From the President's Desk |
I want to express my warmest wishes to you as we bid farewell to 2020 and welcome 2021 with hope and optimism for a brighter and better year for all.
As I start my first article of the new year, I want to take the time to personally thank YOU for taking on the critical role of being a school board member. You have responded to the phone calls, debated the difficult decisions, and ultimately, ensured that all student needs continue to be met during these unprecedented times. For your heroic efforts, I want to thank you for being on the front lines and performing this essential work. The work ahead of us to meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of our students while prioritizing health and safety has never been more important. I encourage you to be optimistic about what lies ahead and to embrace the opportunities.
In November 2020, VSBA conducted the first-ever virtual Annual Convention. Although I missed seeing everyone in person, this virtual experience was overflowing with informative educational sessions and enriching material. From the many comments that were received, the event was beyond successful - from the Annual Delegate Assembly to the closing ceremony and everything in between! I want to personally thank our Executive Director, Gina Patterson, and her amazing team for pivoting from the normal convention style, creating an engaging virtual experience, and successfully executing a flawless virtual convention. I know that this was a mighty task for a very small team to perform; but as always, you meet and exceeded our expectations. Thank you for continuing to provide top-notch services for our membership that remain focused on advocacy, leadership, and support.
The stakes for public education have never been greater and school board members must be prepared to advocate effectively for public schools. We all know that the actions of local school boards can have a profound impact on student achievement, and VSBA is dedicated to helping you take advantage of all we have to offer in order for you to be your best as a board member. To assist you in this effort, VSBA has a great line up of offerings this year to provide greater insight into education issues and an opportunity to engage with your fellow board members. I look forward to seeing all new, and veteran board members at these events throughout the year.
As we welcome in the new year, we also welcome in new board members. Congratulations to the 27 new board members who began January 1, 2021. I plan to host a Coffee and Conversations Session with you in March in hopes of providing an opportunity for us to get to know each other better. I want to hear about your many successful and challenging stories of being a new board member. I look forward to our time together.
As we continue looking forward to 2021, I want to remind you that this year marks the 115th Anniversary of VSBA! Founded in 1906, VSBA is the third oldest state school boards association in the country. As we all know, so much has changed over the 115 years for public education in the Commonwealth, but I am thankful that one thing has not changed, the heart of the Association to provide leadership, advocacy, and support to the 132 member divisions that make up the Virginia School Boards Association. We are all part of VSBA’s present moment, and we have a stake in its future. I am thrilled at the opportunity to celebrate this milestone with you.
Despite the unprecedented times in our country and in public education, I have been inspired by your strength, resilience, and optimism to rise to the many challenges. It is from that place of optimism that I approach my responsibility as your president. I humbly accept the honor of being the 2021 VSBA President and thank you for the privilege to serve. The stakes of educating students are higher now than ever before and it will be up to us to be the change and pave the way for the future of education. Again, I thank you for your willingness to participate in this endeavor and I look forward to creating the future with all of you.
I wish you and yours a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2021!
-Janet Turner- Giles
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Janet Turner- Giles
VSBA President
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Issue Highlights
Celebrating 115 Years- Did You Know
The Importance of Goal Setting
Legislative Updates
VSBA Book Club
Finance Manual
Equity in Education Month
Call for Proposals- Conference on Education
Showcases for Success
Spring Regional Meetings & Student Art Contest
Spotlight Article- Appomattox County Public Schools
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Dates to Remember
February 2, 2021: New Chair & Vice-Chair Orientation
February 17, 2021: Title IX Workshop
March 17, 2021: Hot Topic Conference
April 13, 2021: Hot Topic Conference
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Executive Director
Gina G. Patterson
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
2021 is an exciting year for the Association. It marks the 115th year of existence. The Virginia School Boards Association is the third oldest School Boards Association in the Nation. Founded in 1906 as the School Trustees Association of Virginia, this Association, your Association has served school board members in Virginia ever since.
This year we hope to share with you some of the highlights of the accomplishments of the Association since its creation. We hope to reflect with you on the successes and triumphs that we have obtained in the last 115 years and to plan with you as we move forward to continue serving and advocating for the public school students across the Commonwealth.
In 2006 the Association celebrated its 100th year and released the publication "Reflecting on Our Past." This publication documents the first century of history for the Association and chronicles the changes experienced by Public Schools across the Commonwealth during that period of time, and to paint a picture of how VSBA has answered the call to serve its membership as the third oldest School Boards Association in the nation.
As we embark on our 115th year, especially a year that follows a year that presented challenges unlike many others we have seen in our time, it is still the goal of this Association, your Association, to serve its membership by way of providing and developing leadership, advocacy, and support.
To review the publication documenting the first 100 years of the association click on the image below.
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February is School Board Appreciation Month! |
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Salute the service of the almost 850 school board members in Virginia in February 2021 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. The month-long observance is an opportunity for your school division and community to build a stronger understanding of the crucial role school boards assume in a representative democracy. School boards voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing multi-million dollar public school divisions, while preserving the core of our democratic values. Use the month to highlight the accomplishments of your local board, and encourage community leaders, business partners and local civic groups to join in your recognition efforts. |
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Samantha Bosserman,
Senior Director of Communications and Board Development
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The Importance of Personal Goal Setting |
Serving on a school board takes commitment, dedication, and hard work, and you have each stepped up to that challenge. This past year has likely been one of the most challenging years in your service on the school board. Because of that and because we have now entered into 2021, it is a great time to take a pause and truly think about why you do what you do. Think about your motivation in your work and service to the community and where you would like to be a year from now. Now let us take that a step further and discuss what you can do to get to where you want to be. The first step in doing so is to determine a set of personal goals for yourself while serving on the school board.
When working with school boards to help set board-level goals we often encourage board members to come up with their own personal goals. We encourage board members to reflect on how they can improve or advance as a board member and help their team reach the goals that were just determined. Many board members struggle with this exercise because it is not often that you think of yourself as an individual on the board. However, there are things that you can do as an individual board member to help strengthen the team as a whole and work towards your mutually agreed-upon goals.
Perhaps you would like to learn more about school board policies or how to effectively advocate at the state and national levels? Maybe you would like to learn more about a program or offering that you are not as familiar with or attend a conference or webinar you have never attended? Do you have a stack of leadership or school governance books to read? Make it a goal to read one book per month to help broaden your knowledge on these topics. There are no personal goals that are too small if they can help you reach the goals that you have set as a team.
Take a few minutes right now to write down one or two personal goals for the year. Keep them in a safe place where you can check in on your progress a few times this year. Just as we make sure the school division is tracking the division-level goals, we need to make sure that we track our own personal goals so they do not become something that just sits on a shelf never to be seen again.
Now that you have your personal goals written down, write down a few things that you can do in order to meet your goal. If you are feeling ambitious, put a timeline to it. For example, let’s say you would like to learn more about school board governance. One of your action steps could be to read a book on board governance and you would like to complete that by the end of February. The next step could be to complete the Foundations of School Board Governance Certificate in School Board U by the end of July. Add some check-ins for yourself throughout the year to ensure your goal is being met. You do not want to wait until September to start the goal that you set for yourself in January or February. Give yourself some grace and some time to reflect on your goals and your action steps. You may only want to start with one goal for this year or one strategy towards your goal. The important thing is that you keep your momentum, remember why you do what you do, and continue to work in the best interest of all students in your school division.
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2021 Spring Regional Network Forums |
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The Annual VSBA Regional Spring Network Forums will be held virtually in 2021. The schedule of meetings is below, and the brochures for individual regions will begin to be published in the coming weeks. Do not miss out on registering for this program for a chance to view the student artwork, network with your colleagues, and for programming tailored to School Board members.
Thank you to BPA for sponsoring these virtual meetings.
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This year due to the virtual nature of the regional meetings, the Student Art Contest will be held virtually as well. For guidelines on how and when to submit student artwork please view the packet below. Also included is a complete list of the winners from the 2020 contest.
If you have any questions please email Jessica Blythe, director of membership services, at jessica@vsba.org or by calling 434-295-8772 x7.
The image above is "Reflecting" by Sienna Williams Fairfax City Public Schools, which won first place for the high school category in 2020.
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Join the VSBA Book Club Today! |
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The Virginia School Boards Association is excited to invite you to join the VSBA Virtual Book Club. Share your curiosity and engage with other school board members across Virginia through thought-provoking comments and discussion during our live Virtual Book Club sessions.
We will explore at least one book per quarter, and the next book we will be reading and discussing is “Look, Listen, Learn, LEAD: A District-Wide Systems Approach to Teaching and Learning in PreK-12”. This book is authored by Dr. Jeffrey Smith, Kate Wolfe Maxlow, Dr. John Caggianno, and Karen L. Sanzo from Hampton City Public Schools and was featured at the VSBA Annual Convention Early Bird Session. The live book discussion will take place on Monday, March 8th at 5:00 p.m. Please register to attend the live Virtual event by clicking here.
There is no cost to attend, however, you are asked to obtain your own copy of the book for reading. Representatives from Hampton City Public Schools will be present at the Virtual Book Club.
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Registration is Open for the VSBA March Hot Topic Conference
Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
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Join us as we gather virtually for an informative and important VSBA March Hot Topic Conference. You do not want to miss this conference! Presenters will be focusing specifically on multiple hot topics in education. Attendees will hear from three leaders in public education throughout the event speaking on the topics of Race and Equity, Communicating as a Team, and School Segregation within Virginia.
We kick the day off with a focus on how school boards can identify, understand, and manage the content, skills, and behavior needed to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations and communities with Dr. Marks from the National Training Institute on Race and Equity.*** Following his presentation, Mr. Brad Hughes will discuss how to communicate as a team with your school board and superintendent, especially within this virtual world with online meetings and social media. The final presentation of the day will cover the topic of rezoning and redistricting within Virginia and how to make sure that school board members recognize the power of how a school boundary can affect segregation. Dr. Siegel-Hawley will be leading this session, she is one of the top experts within the topic of rezoning and redistricting in the commonwealth.
We hope that you will join us for what is sure to be an instructive and illuminating conference!
Please reach out to your school division clerk to register for this event. For business affiliate members, please reach out to Mrs. Kim Hodges for registration at khodges@vsba.org. (Registration for VSBA meetings is only open to VSBA members and affiliate members.)
***Due to contractual agreements, Dr. Marks’ session will not be recorded
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J.T. Kessler, Government Relations Specialist |
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Governor Northam Unveils Budget Revisions
Governor Ralph S. Northam presented his budget adjustment recommendations at a meeting of the Joint Money Committees (Senate Finance and Appropriations, House Appropriations, and House Finance) of the Virginia General Assembly last month. The Governor's budget proposes over $500 million to hold school divisions harmless for enrollment loss in public schools that has occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. School division instructional and support staff would receive a one-time 2% bonus. The Governor expressed intent to turn this 2% bonus into a permanent raise if revenue forecasts continue to show healthy tax collections in the months ahead. Recognizing the important role school counselors will have as students return to in-person learning, the Governor proposed $21.6 million to fund a school counselor ratio of 1:325.
The Governor is also proposing nearly $100 million to pay off deferred contributions from the 2008 recession into the VRS Teacher Plan and to pay down retired health credit and Other Post Employment Benefit liabilities for teacher and state plans.
Other Highlights of the Governor's Proposed Revisions to the Budget include:
- $650 million toward the state’s revenue reserves.
- $90 million toward COVID-19 vaccination preparation and delivery.
Virginia General Assembly Convened January 13th
The 2021 session of the Virginia General Assembly convened on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. This year’s session will consist of virtual committee and floor meetings of lawmakers in the Virginia House of Delegates, while the Senate of Virginia will conduct business in-person. Each chamber will allow public comment via a virtual platform.
We anticipate the 2021 session will address a plethora of issues that have surfaced because of the COVID-19 pandemic including workers compensation presumptions, paid sick and quarantine leave, broadband access, remote learning, etc. In addition to the COVID-19 legislation, we expect legislators to debate the following topics that can directly impact school boards in Virginia:
- Changes to provisions governing School Resource Officers and School Security Officers.
- Workers compensation for repetitive motion injuries.
- Rights of Workers in the employer/worker relationship.
Leaders in both chambers of the legislature are indicating a marathon session lasting 30 days. The anticipated fast nature combined with the 2021 session being held virtually makes it imperative to promptly respond to Legislative Action Alerts that the VSBA Government Relations team will send when important legislation is under debate in the legislature.
The VSBA Lobbying Team will be working the virtual trenches discussing important legislation with Delegates and Senators, but legislators want to hear from YOU! Your voice as a constituent and local leader is extremely valuable to them. So how do you communicate effectively, create a strong message, and stay on topic?
- Make a virtual meeting or schedule a phone call with your legislators whenever possible. The personal interaction is key to developing and continuing that strong relationship.
- Time is always limited when meeting with your legislators. Be prepared by knowing the issues and having facts to support your position. If you do not know an answer to one of their questions, be honest and follow-up with the answer after your meeting.
- Be sure to know the basic legislative process. Your input about the local impact of legislation can be helpful at any time. However, be sure about when and to whom to lobby. Depending on where the bill is in the legislative process, concentrate your efforts on the appropriate members.
- Always remember to be courteous to your member and respect their time limitations.
- Legislative aides are an important part of the process. Even when you cannot talk directly to a legislator, speaking with their legislative aide is vital. They are most often advising the members on specific bills and preparing them each day for session.
The VSBA Government Relations team will provide daily updates on committee hearings and analysis on pending legislation on the VSBA Legislative Update Blog. Please click here to access the blog and check back often during session.
If you have any questions regarding legislation and the happenings at the Virginia General Assembly, please contact VSBA Government Relations Specialist, J.T. Kessler, at jason@vsba.org.
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School Board Clerk Appreciation Week is February 15-19, 2021 |
The VSBA Board of Directors has designated the third week in February as VSBA School Board Clerk Appreciation Week, with a goal of building awareness of the role school board clerks play in assisting school board members, superintendents, and our local schools. Please plan now to show your local clerks you appreciate their work.
Recognizing local school board clerks for a job well done takes a concentrated effort on the part of all those they serve: school board members, superintendents, administrators, school staff, students, and the community. Even though showing appreciation should be a year-round process, taking advantage of the designated VSBA School Board Clerk Appreciation Week assures that these vital employees receive some of the thanks they deserve.
The VSBA encourages all school boards to take the opportunity to acknowledge your local board clerk by officially designating the third week in February as School Board Clerk Appreciation Week.
School Board Clerk Appreciation Week Packet click here.
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Once is not enough when it comes to gaining information about school finance and – just as important – the working relationship between the local school board and the local appropriating body. The VSBA takes pleasure in offering this updated and expanded edition of what has traditionally been known as its budget manual.
Because of the enlarged coverage and its implications beyond just budgets and the budget process, it has become and is now regarded as a finance manual. The VSBA offers it to its boards and board members as well as to school division staff and legal counsel as yet another resource, among many, that the VSBA provides in its efforts to encourage and promote even more informed and engaged decision-making and advocacy on behalf of the Commonwealth's school divisions. One of the most important governance functions of a school board, of course, is to provide leadership and oversight regarding financial matters. In these changing times, that function is more critical.
Take a moment to review the publication throughout the year, but particularly now as you are headed into budget season. Take time to get familiar with this aspect of governance.
Here is the link to the finance manual:
Please note that the finance manual PDF is password protected and the password was distributed previously to the VSBA membership and superintendents. If you are unable to locate the password, please e-mail Samantha Bosserman, senior director of communications and board development, at Samantha@vsba.org.
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VSBA Task Forces Meet with Virginia Lawmakers |
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On Saturday morning, January 9, 2021 members of the Virginia School Boards Association Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments, Task Force on Workforce Readiness, and Board of Directors welcomed Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Delegate Sam Rasoul, and Delegate Carrie Coyner for Coffee & Conversations. The members of the Virginia General Assembly provided an outlook on the upcoming 2021 General Assembly session where they expect legislative topics of ADM Hold Harmless, Broadband Expansion, and SOL Reform, in addition to other issues arising from the pandemic, to be the major points of debate during the session that began January 13th. The lawmakers also answered questions from meeting participants.
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March is Equity in Education Month |
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In an effort to encourage equity in education, the VSBA Board of Directors has designated the month of March as VSBA Equity in Education Month. Equity in education is a significant challenge nationwide. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2017 the majority of public-school students were students of color, and more than half of public school students qualify for subsidized meals due to low family income. Public education has struggled to serve these students both adequately and equitably. When inequity in education persists, there is a cost to all involved including missed opportunities for economic development, greater dependence on government supports, and fewer Americans ready to serve and lead.
Resources
Follow #EquityInActionVA on social media for highlights from across the Commonwealth!
For questions, please reach out to Jessica Blythe, director of membership services by calling 1-800-446-8722 or via email at jessica@vsba.org.
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WHAT IS THE VSBA SHOWCASES FOR SUCCESS?
As a means of encouraging community awareness and positive press coverage of public education, the Virginia School Boards Association is inviting school divisions to recommend programs and initiatives that would serve as appropriate “Showcases for Success” in public education. Last year, 103 programs were profiled and the list was shared with journalists, school board members, superintendents, legislators, and top state officials. Press coverage was generated statewide, and this project served to be an effective tool for disarming the critics of public education. We are compiling a new list for 2021, and these successful programs will be showcased on the VSBA web site for the entire year.
WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S FOCUS?
The focus of the 2021 VSBA Showcases for Success is Unprecedented Times, Innovation Climbs
HOW MANY PROGRAMS/INITIATIVES CAN A DIVISION SUBMIT?
Each division can submit up to 3 programs/initiatives (simply use this form multiple times).
HOW DO I SUBMIT?
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION?
Monday, March 8, 2021
WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE A QUESTION?
Jessica Blythe, director of membership services, at jessica@vsba.org or 434-295-8722
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Division Spotlight: Appomattox 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 Jessica Blythe, director of membership services, for more information. We look forward to hearing about the great things going on in your divisions.
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Global Learning in Appomattox, Virginia
Submitted by Appomattox County Public Schools
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Students in rural Appomattox County are broadening their horizons by connecting with peers in Africa, Asia, and Europe during the 2020-21 school year. The planned projects include connecting students as pen-pals, collaborating on a folk tale unit, and participating in an international children’s magazine which is being developed by the teachers. Despite the pandemic and time zone differences, teachers are committed to connecting students through video calls as well as asynchronous experiences.
The partnership began in the fall of 2019 through Edmodo, a professional learning community. A teacher from Appomattox Elementary connected with a teacher in India. The students of these teachers participated in a Skype call in November. Due to time zone differences, students in Appomattox arrived at school earlier than usual, while students in India returned to school in the evening in order to make this happen. As the Skype call went on, morning announcements at Appomattox Elementary became part of the experience. The students in India observed with awe as we stood to say the Pledge of Allegiance. As they learned first hand of this standard school opening for schools in the USA, the Appomattox students were told that students in India open the day with yoga! The discussion continued on a multitude of topics including clothing, currency, weather, food, and pets. From this one momentous Skype call, an awesome collaboration had only just begun.
When the pandemic hit, the teachers reconnected to compare situations. Another teacher in Italy connected and joined the conversations. The three teachers orchestrated a Google Meet in which students from all three countries discussed their situations. Following the video call, a padlet was utilized as an asynchronous means to continue the discussion. The students in Appomattox learned to appreciate their ability to go outside, as they learned many children in cities around the world didn’t have that luxury.
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In April, a teacher from Turkey joined the collaboration. She designed a plan to celebrate Children’s Day, a Turkish holiday. On April 21st, a Zoom call was held with students in all four countries: USA, India, Italy, and Turkey. It was like an epic “show and tell!” Each child presented something. They played musical instruments, danced, and shared artwork, poems, projects, and even baby ducks! All students were in quarantine at this time, so each was in his or her own home during this video call. It was an awesome experience for students to be able to take an interactive field trip around the world without ever leaving their own living rooms.
In May, students in Japan and Northern Ireland joined to share in a World Bee Day padlet. The children presented a variety of projects related to bees. Some in Appomattox were able to submit videos of visits with local beekeepers, which students in other parts of the world found to be quite enlightening. Once again, contrasts between students living in cities and those in rural areas surfaced. While Appomattox is a small rural school division, these students have contributed just as much to the learning as students in the capital city of Turkey.
In the new school year, they will be representing the Western Hemisphere in a learning partnership with seven countries: USA, Ghana, Finland, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and India. These authentic learning opportunities will enhance their understanding of cultural differences, while also demonstrating similarities between children across the globe who are living during a pandemic. Especially in 2020, it’s a small world after all.
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Free Webinar Lunch & Learn Series |
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Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 12:00 -1:00 p.m.
Session 3
Essential Tools for Modern Meeting Management
BoardDocs is a proud VSBA partner. For over 15 years we have supported Virginia school divisions with a highly secure digital board meeting portal that provides powerful meeting management tools and simplifies document collaboration from any location. In this session we will share how BoardDocs’ advanced features – including voting, meeting control panel, goal tracking, committee management and policy publishing – help you ensure transparency when your board and community are operating remotely.
How Self-Funding is an Asset to School Systems
As VSBA’s preferred partner for employee health benefits, BPA is proud to support all of your benefit administration needs. We offer a complete portfolio of solutions for risk management and cost containment to serve VSBA members. We provide flexible plan designs, proactive data analytics, Bestlife wellness incentives, convenient pharmacy benefit management and supplemental insurance products for a successful benefit package. Self-funded plans with BPA can help school systems avoid costly rate hikes that are common with fully funded plans. Our goal is to administer a health plan that saves your organization money so it can go where it’s needed most, while delivering outstanding service and coverage to your faculty, staff and administrators. Our clients range from national companies to local public entities like yours, giving us the expertise to effectively guide you through the world of benefit options.
Improving the Safety of the Air in Your Schools
Learn what others are doing to improve the safety of the air quality in the school systems to help prevent the spread of COVID, the flu and other viruses. In addition, explore how to improve your facilities and enhance the learning environment without affecting your budget.
Cost: Free
Date and Time: February 3, 2021, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Presenters: Kristin Forsberg, Governance Advisor, BoardDocs, Dr. James Blevins, Consultant, BPA, Morris Massinter, President, CEO, BPA, Paul LaPradd Executive Account Manager, BPA, Cheryl Midkiff, Account Executive, ESG (Energy Systems Group)
Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 5:00 -6:00 p.m.
Session 4
A Successful School Project: From Funding to Students in the Classroom
This brief presentation will discuss all aspects of a successful school construction project, which includes securing successful funding, developing a design in partnership with the community and ensuring a safe, secure and technologically equal learning environment.
Saving for Education with Virginia529
Join this session to hear a variety of ways to achieve your education savings goals with Virginia529. You’ll learn how to:
· Save for tuition and other college costs, such as housing, textbooks, and more with Invest529
· Save for private or religious K-12 education
· Take advantage of tax-free earnings and the Virginia state tax deduction
· Meet your savings goals
Cost: Free
Date and Time: February 23, 2021, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Presenters: Chuck Saylors, Vice President, M.B. Kahn Construction, & Ashlee Nemeth, Regional Marketing Associate, Virginia529
Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 5:00 -6:00 p.m.
Session 5
Managing Risks & Reducing Costs on Capital Construction
Capital construction of a new or renovated school is a major investment and taxpayer funds must be used wisely to produce a quality, 21st-century educational facility. MBP will discuss various project delivery methods and strategies to identify and manage cost risks throughout the life of a capital project, as well as strategies to maximize construction funds.
From Striving to Thriving. Creating a Stronger, Healthier Community through Strategic Planning
As leaders and decision-makers in school districts across the state of Virginia, you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. Every day you work tirelessly to ensure that all students have equal access to healthy learning environments that prepare them for a lifetime of achievements. As we have discovered, happy and healthy kids in a clean and welcoming environment perform better at school. A nutritious, well-balanced diet and lifestyle also helps boost their energy and sharpen their concentration. Through this discussion, uncover how Sodexo has developed comprehensive K-12 food and facilities management solutions that meet the demands of today and tomorrow. As districts continue to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, we are here to help you welcome back anxious students, staff and community.
Strategies for Identifying and Completing Small Projects
Not all school divisions have the funding to support major new school projects. And even larger divisions may struggle to get smaller projects completed. Having a logical strategy and creative approach can be critical to accomplishing project goals, large or small. This session is geared towards the small, yet essential projects school divisions need to complete. Join our session and see how to save time, dollars and potential headaches through careful planning and creative solutions.
Cost: Free
Date and Time: February 23, 2021, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Presenters: Jim Yatzeck, PE, CCM, PSP, LEED AP, Service Executive, MBP, John White, Regional Vice President, and Meg McGraw, Director of Business Development, Duane Harver, President/CEO, Director of K12 Design, RRMM
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News and Tidbits From Across the Country |
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Measuring the Impact of the Coronavirus on Teachers,...
The Biden administration is set to give educators and school leaders the very thing that the previous administration refused them: a centralized data collection to help them understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students and...
Read more
www.usnews.com
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Multicultural education: How schools teach it and where...
January 25, 2021 As American public schools have grown more diverse, educators have introduced multicultural education programs to help kids understand and appreciate the differences among them - differences in terms of race, religion,...
Read more
journalistsresource.org
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Biden administration's COVID-19 plan prioritizes schools ...
President Joe Biden has made it clear one of his first priorities in office is getting students back into the classroom, but after an almost year-long debate over the safety of schools during the pandemic, the new administration could face an...
Read more
abcnews.go.com
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CDC finds scant spread of coronavirus in schools with...
Schools operating in person have seen scant transmission of the coronavirus, particularly when masks and distancing are employed, but some indoor athletics have led to infections and should be curtailed if schools want to operate safely,...
Read more
www.washingtonpost.com
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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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Branch Builds, Inc.
We provide superior construction services and innovative solutions, enhancing the vitality of the communities we serve. Branch applies Virtual Building Technology to the delivery of our preconstruction and construction services.
John Gardner
Phone: (540) 989-5215
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Compass/SSC Services for Education
Compass/SSC partners work exclusively with educational institutions to further the success and well-being of students, staff, and faculty by delivering quality facilities programs, including custodial, grounds, and maintenance.
Katie Simpson
Phone: (704) 249-9913
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Moseley Architects
Architectural/Engineering Services
Lisa Demmel
Phone: (804) 794-7555
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UPCOMING EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, & WEBINARS |
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: Presented twice a year, this comprehensive day-long conference is designed specifically to give new Chairs and Vice-Chairs an overview of the basics of boardsmanship.
Cost: $205 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations, VSBA Academy Credit Points will NOT be awarded for any individual not registered)
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
LOCATION: Webinar
DETAIL: While many students have been out of school in 2020 due to the pandemic, students have been increasingly willing to exercise their political power both in and out of school. Even prior to the protests that rippled through the United States in 2020, students have increasingly exercised that power by committing acts of civil disobedience. At this webinar, you will hear how school attorneys can balance the rights of students to exercise their First Amendment rights in school with the obligations of schools to educate students in an atmosphere free from substantial disruptions.
Cost: $160 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations)
Thursday, February 11, 2021
LOCATION: Webinar
DETAIL: Join us for this webinar to discover how school leaders are leveraging their data to gain invaluable insights related to individual student performance, equity, access, and remote learning engagement. Jeff Carew, Managing Director at Forecast5 analytics will explain and give examples of how this data enables school leaders to keep students on track in hybrid, virtual, and in-person learning environments.
Cost: Free
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: Presented three times a year, this two-hour workshop is designed to give participants a basic overview of Title IX, and the second hour will be investigators and decision-makers training and provide an overview for board members on their roles.
Cost: $170 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations, VSBA Academy Credit Points will NOT be awarded for any individual not registered)
Thursday, February 18, 2021
LOCATION: Webinar
DETAIL: When school systems start thinking about building a new school, one of the first topics mentioned is the school building must be energy efficient. Items such as the HVAC and daylighting are brought up, but what about the actual walls themselves. A building system that needs to be considered is ICF or Insulated Concrete Forms. The way buildings are designed and constructed is always evolving due to changing economic, social, and environmental factors. This webinar will showcase ZMM’s built ICF projects and provide insight into a smarter way of building your next new school project!
Cost: Free
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Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Hot Topic Conference
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: Join us as we gather virtually for an informative and important conference. This conference will be focusing specifically on multiple hot topics in education. You will hear from three leaders in public education throughout the event speaking on the topics of Race and Equity, Communicating as a Team, and School Segregation within Virginia.
Cost: $175 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations, VSBA Academy Credit Points will NOT be awarded for any individual not registered)
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Tuesday, April 13, 2021
April Hot Topic Conference
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: Join us virtually for the 2021 VSBA April Hot Topic Conference. This conference brings together dynamic speakers addressing issues that are important and relevant to every school division. This year we will be discussing the important topic of collective bargaining.
Cost:$180 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations, VSBA Academy Credit Points will NOT be awarded for any individual not registered)
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200 Hansen Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911
Tel: 434-295-8722 Fax: 434-295-8785
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