reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-54. Members need not be appointed by districts

Members of a school board in a school division to which the provisions of this article are applicable need not be appointed by districts, if deemed advisable by the governing body making the appointments.
Code 1950, § 22-100.4; 1954, c. 391; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-55. Compensation of members

A school board of a school division to which the provisions of this article are applicable may pay each of its members an annual salary not to exceed the amount authorized by § 22.1-32, if any, for the county or city from which such member was appointed.
Code 1950, § 22-100.6; 1954, c. 391; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-56. Transfer of title to school property; adjudication of ownership

The title to all school property in the school division shall be vested in the division school board. The school board of every county or part thereof included in such school division and the city council or the school board, whichever holds title to the school property included in such school division, shall transfer title to the school property included in such school division to the division school board.
If, at the time a school division to which the provisions of this article are applicable is formed, the ownership of school property, real or personal, has not been determined or the title thereto is in question or there is a dispute as to the ownership or title, then such question of ownership or title may be determined before the formation of the school division either by a written agreement between the participating divisions with the approval of the respective governing bodies thereof or by any participating division petitioning a circuit court in the jurisdiction where the property or any part thereof lies to determine the title to the property, and such adjudication of ownership or title shall be conclusive thereafter.
Code 1950, § 22-100.7; 1954, c. 391; 1956, c. 671; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57. Effective date for formation of board

The effective date for the formation of any school division to which the provisions of this article are applicable and the school board thereof and the supervision and operation of the schools in the school division by such school board shall be as of the first day of July of a school year, and the school board or boards as then constituted in the school division shall cease to exist in such school division as of such effective date.
Code 1950, § 22-100.11; 1954, c. 391; 1956, c. 671; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.1. Applicability

The provisions of this article shall apply to any county, city, or town constituting a separate and entire school division. If a town within a county constitutes a separate school division and the balance of that county constitutes a separate school division, the term county as used in this article shall be construed to mean the balance of the county excepting the town. If a county and city, or any combination thereof, constitute a consolidated school division, each county or city shall be treated as a separate entity for the purposes of this article and be entitled to hold its own referendum and proceed to elect the same number of members to the consolidated board as have been appointed from the county or city. The provisions of this article shall apply to every school division, county, city, and town notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, of Title 15.2, or of any charter.
1992, c. 594.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.1:1. Referendum in certain consolidated cities

Notwithstanding the provisions of this article or any other statutory provision, where an existing city and a county consolidate into a consolidated city and where the county at the time of consolidation is providing all school services to the existing city by contract pursuant to § 22.1-27 and the voters of the county have approved direct election of the school board, the consolidation plan or agreement shall provide for the election of school board members directly by the voters of the consolidated city without the necessity of a further referendum under § 22.1-57.2; in such case, the consolidation plan or agreement shall provide that the members of the initial school board shall be elected from the municipal election districts designated in the consolidation plan or agreement. The provisions of § 22.1-57.3 shall apply in all other respects.
1995, c. 728.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.2. Referendum on direct election of school board members by the voters

The registered voters of any such county, city, or town may, by petition filed with the circuit court thereof, ask that a referendum be held on the question of whether the members of the school board of the county, city, or town shall be elected directly by the voters. The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least 10 percent of the number registered in such locality on the January 1 preceding its filing. Upon the filing of a petition, the circuit court shall order and require the election officials at the next general election to open the polls and take the sense of the voters therein on that question. The petition shall be filed with the court not less than 111 days prior to the general election. The clerk of the court shall cause notice of the referendum to be published once a week for the three consecutive weeks prior to the referendum in a newspaper having general circulation in the county, city, or town, and a copy of the notice shall be posted during the same time on the door of the courthouse of the county or city, or of the county within which the town is located. The question on the ballot shall be:
"Shall the method of selecting the school board be changed from appointment by the governing body (or the school board selection commission, whichever is applicable) to direct election by the voters?
[ ] YES
[ ] NO"
The election shall be held and the results certified as provided in § 24.2-684.
1992, c. 594; 2011, c. 599.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.3:1. Staggered terms of elected school boards in certain counties

The school boards of Bath, Pulaski, and Rockbridge Counties shall be elected as provided in § 22.1-57.3 except that all members shall be elected for four-year terms and the school board elections shall alternate biennially between the election of three members and the election of the remaining two members to ensure staggered terms.
1993, c. 878; 1994, c. 744; 2002, c. 74; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.3:1.1. Loudoun County school board; staggered terms

The school board of Loudoun County shall be elected as provided in § 22.1-57.3, except that upon a majority vote of its members the terms of school board members may be staggered as provided in this section. At the November election immediately preceding the end of the board's term, and upon the board's prior vote for staggered terms, the members from four of the nine districts, inclusive of the at-large district, to be determined by lot by the electoral board of the county prior to its meeting immediately preceding the deadline for candidate filing, shall be elected for four-year terms, and the remaining districts' successful candidates shall be elected for two-year terms.
Thereafter, all members shall be elected for four-year terms, and the school board elections shall be conducted biennially for staggered terms.
2010, c. 95; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 166; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.3:1.2. Pittsylvania County school board; staggered terms

The school board of Pittsylvania County shall be elected as provided in § 22.1-57.3, except that all members shall be elected for four-year terms and the school board elections shall alternate biennially between the election of the members from four districts and the election of the members from the remaining three districts to ensure staggered terms.
2011, c. 776; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.3:2.1. Appointment and terms of school board members for City of Williamsburg

Notwithstanding any provisions of this article to the contrary, the terms of school board members representing the City of Williamsburg shall be for terms of four years, with terms commencing on January 1.
1998, cc. 125, 218; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.3:3. Election of school board and chairman in certain counties

A. The provisions of this section shall be applicable in any county (i) that has the county executive form of government and that is contiguous to a county having the urban county executive form of government and (ii) in which the chairman of the board of supervisors is elected at large.
B. Following a referendum in which the qualified voters of the county approve a change to an elected school board, the school board shall be elected as provided in § 22.1-57.3 except as otherwise provided in this section. One member of the school board shall be elected at large. All other members shall be elected from the same districts from which the members of the board of supervisors other than the chairman are elected. The member of the school board who is elected at large at the initial or any subsequent election shall be the chairman of the school board during his term of office notwithstanding the provisions of § 22.1-76.
1995, c. 842; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 5 - School Boards; Selection, Qualification and Salaries of Members › § 22.1-57.4. Referendum to revert to appointment of the school board

A. By the same procedure and under the same requirements as provided in § 22.1-57.2, the registered voters of any county, city, or town which selects members of the school board by direct election of the voters may petition for, and the circuit court shall so order, a referendum on the question of changing from direct election of the school board to appointment of school board members by the governing body or, if the petition so states in the case of a county, by a school board selection commission. The question on the ballot shall be:
"Shall the method of selecting the school board be changed from direct election by the voters to appointment by the governing body (or, if the petition in a county so requests, a school board selection commission)?
[ ] YES
[ ] NO"
B. If a majority of the qualified voters voting in such referendum vote in favor of changing the method of selecting school board members to appointment by the governing body or by a school board selection commission, as the case may be, the terms of the school board members in office through direct election shall terminate on June 30 following the referendum. A school board selection commission shall be appointed pursuant to § 22.1-35 if a majority have voted in the referendum for that selection method. The members of the appointed school board shall be appointed for the terms and in the manner provided in the article of this chapter or the chapter of Title 15.2 applicable to the county, city, or town in which the referendum has been held.
1992, c. 594.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-60. Appointment and term of superintendent; certain contractual matters

A. The division superintendent of schools shall be appointed by the school board of the division from the entire list of eligibles certified by the State Board. All contract terms for superintendents shall expire on June 30. The division superintendent shall serve for an initial term of not less than two years nor more than four years. At the expiration of the initial term, the division superintendent shall be eligible to hold office for the term specified by the employing school board, not to exceed four years.
Except as provided in subsection B, the division superintendent shall be appointed by the school board within 180 days after a vacancy occurs. In the event a school board appoints a division superintendent in accordance with the provisions of this section and the appointee seeks and is granted release from such appointment prior to assuming office, the school board shall be granted a 60-day period from the time of release within which to make another appointment.
B. A school board that has not appointed a superintendent within 120 days of a vacancy shall submit a written report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction demonstrating its timely efforts to make an appointment. Upon request, a school board shall be granted up to an additional 180 days within which to appoint a division superintendent.
C. No school board shall renegotiate a superintendent's contract during the period following the election or appointment of new members and the date such members are qualified and assume office.
D. Whenever a superintendent's contract is being renegotiated, all members of the school board shall be notified at least 30 days in advance of any meeting at which a vote is planned on the renegotiated contract unless the members agree unanimously to take the vote without the 30 days' notice. Each member's vote on the renegotiated contract shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
Code 1950, §§ 22-32, 22-33; 1954, c. 638; 1958, c. 44; 1970, c. 155; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 225; 1972, c. 434; 1980, c. 559; 1983, c. 145; 1989, c. 550; 1992, c. 164; 1996, c. 759; 2002, cc. 165, 374; 2003, c. 866; 2018, c. 136.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-60.1. Evaluation of superintendent

Each local school board shall evaluate the division superintendent annually consistent with the performance objectives set forth in Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers, Administrators, and Superintendents as required by § 22.1-253.13:5.
1999, cc. 1030, 1037; 2005, cc. 331, 450.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-61. When Board to appoint superintendent

In the event that a school board fails to appoint a division superintendent within the time prescribed by § 22.1-60, the State Board shall appoint such division superintendent.
Code 1950, § 22-33; 1954, c. 638; 1972, c. 434; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-62. Appointment of same person by two or more school divisions; approval of part-time superintendent by State Board

A. Any two or more school divisions may appoint the same person to be division superintendent.
B. No person may be employed as a part-time division superintendent without the approval of the Board of Education.
Code 1950, §§ 22-32, 22-37; 1956, c. 633; 1958, c. 44; 1964, c. 428; 1966, c. 601; 1968, c. 454; 1970, cc. 155, 691; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 225; 1972, c. 581; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-63. Certain officers ineligible for or to hold office of superintendent

A. No member of the governing body of a county, city or town and no member of a school board shall be eligible for the office of division superintendent of schools in the school division in which he serves.
B. No federal officer or employee, no state officer, except an officer appointed by the Governor, no state employee, no deputy of such officers, no officer or employee or the deputy of an officer of a city, county or town, no member of the governing body of a county, city or town, no member of a school board and no chairman of any political party shall be eligible to hold the office of division superintendent of schools.
Code 1950, § 22-35; 1954, c. 334; 1956, c. 620; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-64. Oath of superintendent

Every division superintendent, before entering upon the duties of office, shall take and subscribe the oath prescribed for an officer of this Commonwealth as provided in Chapter 1 (§ 49-1 et seq.) of Title 49 of this Code, and a certificate of the clerk of the court in which the oath is administered setting forth the qualification and its record shall be furnished the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Code 1950, § 22-39; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-65. Punishment of division superintendents

A division superintendent may be assessed a reasonable fine, suspended from office for a limited period or removed from office by either the Board of Education, upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the school board of the division for sufficient cause. A division superintendent may appeal to the appropriate circuit court any decision of the Board of Education or school board to assess a fine against him or to suspend or remove him from office and shall be entitled to a trial de novo on such appeal of whether there was sufficient cause therefor.
Code 1950, § 22-40; 1980, c. 559; 1990, c. 517.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-66. Vacancy in office

The office of any division superintendent, whether full-time or part-time, shall be deemed vacant upon his engaging in any other business or employment during his term of office as such superintendent unless such superintendent was granted prior approval by the school board or school boards appointing him, or upon his resignation or his removal from office.
Code 1950, § 22-38; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 225; 1974, c. 191; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-67. Expenses of superintendents

Each school board shall provide for the necessary traveling and office expenses of the division superintendent. Detailed records of all such expenses shall be kept by the division superintendent.
Code 1950, § 22-37; 1956, c. 633; 1964, c. 428; 1966, c. 601; 1968, c. 454; 1970, c. 691; 1972, c. 581; 1980, c. 559; 1985, c. 324; 1988, c. 95.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-69. Superintendent to attend meetings

The division superintendent or, in his absence or inability to attend, a person designated by him and approved by the school board shall be present at all meetings of the school board except that on affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the school board, attendance of the division superintendent or his designee may be dispensed with at a special meeting of the school board. If matters pertaining to the division superintendent personally are under discussion at any such meeting, he shall remain subject to the call of the school board.
Code 1950, § 22-49; 1973, c. 63; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-70.1. Reports of certain ratios to local school boards

The division superintendent shall report annually to the local school board regarding divisionwide ratios of students in average daily membership to full-time equivalent teaching positions. The report shall indicate, among other things, the ratio of regular classroom teachers, excluding resource teachers, to students in average daily membership in each of the grades for all public schools in the division. The ratio of regular classroom teachers, including resource teachers, to students in average daily membership in each of the grades for all public schools in the division shall be indicated separately in the same annual report.
1998, c. 815.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-70.2. Acceptable Internet use policies for public and private schools

A. Every two years, each local school board shall review, amend if necessary, and approve the school division's acceptable use policy for the Internet. At a minimum, the policy shall contain provisions that (i) are designed to prohibit use by division employees and students of the division's computer equipment and communications services for sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading illegal material via the Internet; (ii) seek to prevent access by students to material that the school division deems to be harmful to juveniles as defined in § 18.2-390; (iii) select a technology for the division's computers having Internet access to filter or block Internet access through such computers to child pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.1:1 and obscenity as defined in § 18.2-372; (iv) establish appropriate measures to be taken against persons who violate the policy; and (v) include a component on Internet safety for students that is integrated in a division's instructional program. The policy may include such other terms, conditions, and requirements as deemed appropriate, such as requiring written parental authorization for Internet use by juveniles or differentiating acceptable uses among elementary, middle, and high school students.
Each school division's policy shall be posted on its website in accordance with § 22.1-253.13:7. Additionally, each local school division shall certify compliance with these requirements annually to the Department of Education.
B. The superintendent shall take such steps as he deems appropriate to implement and enforce the division's policy.
C. In addition to the foregoing requirements regarding public school Internet use policies, the principal or other chief administrator of any private school that satisfies the compulsory school attendance law pursuant to § 22.1-254 and accepts federal funds for Internet access shall select a technology for its computers having Internet access to filter or block Internet access through such computers to child pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.1:1 and obscenity as defined in § 18.2-372.
D. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall issue guidelines to school divisions regarding instructional programs related to Internet safety.
1999, c. 64; 2001, c. 269; 2006, cc. 52, 474; 2010, c. 61.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 6 - Division Superintendents › § 22.1-70.3. (Expires July 1, 2028) Designation of teacher shortage areas

Each division superintendent shall at least annually, if so requested by the local school board pursuant to subdivision 9 of § 22.1-79, survey the relevant local school division to identify critical shortages of (i) teachers and administrative personnel by subject matter, (ii) specialized student support positions as that term is described in subsection O of § 22.1-253.13:2, and (iii) school bus drivers and report such critical shortages to the school board, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and to the Virginia Retirement System.
2004, c. 563; 2020, cc. 379, 437; 2023, cc. 690, 707, 708.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-71. School board constitutes body corporate; corporate powers

The duly appointed or elected members shall constitute the school board. Every such school board is declared a body corporate and, in its corporate capacity, is vested with all the powers and charged with all the duties, obligations and responsibilities imposed upon school boards by law and may sue, be sued, contract, be contracted with and, in accordance with the provisions of this title, purchase, take, hold, lease and convey school property, both real and personal. School board members appointed or elected by district or otherwise shall have no organization or duties except such as may be assigned to them by the school board as a whole.
Code 1950, §§ 22-63, 22-94; 1980, c. 559; 1998, c. 102.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-72. Annual organizational meetings of school boards

Each school board shall hold its annual organizational meeting for the purpose of establishing its regular meeting schedule for the ensuing year as follows: (i) in January or July, if the school board serves a city or town constituting a school division, regardless of whether its members are appointed or elected or any combination thereof; (ii) in July, if the school board serves a county constituting a school division and its members are solely appointed; or (iii) in January or July, if the school board serves a county constituting a school division and its members are elected in whole or in part.
A school board may also hold special meetings when necessary. Each school board shall fix its own procedure for calling and holding any special meeting.
Code 1950, §§ 22-45, 22-46, 22-97; 1954, c. 291; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 79, § 1; 1968, c. 501; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1975, cc. 308, 328; 1978, c. 430; 1980, c. 559; 1995, c. 74; 2002, cc. 222, 231.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-75. Procedure in case of tie vote

In any case in which there is a tie vote of the school board of any school division when all the members are not present, the question shall be passed by until the next meeting when it shall again be voted upon even though all members are not present. In any case in which there is a tie vote on any question after complying with this procedure or in any case in which there is a tie vote when all the members of the school board are present, the proceedings thereon shall be in conformity with the proceedings prescribed below, except that the tie breaker, if any, appointed pursuant to § 15.2-410, 15.2-531, 15.2-837, 22.1-40, 22.1-44, or 22.1-47, or elected pursuant to § 15.2-627 or 22.1-57.3, whichever is applicable, shall cast the deciding vote.
In any case in which there is a tie vote of the school board, the clerk shall record the vote; immediately notify the tie breaker to vote; and request his presence, if practicable, at the present meeting of the board. However, if that is not practicable, the board may adjourn to a day fixed in the minutes of the board or, in case of a failure to agree on a day, to a day the clerk fixes and enters in the minutes. At the present meeting or on the day named in the minutes, the tie breaker shall attend. He shall be entitled to be fully advised on the matter upon which he is to vote. If not prepared to vote at the time, he may require the clerk to enter an order adjourning the meeting to some future day, not to exceed thirty days, to be named in the minutes. He may have continuances, not to exceed thirty days, entered until he is ready to vote. When he votes, the clerk shall record his vote; the tie shall be broken; and the question shall be decided as he votes. If a meeting for any reason is not held on the day named in the minutes, the clerk shall enter on the minute book a day within ten days as a substitute day and notify all the members, and this shall continue until a meeting is held. After a tie has occurred, the tie breaker shall be considered a member of the board for the purpose of counting a quorum for the sole purpose of breaking the tie.
Code 1950, § 22-70; 1972, c. 129; 1980, c. 559; 1981, c. 246; 1995, c. 56; 2006, c. 29; 2007, c. 100; 2014, c. 772.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-76. Chairman; clerk; vice-chairman; deputy clerk; terms; compensation and bonds of clerk and deputy clerk; officers ineligible to serve as clerk and deputy clerk; approval of division superintendent's designee

A. Except as provided in § 22.1-57.3:3, at its annual meeting each school board shall elect one of its members as chairman, shall approve a designee of the division superintendent to attend meetings of the school board in the absence or inability to attend of the superintendent and on recommendation of the division superintendent shall appoint a clerk of the school board. The school board may also elect one of its members as vice-chairman and may appoint a deputy clerk who shall be empowered to act in all matters in case of the absence or inability to act of the chairman or clerk, respectively, or as otherwise provided by resolution of the school board. The term of the chairman, clerk and any vice-chairman and deputy clerk shall be one year.
B. The school board shall fix the compensation of the clerk and any deputy clerk.
C. The school board shall require the clerk and any deputy clerk each to furnish a corporate surety bond conditioned upon the faithful performance and discharge of his duties as such. The school board shall fix the amount of each bond which shall not be less than $10,000. The premium for each bond shall be paid by the school board.
D. No mayor, member of the governing body, other officer or deputy officer of a city, town or county, other than the division superintendent, shall be eligible for appointment as clerk or deputy clerk of a school board in such city, town or county.
Code 1950, §§ 22-48, 22-48.1, 22-48.2, 22-71, 22-98; 1952, cc. 280, 593; 1954, c. 638; 1980, c. 559; 1995, c. 842.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-77. Duties of clerk

The clerk of the school board shall keep in a separate volume the minutes of the meetings of the school board, including all bids submitted on any building, material, supplies, work, or project to be let to contract by such school board, and in another volume a receipt and disbursement record as prescribed by the Board of Education and shall keep on file vouchers, contracts, and other official papers. They shall be subject to such periodic examinations as shall be prescribed or approved by the Board of Education. The clerk may keep such volumes, vouchers, contracts, and other official papers electronically. The clerk shall discharge, under the general direction of the division superintendent, such other duties in connection with the business of the school division as may be required of him by the school board or the Board of Education.
Code 1950, § 22-53; 1980, c. 559; 2015, cc. 330, 388.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-78. Bylaws and regulations

A school board may adopt bylaws and regulations, not inconsistent with state statutes and regulations of the Board of Education, for its own government, for the management of its official business and for the supervision of schools, including but not limited to the proper discipline of students, including their conduct going to and returning from school.
Code 1950, §§ 22-72, 22-96, 22-97; 1954, cc. 289, 291; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 60; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 79, § 1; 1966, c. 691; 1968, c. 501; 1970, c. 71; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1972, c. 511; 1975, cc. 308, 328; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.1. Opening of the school year; approvals for certain alternative schedules

A. Each local school board shall set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school shall be no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day. In each school division in which the school board sets the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school is before Labor Day, such school board shall close each school in the school division from the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day through Labor Day. The Board of Education may waive this requirement based on a school board certifying that it meets the good cause requirements of subsection B.
B. For purposes of this section, "good cause" means a school division is providing its students, in the school year for which the waiver is sought, with instructional programs that are offered on a year-round basis by the school division in one or more of its elementary or middle or high schools. Any waiver provided pursuant to this subsection shall only apply to the opening date for those schools where such year-round instructional programs are offered.
C. Individual schools may propose, and local school boards may approve, pursuant to guidelines developed by the Board of Education, alternative school schedule plans providing for the operation of schools on a four-day weekly calendar, so long as a minimum of 990 hours of instructional time is provided for grades kindergarten through 12.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or any other provision of law, the school board of any school division located in Planning District 16 that was not granted a good cause waiver pursuant to this section for the 2018-2019 school year but would qualify for such a waiver pursuant to this section as it was in effect prior to July 1, 2019, for the 2019-2020 school year may set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend is earlier than Labor Day, including earlier than 14 days before Labor Day. Additionally, the school board of any school division located in Planning District 16 that is entirely surrounded by two school divisions that either were granted a waiver pursuant to Chapter 3 of the Acts of Assembly of 2012, Special Session I, or would qualify for a good cause waiver pursuant to this section as it was in effect prior to July 1, 2019, for the 2019-2020 school year may open schools on the same opening date as either such surrounding school division.
E. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or any other provision of law, the school board of any school division from which students attend Northern Neck Technical Center may set the school calendar so that the first day that students are required to attend school is earlier than Labor Day, including earlier than 14 days before Labor Day.
1986, c. 587; 1998, c. 702; 2003, c. 724; 2010, cc. 49, 88; 2011, cc. 216, 387; 2015, cc. 701, 702; 2019, cc. 569, 570, 637; 2020, cc. 582, 695.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.2. Uniforms in public schools; Board of Education guidelines

A. The Board of Education shall develop model guidelines for local school boards to utilize when establishing requirements for pupils to wear uniforms. In developing these guidelines, the Board shall consider (i) ways to promote parental and community involvement, (ii) relevant state and federal constitutional concerns, such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and (iii) the ability of pupils to purchase such clothing.
B. Upon approval by the Board of the model guidelines, local school boards may establish requirements, consistent with the Board's guidelines, for the students enrolled in any of their schools to wear uniforms while in attendance at such school during the regular school day. No state funds may be used for the purchase of school uniforms.
1995, cc. 508, 521, 526.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.5. Policy regarding tobacco and nicotine vapor products

Each school board shall develop and implement a policy to prohibit, at any time, the use and distribution of any tobacco product or nicotine vapor product, as those terms are defined in § 18.2-371.2, on a school bus, on school property, or at an on-site or off-site school-sponsored activity.
Such policy shall include (i) provisions for its enforcement among students, employees, and visitors, including the enumeration of possible sanctions or disciplinary action consistent with state or federal law, and (ii) referrals to resources to help staff and students overcome tobacco addiction.
Each school board shall work to ensure adequate notice of this policy.
2014, c. 326; 2019, cc. 172, 246.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.6. Employee lactation support policy

Each local school board shall adopt a policy to set aside, in each school in the school division, a non-restroom location that is shielded from the public view to be designated as an area in which any mother who is employed by the local school board or enrolled as a student may take breaks of reasonable length during the school day to express milk to feed her child until the child reaches the age of one.
2014, c. 380.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.7. School meal policies; donations

A. Each local school board shall adopt policies that:
1. Prohibit school board employees from requiring a student who cannot pay for a meal at school or who owes a school meal debt to throw away or discard a meal after it has been served to him, do chores or other work to pay for such meals, or wear a wristband or hand stamp;
2. Require school board employees to direct any communication relating to a school meal debt to the student's parent. Such policy may permit such communication to be made by a letter addressed to the parent to be sent home with the student;
3. Prohibit the school board from filing a lawsuit against a student or the student's parent because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt; and
4. Prohibit the school board or any school board employee from denying a student the opportunity to participate in any extracurricular school activity because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt.
B. Any school board may solicit and receive any donation or other funds for the purpose of eliminating or offsetting any school meal debt at any time and shall use any such funds solely for such purpose.
2018, cc. 384, 712; 2020, cc. 509, 575; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 106; 2022, c. 686.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.7:1. School meals; availability to students

A. Each school board shall require each public elementary and secondary school in the local school division to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and to make lunch and breakfast available pursuant to such programs to any student who requests such a meal, regardless of whether such student has the money to pay for the meal or owes money for meals previously provided, unless the student's parent has provided written permission to the school board to withhold such a meal from the student.
B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of a school board to collect payment for meals provided pursuant to subsection A, provided, however, that no such school board shall utilize a nongovernmental third-party debt collector to collect on such debt.
2020, c. 683.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.8. Policies regarding job assistance for certain persons

The Department of Education and local school boards shall adopt policies to implement the provisions of 20 U.S.C. § 7926 that prohibit any local school board or any individual who is an employee, contractor, or agent of a local school board from assisting an employee, contractor, or agent of such local school board in obtaining a new job if such local school board or individual knows or has probable cause to believe that the employee, contractor, or agent engaged in sexual misconduct regarding a minor or student in violation of law.
2018, cc. 513, 514.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-79.9. Promotion of broadband services for educational purposes

A. As used in this section:
"Affordability program" means a program or package of broadband services which may include educational programming or access to educational content, offered by a private broadband service provider to school-age children and their families at a lower price, or with specialized services, compared to the broadband services offered by the private broadband service provider to the general public.
"Child nutrition program" means any school meal program funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snack Service, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Special Milk Program.
"Sponsored program" means a financial program to provide lower-cost or free broadband services, or a specialized offering of broadband services, for educational purposes to the home of a student when the student would qualify for (i) a child nutrition program or (ii) any other program recognized or adopted by the local school board as a measuring standard to identify at-risk students.
B. Any school board may:
1. Promote and publicize the availability of private broadband services for educational purposes to parents and students, including the availability of any affordability programs or sponsored programs;
2. Provide promotional or informational materials for private broadband services to parents, students, and potential sponsors including brochures, flyers, and cable, internet, broadband, or other public service announcements, in any media, regarding locally available private broadband service offerings, including the availability of any affordability programs or sponsored programs, to encourage student use of broadband services for educational purposes;
3. Accept compensation, or in-kind donations of materials and services, from any private broadband service provider to reimburse the school board or other public body for its actual costs incurred in providing the materials described in subdivision 2;
4. Enter into agreements with local businesses, charitable groups, or private broadband service providers to promote sponsored programs to provide reduced cost or free broadband services for educational purposes to households of qualifying students. Under such agreements, the school board may award grants or subsidies to private broadband service providers to reduce or eliminate the cost of sponsored program broadband services provided to qualifying student households; and
5. Utilize any federal, state, or local funds that are not otherwise restricted to pay grants or subsidies to support sponsored programs, including any federal funds that may be available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, P.L. 116-36, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, or similar legislation.
2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 496.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-80. Development of park areas adjacent to public schools

Whenever an undeveloped or unused public park area owned by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions exists adjacent to any public school, the school board is authorized and encouraged to develop or improve such area in extension of such school's programs or facilities, subject to the approval and cooperation of the Commonwealth or political subdivision, as the case may be. In the case of an undeveloped or unused public park area owned by a park authority created by more than one political subdivision, a school board in any such political subdivision is authorized and encouraged to develop or improve such area in extension of its school program or facilities, subject to approval and cooperation of the park authority.
Code 1950, § 22-72.2; 1966, c. 606; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-81. Annual report

Unless for good cause shown an extension of time not to exceed fifteen days is granted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, each school board, with the assistance of the division superintendent, shall make a report covering the work of the schools for the year ending the preceding June 30 to the Board of Education according to a timeline and on forms supplied by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Code 1950, § 22-54; 1980, c. 559; 1987, c. 205; 1999, cc. 191, 492; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-82. Employment of counsel to advise or defend school boards and officials; payment of costs, expenses and liabilities; consent of governing bodies required prior to institution of proceedings

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the attorney for the Commonwealth or other counsel may be employed by a school board to advise it concerning any legal matter or to represent it, any member thereof or any school official in any legal proceeding to which the school board, member or official may be a party, when such proceeding is instituted by or against it or against the member or official by virtue of his actions in connection with his duties as such member or official.
B. All costs and expenses of such advice and all costs, expenses and liabilities of such proceedings shall be paid out of funds appropriated to the school board.
C. A school board shall, prior to instituting any legal action or proceeding against any other governmental agency in Virginia or expending any funds therefor, first secure the authorization of the governing body of the county, city or town constituting the school division or the governing bodies of the counties or cities in the school division if the division is composed of more than one county or city except as to legal actions or proceedings arising between the school board and the governing body or bodies.
Code 1950, §§ 22-56.1, 22-72; 1954, c. 289; 1956, Ex. Sess., cc. 60, 63; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 79, § 1; 1966, c. 691; 1970, c. 71; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1972, c. 511; 1973, cc. 134, 299; 1975, cc. 308, 328; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 7 - General Powers and Duties of School Boards › § 22.1-83. Payment of employee's legal fees and expenses

If an employee of a school board is arrested, indicted or otherwise prosecuted on any charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge of his duties as such employee and such charge is subsequently dismissed or a verdict of not guilty is rendered or if an employee of a school board is made a defendant in any civil action arising out of his actions in connection with his duties as such employee, the school board may pay the legal fees and expenses of such employee.
Code 1950, § 22-56.1:1; 1978, c. 135; 1980, c. 559.