have attended a webinar in the past or listened to a few podcasts on the way to work, but you may not have attended a full online conference or transitioned your professional development to an online platform. Do not worry, you are not alone! We are all transitioning to new methods of learning and each have different learning styles that require adaptation. Transitioning to online learning may be more difficult for some, but each of us have a bit of a curve to transition to this new method of learning.
Here are some tips to help set you up for success with online learning.
Find a place to concentrate.
It is important to find a location in your home or office where you can concentrate on the session. Set up a learning space dedicated to you, this may be something as easy as a card table in a hallway or guest bedroom, or maybe a location in your home office that hasn’t been cleaned out in ages! Try to find a place that you can go to each time you attend a webinar or learning session so you can get your mind prepared and ready to learn.
Take notes.
Sometimes just writing things down helps you to remember and concentrate on what you are learning. Grab an old notebook or legal pad and start taking notes. Even if you don’t reference them after the session, the act of writing things down may help you remember what was said and organize your thoughts. Make sure you write down ways that what the presenters says is applicable to your school division or your board’s situation. This will help you personalize the session and gather takeaways to report back to your governance team.
Set up your learning space ahead of the session.
Make sure you have your computer, tablet or mobile device tested and ready to go prior to the start of the event. Most programs allow you to test your device prior to joining a session, so take advantage of this option. You can also log into the session early to ensure you are set up and ready to go.
Be an active participant.
Presenters are learning how to adapt their presentations to remote audiences, so when they ask you to type into the questions box, or put up a poll on the screen, make sure to participate! This will help you stay focused on the session and also give the presenter some positive reinforcement that they are being heard. Also, if it is available to you during the session, do not be afraid to ask questions. This helps communicate to the presenter an idea or something they may need to go back to revisit since they do not have the benefit of reading body language or seeing perplexed faces during the presentation.
Take Breaks.
This is especially important for all day sessions or webinars. Whenever the organizers take a break during the session, make sure you take a break as well. Go outside, stretch, or just simply get up out of your chair. You will be surprised what a five-minute break can do for your energy and your ability to focus.
Focus.
For all day conferences that have transitioned to webinars (like the VSBA School Law Conference and the VSBA Legislative Advocacy Conference), behave as if you were at the conference in person. If you would typically have your phone on mute during the session and only check email during breaks, follow the same rules you have set for yourself for the online session. If you are in an area where you can shut the door to ensure privacy and the ability to focus, do it.
We are all adapting to a new set of procedures and protocols and finding ways to adapt your learning to an online method is no exception. Give yourself some grace and understand that while attending webinars or sitting in front of a computer screen to watch a conference may be something new for you but know that we are all in this together. If you have any questions, problems or challenges with any of the online learning platforms used by VSBA, please do not hesitate to reach out. We will walk you through how to set up your device for success so when conference day arrives, you are ready to go. We look forward to “seeing” you very soon.
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VSBA Profile in Leadership- Meet Sherrie Page, VSBA Board of Directors, Central Region Chair
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Where is your hometown?
I grew up in Danville, Virginia.
How long have you been a school board member?
I have been a school board Member going on nine years.
Who inspires you?
My longtime friend, Judith P. Carter.
What is your motto as a board member?
You are only a failure when you do nothing!
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Sherrie W. Page
Orange County School Board
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What is your pie-in-the-sky vision for education?
My pie-in-the-sky vision is that you never stop learning.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a school board member?
I consider my greatest accomplishment as a school board member being a constant supporter of my schools and Superintendent.
What is your advice for new school board members?
My advice is to stay informed, get involved, and educate yourself!
How do you define advocacy?
My definition of advocacy is supporting a cause you strongly believe in.
What made you want to get involved in advocacy?
I believe when you're involved in a cause the more people champion for the belief, the greater the success.
Advocacy can be intimidating to some people. What advice do you have for them on ways to gradually become more engaged in advocacy?
My advice for those wanting to become more engaged in Advocacy is that you don't have to be loud, just strong.
What is the most challenging aspect of advocacy and how do you work to overcome it?
I think sometimes the most challenging aspect of advocacy is keeping focus on the big picture and not being distracted by the little stuff.
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Application Process for Nomination and Election of VSBA At-Large
Members and Regional Officers
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Nomination of VSBA At-Large Members
According to the VSBA Bylaws, Article IV, Section 2, “A Nominating Committee of five members will annually nominate no more than two candidates for President-Elect and no more than two candidates for each of the two at-large seats on the Board of Directors whose names will be placed in nomination at the Annual Convention. It shall be the duty of candidates for the at-large position to provide a written nomination, approved by a nominee’s school board, together with pertinent biographical information and a signed letter from each nominee confirming willingness to serve. Members of the Nominating Committee will not be eligible for nomination to any position on the Board. The Immediate Past President will serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee and four other committee members will be elected by the Board of Directors.”
An application form
is required of At-Large candidates to apply for nomination. 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 20, 2020 VSBA Board of Directors meeting are: Tyrone Foster (Bristol), Chair;
Karen Whetzel (Shenandoah County), Douglas Brown (Newport News City), Sherrie Page (Orange County), Gavin Honeycutt (Mecklenburg County).
If you have any questions about the process, please call Gina Patterson, executive director, at 1-800-446-8722 or email Gina@vsba.org.
Nomination of Regional Officers
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.
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:
- Blue Ridge Region
- Eastern Region
- Southside Region
- Valley Region
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Division Spotlight: Amelia County 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 Samantha Bosserman, director of communications and board development, for more information. We look forward to hearing about the great things going on in your divisions.
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Learning Module Distribution Successful at Amelia County High School March 31-April 1
Submitted by Amelia County Public Schools
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Amelia County High School (ACHS) completed a successful learning module distribution on March 31st and April 1st. Teachers developed equitable instruction for all students, printed, and then hand-placed the modules in each of their student’s pre-labeled bags.
Our community partner, Food Lion, donated 550 paper bags for use in this endeavor. Each classroom teacher was required to specify accommodations provided for each student with an individualized education plan (IEP). Teachers of classes that could lead to a verified credit for students also provided a project for students to complete in addition to the learning module. Our goal: no one at ACHS slips through the cracks.
The individualized attention given every student at ACHS included especially close scrutiny of our graduating seniors from pass/fail situations to verified credit counts. Teamwork among collaborative pairs and content teams, in addition to individual hard work and volunteerism, made this distribution possible. The distribution of work took place over March 31 from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. and April 1st from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Volunteer teachers organized a system for greeting parents outside our cafeteria doors, relaying the name of the student(s) inside the building, and then handing off the module.
This process allowed for minimal exposure of those working, a chance for families to see how much teachers cared about #TeamAmelia, and for everyone to show their #RaiderPride. Use these hashtags to explore Twitter first-hand to get a sense of the scope and impact of this undertaking. Below are some additional pictures.
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News Tidbits: Stories and Studies from Around the Country
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The COVID-19 Slide and What It Could Mean for Student...
When students, educators and administrators return to school after the COVID-19 school closures, classrooms will be a changed landscape. While it is difficult to speculate on what missing months of school may mean for student achievement,...
Read more
ednote.ecs.org
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Ensuring Sustainability: How Can States Strategically...
Professional learning that improves educator practice is supported by ongoing, job-embedded coaching. Therefore, to build educators' capacities in technology-empowered pedagogy, state leaders can plan for the sustainability of professional...
Read more
ednote.ecs.org
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Special Report: Social-Emotional Learning: Making It...
Nearly every student in the United States is out of school this spring, shut out of traditional schools and classrooms for a prolonged period to slow the spread of coronavirus. It's an unprecedented disruption of academic routines and to the...
Read more
www.edweek.org
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Technology Counts 2019
K-12 educators are skeptical that the continued expansion of new technologies into U.S. schools is transforming education or dramatically improving teaching and learning. To change that dynamic, educators are turning to innovation lessons from...
Read more
www.edweek.org
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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.
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Gay and Neel, Inc.
Civil Engineering, Landscape Architecture, and Surveying
Trevor Kimzey, P.E.
Phone: (540) 381-6011
Email: tkimzey@gayandneel.com
Website: http://www.gayandneel.com
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SB Ballard Construction Company
SB Ballard Construction Company serves as a Concrete Specialty Contractor providing concrete flatwork and structural concrete services to a variety of General Contractors.
Candy Hennig
Phone: (757) 440-5555
Email: chennig@sbballard.com
Website: http://www.sbballard.com
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Trane
We provide sustainable solutions that are fiscally & environmentally responsible & improve the quality of education. Our full range of systems and controls manage temperature, humidity and noise, while saving energy and reducing expenses.
Kathy Cox
Phone: (540) 759-7891
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UPCOMING EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, & WEBINARS
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Free Events
Monday, May 11, 2020 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL: Learn how Tyler Elementary reduced discipline by growing and sustaining school-wide mindfulness practices. This presentation will include brain research connected to mindfulness in education, ways to build staff knowledge, how to engage your community, and more. Presenters will take participants through various interactive exercises and share the impact of focusing on student well-being.
Monday, May 18, 2020, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL: Join us as we hear directly from the school divisions featured in this year's Showcase for Success publication. We look forward to hearing more about these innovative programs from divisions all across the state. Tune in to hear some good news amidst the COVID-19 climate.
Cost: Free
Wednesday, May 27, 2020, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online, Webinar
DETAIL: Extraordinary times call for new responses to the challenges we face. In a time of emergency, organizations must transform their models of operation to meet the most urgent needs of their clients. Just as advocacy was a component of school division operations before the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, advocacy becomes of greater importance during a time of emergency. This webinar will explore the changing strategies of advocacy during emergency situations and will provide ideas for school board members on how to sharpen their messages when addressing the issues faced by local school divisions with federal and state policymakers.
Cost: Free
Thursday, May 28, 2020, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL: In 2017 the state legislature made available another procurement method for public school construction, commonly referred to as “Construction Management At-Risk,” this is a construction project delivery method that has been used by many public and private institutions for many years and is now available to school divisions like yours. This webinar will include an overview of how this method works, how it differs from other methods, and why it may be advantageous for your construction projects. It will also outline the steps a school board must take to implement this process. The presentation will also include an overview of the development of a model School Board Policy to satisfy Virginia public procurement laws. This policy will also establish a well-defined guiding document for school boards and their administrative staffs to follow ensuring code compliance and a successful project.
Cost: Free
Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL: Board members might agree that we could add school redistricting or rezoning to Ben Franklin's expression about death and taxes: "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes...and rezoning." Much like the other two events, we all go through it, but why do we also dread it--particularly when it has so much potential to bring students together in more integrated learning environments? In this webinar, we'll discuss why these decisions can be so divisive and what we can do to make both rezoning processes and outcomes more equitable. Whether you caught the discussion at our fall conference or haven't contemplated these issues at all, we'll highlight how your board can approach what can be a contentious issue and challenging time.
Cost: Free
Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL: Aramark is the largest independent provider of dining services in North America, managing over 350 effective K-12 dining programs and serving more than 273 million meals per year to more than 2.5 million students. We offer robust capabilities and have specific expertise in services critical to the needs districts face now and will face in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic: extended Summer Food Service program (SFSP), packaging and distribution of shelf-stable lunch and afterschool snacks (NSLP), packaging and distribution of shelf-stable supper (CACFP), and bulk supply for food products. All of our programs are rooted in insights from students, parents and operators and inform the way that our chefs, dietitians, and other experts develop solutions for each district.
Cost: Free
Paid Events
Thursday, May 14, 2020, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL: School Board members often communicate with their constituents through Facebook, Twitter, or other social media accounts. In this webinar, we will discuss challenges and limitations such as removing comments or blocking individuals. In addition, Constitutional issues and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act will be discussed.
Cost: $150 per connection (unlimited number of participants per connection). REGISTRATION FOR THE WEBINAR IS FINAL. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, the webinar recording will be available for purchase.
Friday, June 5, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DETAIL: Your school division needs you, your superintendent, and your attorney to participate in the 2020 VSBA School Law Conference webinar! Why? Because many of the decisions you make have legal implications that will impact your school division for years to come. Hear school law updates from the state and local perspective as well as learn about the legal authority and your role as a school board. Attend this online session to be informed and be prepared!
Time: The online session will open at 8:45 a.m. The webinar and presentations will begin at 9:00 a.m
Cost: $195
Thank you to Sands Anderson for sponsoring the 2020 VSBA School Law Conference
Monday, July 20, 2020, 9:00 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Online
DETAIL: Becoming a new school board member or superintendent is an honor and a privilege. Enjoy a successful and less stressful transition by attending the VSBA Orientation for New Board Members & Superintendents. Many important topics will be covered, including the roles and responsibilities of board/ superintendents, how to work with your local appropriating body, school law, parliamentary procedure and school board budget basics. Don’t miss this important virtual orientation which is a “must” for all new board members and superintendents!
Cost: $205
Thank you to VA Lottery for sponsoring the 2020 VSBA Summer New Board Members and Superintendents Orientation
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL: The webinar will focus on the many personnel and special education issues confronting school divisions around the Commonwealth as they try to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and extended school closures. There will be discussion of new legislation, state and federal guidance, and practical considerations as schools prepare for the 2020-21 school year facing new challenges. We hope you can join us for this conversation!
Cost: $150 per connection (unlimited number of participants per connection). REGISTRATION FOR THE WEBINAR IS FINAL. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, the webinar recording will be available for purchase.
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200 Hansen Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911
Tel: 434-295-8722 Fax: 434-295-8785
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