LYNCHBURG CITY SCHOOLS

Lynchburg City Schools wants to make sure all students are fed this year.

Lynchburg City School leaders addressed their staffing shortage and new hires Monday, days after 10 News reported that they were sidestepping our questions.

After Lynchburg City Schools held a news conference last week and told 10 News it was “too early to tell” how many teachers and staff members they have for the upcoming school year, we wanted to follow up – and now LCS is dodging our questions.

In a school board meeting Tuesday night, Lynchburg City Schools discussed what’s to come as they work to create an LCS Facilities Master Plan.

Lynchburg City School students will head back into the classrooms on August 16.

The study was sent to students in grades 5-12, as well as their families and LCS staff members.

The LCS Education Foundation partnered with businesses in the Hill City and Forest to host the event, as a way of thanking staff members and building teamwork.

Lynchburg City Schools announced its Teacher of the Year Tuesday -- and the winner is from Heritage High School!

A report shows that Lynchburg City Schools could close multiple elementary schools, forcing consolidation and rezoning for students.

The Lynchburg Police Department is investigating a firearm violation at a local high school Friday afternoon.

Tuesday’s shooting at Lucy Addison Middle School in Roanoke marks the fourth incident in our region in one week -- raising safety concerns at local schools.

10 News reached out to several localities, companies, and school divisions — without discussing specifics about their security strategies.

Lynchburg City Schools is asking City Council to support an 8% raise for all teachers and staff.

School leaders said they are focusing on growth.

That man is James Mozee, who dedicated a half century to education, teaching African American students during segregation.

Horizon has 17 staff members working with 22 schools throughout Lynchburg and its surrounding counties, helping students ages four to 18.

The Virginia High School League will soon be running with a familiar Hill City face.

Beginning next week, all Hill City schools will be able to enroll students and staff for weekly tests with 24-hour results.

Both Lynchburg City Schools and Pulaski County have schools reverting to online lessons.

A local school district is making it easier for students and staff to get tested for COVID-19.

LCS hosted its first hiring event this fall to fill some big gaps.

School leaders plan on hosting one conversation a month through May. There will be different topics throughout the schoolyear, and the first discussion focused on family engagement.

One Lynchburg school is celebrating 40 years of its theatre program by welcoming back alumni to be part of the show.

They created 40 care packages for young patients at Lynchburg General Hospital.

In a recent survey among tenth graders in Lynchburg, 96.8 percent reported they had not used drugs in the last 30 days.

She visited the Hutcherson Early Learning Center, which is dedicated to preschool children and some students with special needs.

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.

Frustration over transportation has been a hot topic to start the new school year in Lynchburg.

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.

Leaders say they could revisit the policy in the near future, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases in the Hill City.

Local school districts now have the final say on COVID-19 guidelines for returning to the classroom, and leaders are responding to new recommendations from Virginia’s Department of Education and Department of Health.

The group needed about 6,000 signatures, but they'll be about 1,400 short.

New changes are coming to Lynchburg City Schools for the upcoming school year to compensate for staffing shortages.

Lynchburg City Council determined appointments for three-year terms of office to each school district in a closed session on Tuesday evening.

The group has until the end of June to collect 6,000 signatures. As of June 8, they have about 2,000.

The LCS board voted 7-1 on June 1, approving the curriculum for the upcoming school year. It includes changes to two existing high schools classes and adding a third one focused on those who want to get into education.

School leaders we spoke with Thursday say they’ll continue to enforce COVID-19 guidelines, like social distancing and masks; but they’re focused on face-to-face instruction.

There was a surprise celebration Tuesday as Lynchburg City Schools announced its Teacher of the Year.

They say they still plan on having kids back in the classrooms five days a week, but students in middle and high schools will be on an A-B modified block schedule.

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. – School leaders in Lynchburg are looking back on the pandemic. The district held a virtual breakfast with the superintendent Thursday. “Education has changed, and so have we at Lynchburg City Schools. During our time when we have been leading with care, we’ve had to connect with our students and families differently,” said Superintendent Dr. As some students return to the classroom four days a week, school leaders are also working on summer programs and having in-person learning five days a week this Fall.

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. – ‘Operation Student Engagement’ is the latest mission for Lynchburg City School leaders. The new campaign has teachers and staff traveling to neighborhoods to interact with the community, answer questions and have fun with students. LCS made a stop to the Dearington Apartments Monday to hand out food, instructional materials, school supplies and prizes. LCS plans to hold more community events throughout the Summer in preparation for the Fall. That’s when they anticipate offering in-person instruction five days a week.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Lynchburg City School leaders said they’re increasing the number of in-person instruction days for some of their youngest learners. Officials announced Wednesday that pre-k through second-grade students will return for in-person instruction four days a week starting on Tuesday, April 13. The students will return to in-person instruction four days a week from Tuesday-Friday with Monday as a remote learning day for all. “We anticipate that for the Fall, we will have an in-person learning opportunity for our students five days a week,” said Pugh. 10 News asked about it during Wednesday’s news conference, and school leaders said they are looking into it.

ROANOKE, Va – During Black History Month, 10 News continues to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of African-American leaders across southwest Virginia. As time went on and she continued her path in educational leadership, Edwards became the first Black female superintendent at Lynchburg City schools. “I grew up in poverty with, with two parents, neither who finished school,” Martinsville City Schools Superintendent Zeb Talley said. Verletta White will soon wrap up her first year as superintendent with Roanoke City Schools. “Representation matters because perspective matters,” Roanoke City School Superintendent Verletta White said.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Lynchburg city and health leaders have transformed the former T.J. Maxx store in the Candler’s Station Shopping Center into a mass vaccination site. The fire department partnered with Lynchburg City School nurses Monday to distribute vaccines to nearly 450 essential workers who fall in Phase 1b. “This is going to be able to bring our students, hopefully, back full-time once we’re able to get COVID under control. So, this is one of the first steps in being able to do that,” said Lynchburg City Schools nurse coordinator Andrea Bryant. “We do have people here that are essential workers that are 65 and older; and we have essential workers here that are under the age of 65, but they fall into the essential worker category,” said Wormser.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Lynchburg City Schools is expanding its nutrition program by catering to some students, both literally and figuratively, with a new van. “Once I get my routes and everything done, study what I need to study and get my addresses straight, I’m off and running,” said Jason Croumpton, a school nutrition delivery driver. LCS will now deliver meals to nearly 250 students who chose to learn remote-only and lack transportation to curbside locations. We had been delivering meals on bus routes,” Morris said. AdWith only one van, routes will be spread out Tuesdays through Fridays.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – More Lynchburg students are choosing to return to the classroom for the second semester. Amy Pugh, the school district’s deputy superintendent, said about 62% of students are enrolled in the hybrid module, compared to 55% last semester. Meanwhile, Lynchburg City Schools is working to improve virtual learning by providing more than 400 hotspot devices to families, as well as iPads for younger students. Students who may be struggling in their studies will also have more opportunities for support, including live-chat virtual tutoring and extended deadlines to complete assignments.

Lynchburg officials talk COVID-19 vaccine LIVE: City, health and school officials in Lynchburg are discussing coronavirus vaccination efforts Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Friday, January 22, 2021Officials from the city of Lynchburg, Centra, the Virginia Dept. of Health and Lynchburg City Schools are holding a joint press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Friday. The purpose of the press conference will be to talk about their recent partnership and to discuss COVID-19 vaccination efforts, mass vaccination plans and other coronavirus-related information.