LCS

Lynchburg City Schools offer a variety of career and technical education classes.

Lynchburg City school leaders met to share an update on the state of the school system.

The LEA sent a survey to its roughly 400 members on Sept. 3, to ask how LCS employees feel as they begin the school year.

Like many parents, Tiffany Martin says she received an online link from school leaders with bus information. However, their family’s information was incomplete, so she filled out a complaint and was forced to pick up her children.

For many families, the new school year comes with cautious optimism.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – There was a heated exchange between Lynchburg City Council members and school leaders over the LCS budget. Councilmember Chris Faraldi questioned school board chairman Dr. James Coleman during the March 30 work session over what he called compensation. The more than $100 million operating budget would give board members the opportunity to receive health coverage and a $2,400 stipend. “The Virginia code gives local school boards the opportunity to do what our local board did,” said Dr. Coleman as part of his response. The budget also includes LCS asking the city for nearly $40 million, which school leaders say is the same request as last year.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg City School board approved its operating budget Tuesday for the 2021-2022 school year, but it’s raising some concerns. “The budget, as it was presented, reads like a wish list,” said Andrew Glover, founder of the Conservative Parents of Lynchburg group. The $126 million plan appears to show more spending on administration than schools, but school leaders say they’ll still have ‘CARES’ funding available to help cover costs. Karl Loos, president of the Lynchburg Education Association, says now’s not the time for certain hires. School leaders will present the budget to the city council on March 30.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – E.C. Glass High School is getting an upgrade with an artificial athletic field. The Lynchburg City School board approved a construction contract Tuesday — worth about $980,000. Steve Gatzke, LCS senior director of finance and operations, tells 10 News it will be big enough for practices but not games. “Widthwise, I believe it is the same as a regulation football field; but lengthwise it will only be around 100 yards, basically no endzones,” Gatzke said.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Lynchburg school officials met virtually Wednesday to discuss the future of education in the city despite the pandemic. LCS Board members were joined by the Task Force on the Future of Education Pre-K-12 and Beyond. The special task force was created by Lynchburg city council in 2019 to review issues affecting the education system, then make recommendations to the board. But since they last met in February, members say the pandemic raised new concerns, including remote learning and mental wellness. The group decided to seek recommendations from the city’s steering committee, then adjust their vision.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Lynchburg school leaders are working right now to finalize plans for the fall. School leaders formed a 60-70 person “Return to Learn Dream Team” that is currently gathering information on what learning will look like come August. On Tuesday, school leaders said their plans will answer parents’ questions about health, safety, online learning, instructional planning and transportation. School leaders ask parents watch the school board meeting on July 7 for more information. Instructional Plan for Phase II and III -- This plan will address the school calendar, school times, and school instructional days.

The Naval Strike Missile is a sea-skimming cruise missile that is difficult to spot on radar, and can maneuver to avoid enemy defenses, according to Raytheon, the main US contractor for the weapon. Both the US and China blame each other for the rapid militarization of the South China Sea, one of the most contested areas in the world. The Naval Strike Missile has had a relatively short time from testing to deployment by the US military. Key to the Naval Strike Missile is its range of more than 100 miles, more than 30% farther than the Harpoon missiles the US Navy has been using in this anti-ship capacity. China, which claims that almost all of the South China Sea is its territory, says the US military presence in it threatens peace and stability.