WINCHESTER - Winchester Public Schools Superintendent Jason Van Heukelum offered words of encouragement to the school division's teachers and staff on Friday afternoon as they prepare for the upcoming school year. He told those gathered for the 2022-23 convocation that public schools across the nation are struggling to attract teachers.

Some summer breaks, it's a struggle just scrounging up enough leftover funds to afford a replacement school bus, said one public school superintendent in Southwest Virginia. "It's very tough," said Jeanette Warwick, Craig County Schools superintendent. "Even something that people mostly take for granted, just school buses."

The School Board's Finance and Operations Committee on Thursday voted 2-0 to recommend that the full board apply for the EPA Clean School Bus Grant Program. If the grant is awarded, Loudoun County Public Schools will be able to purchase 25 new electric school busses.

(The Center Square) - Higher education institutions from across Virginia have begun the initial planning stages to establish K-12 lab schools as they await guidance from the Virginia Department of Education. More than 30 schools have expressed interest in creating lab schools, which would be public schools run by colleges, universities or other higher education institutions.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - On Friday, volunteers came together at Waterman Elementary School in Harrisonburg to build two new composting systems for elementary schools in the city. The project was made possible through a partnership with local nonprofit, Vine & Fig.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) - Chesterfield County is gearing up for back to school, and residents still have a week to donate to the supplies drive for Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPD). The Richmond Executive Airport is hosting the community school supplies drive, which will benefit Chesterfield County Public Schools students.

Following their annual performance review of the Superintendent, on June 12, 2022, the Prince William County School Board voted to approve a one-year extension of Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade's four-year contract, with a revised contract end date of June 30, 2026.

CHRISTIANSBURG - Nearly two-dozen people applied for the job of superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, according to an update on the search. "Which was a really outstanding output," said county School Board Chairwoman Sue Kass. "And considering we're told it was a shallow pool, it sounds like it wasn't so shallow after all."

CARROLL COUNTY, Va. - Students in Carroll County will have full stomachs this school year. Carroll County Public Schools announced in a Facebook post that all students will be eligible for a free meal during the 2022-23 school year. This will include a free breakfast and a free lunch each day.

Rappahannock County Public Schools welcomed several new teachers and staff for orientation on Monday. Learn more about the new and returning staff here: