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Buckingham County School Board approves 2026–27 employee handbook, adopts VSBA policy updates
Summary
The Buckingham County School Board approved the 2026–27 employee handbook and adopted a package of VSBA policy updates after edits; an optional wearable panic-alarm sample policy (GBGB) was tabled for further study of costs and logistics.
The Buckingham County School Board approved the 2026–27 employee handbook and adopted multiple Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) policy updates at its meeting, while tabling an optional wearable panic-alarm policy for staff.
Miss Branch, a school division staff member who presented the handbook revisions, told the board the document includes four targeted changes: a clearer chain-of-command statement on page 33, tightened language on professional dress that now states, "jeans may be worn on all school days, so long as they are not ripped and are worn in a professional manner," a deletion to correct a typo in the personal‑leave section on page 58, and no other policy changes were required. A motion to approve the handbook passed without opposition.
Staff (speaker 6) also presented first- and third‑reading updates from the VSBA, including sample policies JO (student educational records), JOA (student transcripts), JOD (release of student data and records) and JODF (consent form authorizing release of student data), and several operational policies on discipline, cell‑phone use and student health. The board approved the policies as amended; the chair announced the package carried and that the optional GBGB wearable panic-alarm sample was being tabled for further review.
Board members asked staff to secure written clarifications from VSBA where language remained unclear (for example, the term "eligible student" in JOD) so that those clarifications can be attached to minutes and referenced at future votes. Staff said it will follow up with written guidance.
The board also directed staff to provide implementation details for updated policies where necessary — for example, analysis of locker capacity and storage logistics before enforcing revised cell‑phone rules for secondary students. The board scheduled follow-up discussion and informational presentations for upcoming meetings.
The board adjourned after a short series of announcements about the division’s new‑teacher academy and convocation events.
