Chesterfield school board adopts broad policy updates, increases bereavement leave

The Chesterfield County School Board on June 2 adopted a large package of policy changes and a targeted personnel-policy update designed to align district regulations with recent Virginia legislation.

Mr. Smith presented memo 087-26, which contained revisions and new policies spanning many areas — attendance, discipline, health services, service animals, meal reporting, internet safety and more — to reflect House and Senate bills and updated Virginia Code citations. The board voted to suspend its normal rules and adopt the revisions on a first-reading basis; the policies were adopted with roll-call votes and listed to become effective June 30, 2026 as noted in the memos.

Separately, memo 086-26 proposed a revision to Policy 5235 (bereavement leave). The change replaces the prior allowance of 24 hours (3 days) with 40 hours (5 days) per occurrence; administration recommended adopting the revision effective July 1, 2027 to allow time for funding allocations. Board member Dominique Chatters, noting personal experience, supported the change as providing more meaningful support to grieving employees. The motion to adopt the bereavement-leave revision carried on roll call.

Administrators said proposed language had been reviewed by the school-board attorney and that some changes were required by recently enacted state statutes. Board members thanked the Policy Review Committee and staff for aligning district rules with statutory changes.

What’s next: adopted policy language will be posted per usual board procedures and the administration will implement the bereavement-leave change on the July 1, 2027 effective date.