ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – An elementary school in Alleghany County will switch to virtual learning for two weeks due to COVID-19 cases among its staff members. Callaghan Elementary School currently meets the threshold of a 20% staff exposure rate, according to Alleghany County school leaders. The tentative plan is for students to resume in-person instruction at Callaghan Elementary School on February 4 under the A/B hybrid, blended model. Families can pick up meals for students at the school on Wednesday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Two days worth of meals will be provided with both delivery and pick-up at Callaghan Elementary.

HENRY COUNTY, Va. – Just one week before Henry County public school students were set to return to the classroom, on Monday, the district announced it would remain virtual indefinitely, delaying its plan to return to hybrid learning due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. “Looking at the cases in our community, just don’t lend themselves to do that safely at this time,” said Monica Hatchett, the director of communications for Henry County Public Schools. School officials track COVID-19 cases and exposures at least once a week. School leaders said it was a difficult decision with new data showing more than a third of students are failing at least one class, according to Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Lisa Millner. “Research says that the best place for K-12 students is to be in front of a teacher.

ROANOE, Va. – More than 4,600 elementary students returned to school this week with their pencils, crayons and masks. Due to the pandemic, the Roanoke City School Board approved a two-days a week hybrid schedule to start this month. "We are better positioned now they we were even this past summer.”However, 2400 elementary students still remain at home, along with other middle and high school. But we are looking at ways to bring more students back in sooner.”In the meantime, students are spread out. “Many of those prevention strategies that we are using for COVID-19 will also be prevention strategies for the flu.

ROANOKE, Va – A popular restaurant in downtown Roanoke reopened its doors to the public for the first time in seven months on Wednesday. Beamer’s 25 on Salem Avenue closed because of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, but they’re back and opened with a few new food options. Along with the classic menu items, new options like milkshakes, truffle fries, and specialty burgers will also be available for restaurantgoers to sink their teeth in. Management says they are happy to see most of their staff members return. Of course, some others choose to move on to other things, but again, we’re just happy to have our doors open and making milkshakes for all of Roanoke,” Regional Manager Jojo Soprano said.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Roanoke County school leaders said there are two related student cases of COVID-19 at Cave Spring High School. “Close contact” is considered less than 6 feet, for at least 15 minutes, with or without a mask. As 10 News has reported, school leaders announced Monday that two students and one staff member tested positive. As of Tuesday night, the RCPS COVID-19 dashboard reflected a total of four cases among students and one case among staff at Cave Spring High School for the week of October 11-17. The only other recorded case at Cave Spring High School was a student case during the week of September 20-26.

FLOYD COUNTY, Va. – Students at Floyd County High School are slowly getting back in the classroom more often. Starting Monday, high school students will attend school in person twice per week. Right now, they’re attending one day per week. Students who have been learning in person on Monday or Tuesday will now attend school on both of those days, while students who have been learning in person on Thursday or Friday will now attend school on both of those days. Click here for more on the county’s reopening plan for schools.

AMHERST COUNTY, Va. – A student or staff member at Amherst Elementary School was diagnosed with COVID-19, school leaders announced on Monday. The person had direct exposure with others, according to school leaders. School leaders said representatives from the health department or the school district will contact anyone who was potentially exposed. School leaders reminded families to monitor their health, particularly for COVID-19 symptoms. For a list of COVID-19 cases in other area schools, click here.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – School leaders in Campbell County announced Thursday that someone at Tomahawk Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19. The school will remain open, according to school leaders. The person who tested positive will isolate and their close contacts will begin a quarantine period. School leaders didn’t say whether the person who tested positive is a student or a staff member. For a list of COVID-19 cases in schools across our area, click here.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – Rustburg Middle School will remain open after school leaders said a person there tested positive for COVID-19. Campbell County school leaders made the announcement on Wednesday after they learned of the positive test result. They did not clarify if the individual who tested positive is a student or a staff member. The person who tested positive has been told to isolate, while their close contacts have been instructed to begin a quarantine period, according to school leaders. For a list of COVID-19 cases in other local schools, click here.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Middle and high school students in Franklin County will switch to virtual learning for two weeks, school leaders announced on Monday. The change goes into effect starting Thursday and will affect students at Franklin County High School, Benjamin Franklin Middle School and the Gereau Center. School leaders emphasized that the decision to switch to virtual learning is not indicative of spread within Franklin County Public Schools, but rather, due to the significant rise in COVID-19 cases in Franklin County. Elementary school students won’t be affected by this change, school leaders said. Students in special education classes at Franklin County High School and Benjamin Franklin Middle School will still report to school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, according to school leaders.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A group of parents in Roanoke County are at a breaking point with hybrid learning, so they created a petition to ask Roanoke County Public School leaders to reconsider. “We are drowning,” said Nicole Pardon, a mom of two Roanoke County high school students. Pardon said the district’s current hybrid plan isn’t working for her, her kids or hundreds of other families. "And not only the effect on students, but the effect socioeconomically on our community.”She and three other parents started a petition to revisit the Roanoke County hybrid plan and get kids back in school. She also said parents should have the option to send their kids to school full-time because of a learning disability or their families' work schedules.

ROANOKE, Va. – With fall and winter approaching, restaurants that have been relying on outdoor dining since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic are getting creative to keep their customers happy as temperatures drop. Tuco’s Taqueria Garaje in Roanoke is also preparing for the colder months by focusing more on carry out and catering orders. Tourism leaders with Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge said they are doing everything they can to bring in more visitors and boost revenue in the area. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is working with local businesses across the Roanoke Valley to make sure tourists feel safe if they choose to visit. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge has a reopening guide on their website.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A Cave Spring Middle School student tested positive for COVID-19, school leaders announced on Monday. In a letter to families, school leaders said no students or staff members were considered at risk of exposure. An “exposure” is defined by “any individual who has had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. As 10 News reported, school leaders announced on Sept 14 that a student tested positive for COVID-19. School leaders said no students or staff members were considered at risk of exposure in connection with that case.

ROANOKE, Va. – One staff member at Bonsack Elementary School tested positive for coronavirus. Roanoke County Public Schools announced Thursday that one classroom will be shutting down “out of an abundance of caution” starting Friday due to the risk of potential exposure. All parents with children from this classroom have been contacted about the situation. According to the school board, the classroom impacted has been cleaned and sanitized. School officials say they are working with the health department to monitor this situation.

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – Benjamin Franklin Middle School announced Thursday that a student tested positive for coronavirus. According to school officials, the student was on school premises on Sept. 18 and had direct exposure to other members of the community. Those with direct exposure to this student were notified by the school and are currently quarantining. Franklin County Superindentent Dr. Mark Church said the school will remain open and officials are working with the health department to monitor the situation.

ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke County Public Schools announced on Wednesday that a student at Cave Spring High School tested positive for COVID-19. School officials say that no students or staff have been identified at risk of exposure in relation to this case. RCPS leaders say that exposure is determined by an individual who has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. Close contact is considered less than 6 feet, for at least 15 minutes, with or without a mask. The classrooms and spaces this student was in contact with have been cleaned and disinfected, according to the school district.

AMRHERST, Va. – One person has tested positive for coronavirus in Amherst County High School, according to the school district. Amherst County Public Schools said the high school has implemented contact tracing procedures in collaboration with the health department to determine if in-person classes should continue. Officials said the person did not have direct contact with other members of the community, so school will remain open for in-person instruction. [One person at Amherst County High School tests positive for coronavirus]Anyone who has been potentially exposed was contacted by the health department, according to school officials. This is the second positive COVID-19 case in Amherst County High School.

Most classes at Virginia’s community colleges will remain online early next year. The system’s chancellor announced the decision on Friday, months before the spring semester at the 23 colleges. Some in-person classes will be held in the spring for short-term career credential and technical programs, just like the fall. Almost three-quarters of community courses during the fall are fully online. DuBois staying online is the “safest and most prudent choice” with the continued pandemic and the traditional cold and flu season arriving.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – On Monday, Montgomery County reported 92 cases of COVID-19, which is the highest amount of new cases reported in the state for the day. As cases continue to rise, school division leaders are standing by their decision to transition to online learning. While some parents are upset by the decision to transition to online learning, school division leaders said it is the safest option for everyone. “We want kids in school because we know that’s the best way to educate, but of course this is a public health issue,” said Montgomery County School Board Chair Gunin Kiran. At the end of the day, school division leaders said they want students in school as long as it can be done safely.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. – Rockbridge County school leaders announced on Saturday that a teacher at Central Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Department is contacting anyone who may have been in contact with this teacher and has advised another staff member to quarantine, according to Superintendent Phillip Thompson. Officials said these two staff members have not been in close contact with any students as they are not teaching in-person. Due to privacy laws, the division can’t identify anyone who tests positive or is in quarantine, according to Thompson. This is the second positive case in the school district, and both cases involve staff members.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Montgomery County students in grades 4-12 will be learning online from home starting on Monday. School leaders announced the change on Thursday evening. Students will stay on their current schedules on Friday so they can get Chromebooks and other items they’ll need during remote learning. School leaders said they made the change due to “the projected increase in positive COVID-19 cases in our area.”As of Thursday, school leaders said there were no positive cases in Montgomery County Public Schools. There are some students who are exempt from having to switch to remote learning, including those with IEPs, those without access to the internet, those who are English Language Learners and students of employees.

GILES COUNTY, Va. School leaders in Giles County said Wednesday theyve seen a cumulative total of 11 COVID-19 cases among their students and staff members. Here is the breakdown of reported cases, according to the superintendent of Giles County Public Schools, Terry Arbogast:Six student cases at Giles High School (Five of whom also attend Giles Technology Center part of the day)One student case at Narrows High (This person also attends Giles Technology Center part of the day)One student case at Giles Technology CenterTwo staff members cases at Giles Technology CenterOne staff member case at Narrows Elementary/Middle SchoolGiles County Public Schools will stay open. School leaders said theyre working with the health department on contact tracing. School leaders said parents should continue to monitor their families' health and look for COVID-19 symptoms.

LYNCHBURG, Va. Some students at the University of Lynchburg were relieved to be in the classroom Monday after two weeks of online learning. Its hard to do nursing online. The trio has been cautious in their on-campus house after they were forced to stay in because of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus. For instance, the outbreak on campus wasnt caused by large gatherings, but in the residential halls where students may have let their guards down. We havent experienced what theyve experienced at many institutions where large gatherings have students resulted in many positive cases several days later.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. A student at Bonsack Elementary School in Roanoke County tested positive for COVID-19, the school district announced Friday. In a letter to families, school leaders said theyre working with the Roanoke-Alleghany Health Department, and determined that no other students or staff were exposed at school due to this case. School leaders said an exposure is determined to be an individual who has had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, and a close contact is considered to be less than 6 feet, for 15 minutes or more, with or without a mask. The classroom and any other spaces affected will be deep cleaned overnight, according to school leaders. [LIST: Coronavirus cases in local K-12 schools]For more on Roanoke County Public Schools coronavirus response, click here.

RADFORD, Va. – Leaders at Radford University suspended a fraternity, along with eight of its members, for what university leaders said are COVID-19 violations related to “endangering conduct by hosting off-campus gatherings.”Theta Chi’s Iota Zeta chapter is suspended from the university on an interim basis, effective immediately, university leaders announced Thursday. University leaders said the fraternity admitted to hosting gatherings and is also suspected of “ridiculing” people who follow public health guidance and wear face coverings. University leaders contacted the national Theta Chi office about Iota Zeta’s actions, which could result in more sanctions on the national level. Read the full statement from Radford University below:“Today, Radford University announced the interim suspension of Theta Chi Fraternity – Iota Zeta Chapter. The University has notified the national office regarding the specific actions of the local chapter and the eight members.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A Roanoke County elementary school student has tested positive for COVID-19, according to school leaders. The student goes to Back Creek Elementary School. School leaders told 10 News they don’t think there’s been spread of the virus throughout the school, but said the health department will make that determination. An exposure is determined by an individual who has had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. A close contact is considered less than 6 feet, for at least 15 minutes, with or without a mask, according to school leaders.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A staff member at Green Valley Elementary School in Roanoke County tested positive for COVID-19, school leaders announced Wednesday. In a letter sent to families, school leaders said students were not exposed to this positive case because the staff member who tested positive was only on school premises before students returned on Monday. School leaders said they’re working with the Roanoke-Alleghany Health Department for guidance. They also told 10 News they’re deep cleaning schools every week. Parents are asked to continue monitoring their child’s health for COVID-19 symptoms and confidentially report any positive cases to the school.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. A member of the Auburn High School community in Montgomery County tested positive for COVID-19, school leaders announced Wednesday. School leaders did not clarify if the person who tested positive is a student or staff member at the school. The health department is aware of this case and is conducting contact tracing, according to school leaders. School leaders they will continue with normal operations in the meantime. Click here to see the database of all COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County Public Schools.

RADFORD, Va. School leaders announced Thursday that a student or staff member in Radford City Schools has tested positive for COVID-19. This person was at school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and had indirect exposure with other members of the school community, according to school leaders. School leaders said they are working closely with the New River Valley Health Department, which is conducting contact tracing. The health department feels there there is limited exposure with others in the building, according to school leaders. School leaders asked all employees to work from home on Friday so that crews can deep clean all district schools.

Rather than two weeks of 100% virtual learning, in-person learning will continue on Aug. 31. “My worry is that they won’t go back, that this is going to kind of be the permenant way of the rest of the school year,” Radford City Parent Charlotte Parks said. Parks hopes people in the city use the schools closing as an example of being more careful. While the rest of this week will be fully virtual, starting Aug. 31, the school division’s hybrid schedule will resume. ORIGINAL STORYStudents in Radford City Public Schools, regardless of grade level, will participate in virtual learning for the next two weeks.

BLACKSBURG, Va. Monday marked the first day back in class at Virginia Tech for a fall semester like no other. After seven students were suspended last week, the university is taking a stricter stance and clarified its COVID-19 policies over the weekend to include:No non-university sanctioned gatherings, on or off-campus, larger than 15 people. Radford University suspended three students. And that is why we need everyone to do their part, said Radford University Associate Vice President for University Relations, Caitlyn Scaggs. Those people not following those guidelines, obviously, are going to ruin it for the rest of us, said Renner.

BLACKSBURG, Va. Some Virginia Tech students are raising concerns after a picture spread on social media showing a classroom over capacity and not allowing social distance. He (the professor) definitely said that well break the rules today, said the Virginia Tech student who took the picture and posted it. Breaking the rules is exactly what dozens of Virginia Tech students saw in a classroom Monday, raising questions as the picture hit social media and quickly went viral. We are still in a slightly crazy time and I know I wouldnt trust being that close to somebody, Virginia tech student Rahul Gupta said. I dont want to be shut down so I definitely think that we really do need to follow the rules, Virginia tech student Julia Desocio said.

RADFORD, Va. Gatherings of more than ten people are now banned on Radford Universitys campus. In a letter to students released Tuesday, university leaders said the gathering limitation is effective immediately for the main campus. The limitation was put in place after university leaders and the Virginia Department of Health attributed an overwhelming majority of the positive cases among students to two unrecognized fraternity parties and one other large gathering. All three gatherings happened off campus, they said. University leaders said they will be monitoring compliance for all main campus students in both on-campus and off-campus environments.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. The first day of school started off a little rocky for some students in Roanoke County. Some parents 10 News their kids were registered to ride the bus but werent allowed to get on Monday morning. It was a mess, said Kaitlin Johnson, who has two daughters in Roanoke County Public Schools. Several other parents voiced similar concerns, so 10 News took those questions to Roanoke County Public Schools. We are working to accommodate them but the catch is we need to have space on the bus, Lionberger said.

A Radford University freshman recently experienced the ups and downs of testing positive while on campus. Faith Minton eventually received a positive COVID-19 result. Radford University officials acknowledge these tough changes, saying they will continue to “provide support for students as everyone adjusts to expectations,” but say the moves are necessary to keep everyone safe. North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Bluefield College are altering their plans. Radford University is working diligently to provide customized support to individual students.”Click here to read their full COVID-19 response plan.

LYNCHBURG, Va. Students at Liberty University start classes on Monday and university leaders say theyre prepared to handle a COVID-19 outbreak on campus if there is one. School leaders asked students and staff to answer survey questions about potential exposure before coming back to campus. Theres a quarantine site not too far from campus and the universitys IT department has launched an app for contact tracing. Right now, the school is waiting for its rapid testing equipment. As of Wednesday, Liberty officials said no one had tested positive for COVID-19.

ROANOKE, Va. Tuesday marks day two and the first full day back at Roanoke Valley Christian Schools. At North Cross, students return to campus on September 8. Head of School Christian Proctor said they are as ready as they can be. At North Cross, face masks will be required, as well. Plus, all students, staff and faculty will be tested for COVID-19 before and during the school year.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. Rockbridge County school leaders announced Wednesday that a staff member who works at Fairfield Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19. Thompson said the areas occupied by the staff member who tested positive will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The first day of school for Rockbridge County Public Schools is Tuesday, Sept. 8. The school systems reopening plan provided for 20 professional development days for teachers prior to the start of the year. Thompson said due to privacy laws, the division cant identify anyone who tests positive or is in quarantine.

Radford University hopes to continue in-person classes all semester. “It’s odd, I mean, especially with the classes changing and with so many classes online, the environment, just everybody wearing masks,” said Radford student Dylan Lepore. According to university spokesperson Caitlyn Scaggs, Radford has several factors to consider when it comes to transitioning to online learning. Scaggs said the university is aiming to stay at its current reopening phase through the end of the semester. Scaggs said the university created its reopening plan with flexibility in place to transition online learning if need be.

RADFORD, Va. It was the first day of the new school year in Radford Thursday. Virtual Radford is the districts online schooling system powered by Google Classroom. We actually have about 20% of our student population that have signed up for Virtual Radford this year, explained Matthew Whelan, Virtual Radford Tech Support. In response to recent case surges, Radford University released the following statement:Radford University has developed a comprehensive plan in response to the COVID-19 global health pandemic. Any and all COVID-19 cases at Radford University are included as part of the Virginia Department of Healths localized reporting totals.

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – Students in Bedford County won’t see the inside of a classroom until sometime during the week of Labor Day. The school board voted on Thursday night 4-3 in favor of delaying the start of school again to the week of Sept. 7. It’s not clear yet when the exact first day of school will be. But at the end of the day the board has made a decision and we’re going to support that,” Schuch said. School leaders voted in favor of requiring face coverings for students when they can’t maintain six feet of distance.

APPOMATTOX COUNTY, Va. Students in Appomattox County wont start school until next month. The school board voted to delay the start of the 2020-2021 school year on Thursday night. Students enrolled in Raider Remote will start on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with four days of orientation and logistical support. Raider Remote is 100% distance learning program option. School leaders cited a substantial increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Appomattox County over the last few weeks.

SALEM, Va. – The first two weeks of school for students and teachers in Salem will be a “soft opening.”School leaders met on Tuesday night and made a few changes to their plan for the start of classes. The school year will begin with two four-day weeks, during which 25% of students in all grades will be in attendance one day per week. Those two weeks will serve as the “soft opening,” according to school leaders. Each student will be assigned an (A,B,C or D) day for in-person attendance. The school system will let parents know which day their student is assigned to.

ROANOKE, Va. – Students in Roanoke City Public Schools will start the year with 100% remote learning. “This isn’t the program we all wanted to provide; this is the best program we can provide now,” Roanoke City School Board Chair Lutheria Smith said. The school board voted 6-1 on Tuesday night in favor of a plan that features virtual learning for the first nine weeks. According to the Virginia Department of Health, community transmission is on the verge of becoming substantial in Roanoke. School division leaders said they don’t want to take any risks, but they’re also optimistic that the change is only temporary.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. Roanoke County teachers are hard at work preparing for a school year like theyve never seen before. I mean they basically cant get out of their seats, said Deede Clifford, a 2nd grade teacher at Fort Lewis Elementary School. Roanoke County will operate under a hybrid model. Students in third through 12th grade will attend school in person two days and do online learning for three days. School starts for Roanoke County students on Aug. 24.

FLOYD COUNTY, Va. – Students in Floyd County returned to the classroom for the first day of school on Tuesday. With the new school year comes a new program providing free meals for every student in the county. “Access to food is an emergency service that every community has to have, and here in Floyd we are the emergency food provider at our five schools,” Floyd County Schools Superintendent John Wheeler said. Parents and their students don’t have to fill out any forms in order to participate, and students can get free breakfast and lunch every day for the year. For the latest on Floyd County Public Schools’ reopening plan, click here.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Some Lynchburg parents said it’s going to be a community effort to help make virtual learning work for all students. “So, we are having to figure out accommodations for my youngest who’s supposed to be in preschool with Lynchburg City Schools. She said it will take a community effort to make virtual learning work but she believes the school district made the right decision. “I think we, as a Lynchburg community, really need to step up. We need to step up and help our parents,” Citty said.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The start of the fall semester will be 100% virtual for students in Lynchburg City Schools. On Tuesday night, school leaders voted in favor of 100% remote learning instead of a hybrid plan that features virtual learning coupled with in-person instruction. Students will begin the year with virtual learning, then transition to in-person learning. This comes one week after the school board voted to reopen schools with the hybrid plan. For more information on the “Return to Learn” plan for Lynchburg City Schools, click here.

Virginia schools will reopen this fall without the added pressure of accreditation. The states superintendent of public instruction, James Lane, used his emergency authority on Tuesday to waive accreditation requirements for the 2021-2022 academic year. Schools were issued an accreditation waiver in April for the 2020-2021 academic year. Because accreditation ratings are based on performance during the previous school year, there is insufficient data to calculate ratings for the 2020-2021 academic year because there werent any spring 2020 SOL results, according to the Virginia Department of Education. Lane said the waivers allow for schools to focus on students health, safety and emotional well-being without the accreditation pressure.

Before students return to campus this fall, colleges and universities across Virginia are working out how to screen for COVID-19 and continue to test throughout the year. Hollins University is planning self-health screenings before arrival, delaying students’ return to campus if they’re symptomatic, extending the number of move-in days to increase social distancing and testing all symptomatic students. The 9,000 students living on campus can get tested on move-in days through the on-campus health care center. According to Radford University’s plan, student-athletes, resident assistants and students returning from hot spots are expected to be tested. The University of Lynchburg won’t be able to test all 4,000 students and staff upon return, but is requiring daily symptom monitoring.

ROANOKE, Va. In the mad rush to find child care this fall, the Science Museum of Western Virginia is offering one alternative. The museum is launching The LAB, an in-person, educational program that will supplement childrens virtual learning when theyre not in school. There is still a lot up in the air for the childcare centers: from staffing, to space, to hours and availability. One community partner, United Way of Roanoke Valley, is working to put all the puzzle pieces together. Not a single program, not a single agency will be able to help all that needs to be served, said United Way of Roanoke Valleys CEO Abby Hamilton.

Roanoke City Public Schools has the following frequently asked questions and answers:For the Virtual Academy, do students have to participate during school hours? If parents/guardians opt for in-person instruction, can students switch to online instruction at any time? If parents/guardians choose the Virtual Academy, can they switch to in-person instruction after the first nine weeks? Is it the same teacher for in-person instruction and virtually? Depends on room size, social distancing guidelines (6′ or 3′ with face covering), desks or tables, etcWill students switch classes?

All elementary school students wil be in school Monday through Thursday with block scheduling in placeFor middle and high school students, they will be split into groups. Franklin CountyThe school board has decided that students will go back to school on Sept. 8, but has not made a decision as to how students will return. Middle and high school students will have a hybrid program — half of students will attend school in the morning, and half will attend in the afternoon. Elementary school students will only be in school for half days, either in the morning or afternoon, four days a week. Pulaski CountyElementary school students will be assigned one teacher for reading, math, science and social studiesMiddle school students will do block scheduling and teachers will rotate classrooms.

RICHMOND, Va. – More money is coming to Virginia schools to help cover COVID-19-related costs. This additional federal money to help schools cover COVID-19-related costs is from two relief funds established by the CARES Act: the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. $21 million in available GEER funds will be distributed to schools through formula-based and competitive grants. $17.75 million in available ESSER funds will be distributed to schools through formula-based and competitive grants. Virginia’s state superintendent also called on Congress to include more federal support for public schools in the next coronavirus relief package.

SALEM, Va. – We now know what the school year will look like for students and families in Salem. The Salem School Board unanimously approved a reopening plan on Tuesday night that features a “scalable approach” so that school leaders can adjust the plan based on what happens with the COVID pandemic. School leaders said the plan provides flexibility to adjust if conditions or official guidance changes. For example, the plan could be scaled to a scenario where students in grades Pre-K-2 attend school two days a week, students in grades 3-5 attend school one day a week, and students in grades 6-12 attend school two days a week. School leaders said the goal, just like any division, is to get back to 100% in-person instruction.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. Information gathered from a parent survey is helping determine the next steps for reopening Roanoke County Public Schools this fall. The parents of more than 13,400 students in Roanoke County school responded to the questionnaire. Students in grades 3-12 would attend school in person two days a week with three days online. School leaders said the responses to two questions in particular were important in guiding their decision. First, parents were asked if they would choose an option for their child to have online instruction 100% of the time, with no in-person instruction.

RADFORD, Va Radford City School leaders are weighing the options of what this school year could look like. Tuesday night the school board will consider three different models including an in-person school year, an online learning model, and an option combing the two. Superintendent Robert Graham said the division has multiple committees on each grade level weighing which is the best and most safe option for the school year. He hopes to bring as many students as he can back to school for in-person learning this fall. Tuesdays school board meeting will be streamed on the Radford City Schools Facebook page here.

DANVILLE, Va. Senator Tim Kaine shared his thoughts on states reopening after shutting down to try to help stop the spread of COVID-19. When asked at an economic development tour in Danville on Monday about reopening, Kaine said he is very troubled by the spike in cases states are now seeing. In Virginia, cases continue to increase. Kaine supports the three-phased reopening plan released by the White House in May but said mixed messaging isnt helping. As of Monday, more than 30 states were seeing a spike in coronavirus cases as a result of reopening.

HOT SPRINGS, Va. – As many look forward to entering Phase Three Wednesday, one Bath County business is focusing on safety first. In a post on social media, Country Café informed customers for the time being it will continue with just takeout. While the owner said she isn’t worried about The Homestead welcoming back guests, she does want to do her part to protect employees and the county’s large elderly population. “With Bath County being one of the only counties in the state of Virginia still with zero cases, you know, we took that into consideration and what we can do to help to keep that level low,” said Shannon Boguess, Country Café owner. Boguess said watching numbers increase in across the nation impacted her decision to keep the dining room closed.

SALEM, Va. – More parts of Virginia are now open under Phase Three of the state’s reopening plan, but Gov. Northam decided to keep bar seating at restaurants closed for the indefinite future because of social distancing concerns. Bob Rotanz, owner of Mac & Bob’s Restaurant in Salem, told 10 News he was excited to have customers back at his bar seating. “It seemed like when they talked about the flare ups, whether in Myrtle Beach, Florida, Texas, or wherever, the word, ‘bar’ kept coming in there. I’m really not surprised...disappointed, but not surprised.”Although bar seating is off limits, restaurants no longer have to limit their capacity, as long as every group is at least six feet apart.

Entertainment centers across Virginia can now open at half capacity under the state’s Phase 3 of reopening. “After 107 days, it feels fantastic to be back,” said Ernie Dellaverson, general manager of Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Vinton. Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges is set to host several musical performances for the public, starting on July 10. “We’ve been working so hard to get open, so we’re hoping our community will come out,” said Dr Pepper Park general manager Waynette Anderson. Anderson said Dr Pepper Park will debut a touchless ticket and bag check for its concerts, surfaces will be wiped down at least every 30 minutes, and guests should stay six feet apart.

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.

Many public schools in the Roanoke Valley are considering in-person instruction for students just two days a week. Meanwhile, some private schools are planning to have kids attend school in-person five days a week. Private schools like Roanoke Catholic School and Faith Christian School said their plans are for things to feel as if almost nothing has changed. Faith Christian Head of School Peter Baur said the school is still enrolling for the fall, but theres already a waitlist for some grades. Since Faith Christian doesnt have school buses, socially distant transportation wont be an issue.

ROANOKE, Va. – Business owners are prepared for Phase Three of Virginia’s reopening plan, which starts on Wednesday. Of those positive cases, 17% are from three local communities -- Roanoke city, and Roanoke and Botetourt counties. “I have my concerns as I’ve stated that publicly,” said Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea when questioned on whether he believes the area is ready for the next phase. Mayor Lea said if things get worse in terms of the number of cases, he will consider pausing or scaling back reopening guidelines. “At some point, if it gets too bad, maybe we’ll have to pause,” said Mayor Lea.

Ralph Northam is taking a late step to keep people from gathering at bars as the state prepares to enter Phase 3 of its reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. The governor said Tuesday the state's restaurants will not be allowed to fully reopen their bars as previously planned. Instead, restaurants can continue to operate under Phase 2 restrictions, which allows limited table service in bar areas but generally prohibits sitting at bar counters. The late notice will also hurt, he said, as restaurants will now have to scramble to adjust their staff and inventory. The Virginia Department of Health on Tuesday reported nearly 63,000 total cases of COVID-19, with just over 6,200 total hospitalizations and 1,760 deaths.

WASHINGTON DC, A Virginia Congressman is trying to make sure school districts get to decide when and how to reopen this fall. Morgan Griffith, who represents Virginias 9th Congressional District, has introduced a resolution to Congress encouraging governors to let school districts decide what they think is best. When the resolution was introduced Friday, Griffith said he was concerned Governor Northams initial guidelines for reopening schools would prevent many rural school districts from being able to reopen. He says the governor has since changed his position, but Griffith still believes Congress needs to send a message. We know youve got to be careful, but we think you ought to be able to do whats right in your community, Griffith said of school districts.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia Museum of Transportation reopens on Thursday. The date, 6-11, is the same number as the famous Norfolk Southern steam engine in Roanoke, known as “The Queen of Steam.”When the museum reopens, the price of admission will be reduced because not all features are usable due to coronavirus restrictions. “6-11 seemed like the appropriate day to move forward, so we’ve been in here this week doing final cleaning and hanging the appropriate signs that we’re required to hang,” museum interim director Don Moser said. “We’re looking forward to having our VMT community back.”All of the features that are currently unusable are expected to be back once the state enters phase three of the governor’s reopening plan.

ROANOKE, Va. Roanoke city leaders are continuing with their plan to reopen the city. During the citys virtual weekly news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Sherman Lea said the reopening of the municipal building and the treasurers and commissioner of revenues offices on Monday had gone well. The summer feed and read program will begin with curbside service next week and more facilities will reopen July 6. This is so important to the health of our community because the virus is still present here," Lea said. City council members also plan to appoint people to the citys Star City Strong reopening task force at the June 15 council meeting.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – With the announcement of Governor Northam’s plan to reopen K-12 public schools in Virginia, the VHSL staff will begin the process to align his Phase II & III Plan with the work the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) has already done, then share those guidelines with the Executive Committee. The VHSL will provide those guidelines to school divisions as local school boards develop plans for reopening. “Once we review the documents provided by the Governor to reopen schools, we will move as quickly as possible to develop guidelines that will align with his plans,” said VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun. “It is important to say that these guidelines must also align with local school divisions and superintendents reopening plans under Phase II & III. There is still work to be done before these guidelines can be put in place to reopen athletic activities.”