BRISTOL, Va. -Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin paid a visit to Virginia High School on Thursday to talk to students about America's fentanyl crisis. Calling the fentanyl problem "extensive," Youngkin pointed to statistics, such as fentanyl overdoses in Virginia doubling from 2019 to 2021, and the 2,600 Virginians who died due to fentanyl overdoses this past year.

CHRISTIANSBURG - Montgomery County school leaders are getting closer to making a decision on whether they'll allow collective bargaining, a process the General Assembly legalized for public employees with the passage of legislation in 2020.

ABINGDON, Va. - A genealogy project at a local elementary school has turned into a family affair, uncovering clues to family histories. Young learners who participate in a Writing Club at Greendale Elementary School were recently invited to explore their origins by conducting interviews with family members and collecting artifacts that represent their family's heritage.

NORFOLK - The Norfolk School Board approved its $494 million budget for the upcoming year Wednesday night after several failed attempts to amend it. The board voted to approve Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong's proposed budget, sending it on to city council for approval, in a 5-2 vote. Tanya Bhasin and Rodney Jordan dissented.

The Portsmouth School Board on Thursday night unanimously approved a $247.5 million budget request that prioritizes school safety and employee compensation. The budget includes funding to create a full-time school safety coordinator, who will oversee management of the division's security systems and technology as well as safety training.

Old Dominion University this month received two state planning grants totaling $400,000 to develop lab school proposals with Newport News and Chesapeake school divisions. If approved, the programs would launch in fall 2024. During their special session last year, the General Assembly appropriated $100 million to support the development and implementation of lab schools.

The Salem high School Forensics team hit another milestone Saturday as it tied the VHSL record for consecutive state championships with its 17th victory, beating out runner-up Grafton High School.

BERRYVILLE - Planting trees is hard work but worth it, some Clarke County High School (CCHS) students have realized. "It takes a lot of effort," said senior Elizabeth Terzian. "But the effort is well-spent" in helping the environment.

The Hampton School Board approved a $345.8 million budget Wednesday evening for 2023-24. The spending plan includes the $272 million operating budget - an increase of almost 1.5% over the current year - and several special funds for food and nutrition services, athletics and other categories.

School Board member Denise Corbo (At-large) announced this week she plans to sue her Loudoun County School Board colleagues, alleging discrimination and harassment after they denied her requests to remotely participate in meetings as a reasonable accommodation for a disability.