DISTRICT NEWS
We will be providing updates as that information becomes available through direct communication to families on our BCPS website, YouTube channel, and social media (Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter).
VIRTUAL LEARNING OPTION FOR SECOND SEMESTER
The window for applying for 100% virtual learning with Virtual Virginia for the spring 2023 semester is open from October 4th - November 4th at 5:00 p.m. Parents must apply for each of their children and acceptance is not guaranteed. If accepted students will be enrolled with Virtual Virginia at the start of the second semester. More information is available on the cover letter and application form. Applications submitted after November 4th will not be considered. If you have any questions, contact information is on the application.
Click here for the application and Parent Agreement for Virtual Learning.
BCPS NEEDS BUS DRIVERS
Bus drivers start at $16.25 an hour and are eligible for a $1,000 employee bonus if employed by November 1, 2022.
Bus driver substitutes earn $14.24 an hour and if work 45 days during 1st semester will earn a $1,000 bonus to be paid in December.
Bedford County Public Schools pays for training and certifications.
Contact Pat Smith to get started!
540-586-1045 ext. 10259
[email protected]
Click here for our Bus Driver Recruitment Video!
BEDFORD'S BEST NOMINATIONS
We want to showcase our amazing staff!
Bedford County Public Schools in partnership with the Bedford Area Education Foundation will be using our Bedford’s Best program to recognize two staff members a month in our school division who go above and beyond to make a difference in people’s lives every day.
Nominations can be made by anyone with first-hand knowledge of the work that our staff member is doing. To nominate someone, please click the picture linked below.
Submissions may be featured on the Bedford County Public Schools' website and social media platforms.
SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS
Click here to view the 2022-2023 School Supply Lists.
If you have any questions, please contact your child's school.
STUDENT REGISTRATION FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
Please click the link below to review the enrollment criteria for both NEW and RETURNING students.
Click here for the 2022-2023 school year student registration information.
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO SCHOOL ZONE BOUNDARIES
With current and future anticipated housing development in the eastern part of Bedford County, the enrollment at some of our schools will soon outpace capacity. For that reason, the Bedford County School Board is considering making alterations to selected school attendance zones. The full proposal can be viewed at this link. An interactive tool tied to the Bedford County GIS system allows families to search the proposed changes by address to determine how the plan may affect their children's attendance zone.
The School Board will continue to consider this proposal at future meetings, including opportunities for public input. In the meantime, if you have input or questions about this proposal, you are welcome to email [email protected].
HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES
If you are uninsured and need additional health insurance options, COVER Virginia's website can assist you. If you are unable to log on, please contact your school nurse. Please see the brochures below for more information.
FAMIS Brochure in English
FAMIS Brochure in Spanish
USAC AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), provides eligible households $30 per month off their internet bills. ACP-eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
To deliver maximum cost savings to families, the federal government has secured commitments from 20 leading internet providers to offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. Eligible families who pair their ACP benefit with one of these plans can receive high-speed internet at no cost.
Click the following link to learn more.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/getinternet/
2022-2023 SECONDARY BELL SCHEDULE CHANGE
All middle and high schools in Bedford County Public Schools will move to a seven-period day starting in the 2022-23 school year. The start of the school day will be 8:45 a.m., with dismissal at 3:45 p.m. This will allow for 50-minute instruction periods throughout the day with appropriate transition and lunchtimes. The new schedule can be viewed by clicking on this link.
A common schedule will ensure students will work with their teachers every day, ability to offer more electives, and provide a consistent schedule for students who attend Early College, Central Virginia Governor’s School, Roanoke Valley Governor’s School, the STEM Academy, and Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center. Elementary start and end times will not change.
BUDGET & CIP INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023
School Board Approved Budget for SY 22-23
School Board Approved Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for SY 22-23
SCHOOL NUTRITION UPDATES
Students attending some of the schools in Bedford County will receive free school meals this year as part of the federal Community Eligibility Provision meal program. The schools that met the requirements based on the school’s economically disadvantaged status are as follows:
- Bedford Elementary School
- Bedford Primary School
- Big Island Elementary School
- Goodview Elementary School
- Huddleston Elementary School
- Moneta Elementary School
- Montvale Elementary School
- Stewartsville Elementary School
- Liberty Middle School
- Liberty High School
- Staunton River Middle School
- Staunton River High School
Parents with children attending these schools do not need to apply for free meals.
All other schools will resume the regular school meals program. Daily lunch for students will be $2.40 Elementary/$2.65 Middle & High and breakfast will be $1.35. Milk will cost $0.60.
Parents wanting to apply for free meals should submit an application online at https://www.myschoolapps.com. If your family chooses to apply please complete a "Free and Reduced Meal Price Application Form." The forms can be obtained and returned (completed) to any school office.
The final state budget provided funding to eliminate reduced co-pays for students eligible for reduced-price meals. Therefore, both free and reduced students will receive free meals.
Bedford County Schools uses MySchoolBucks for managing school meal accounts. Parents can create their online school payment accounts by going online to https://www.myschoolbucks.com.
School lunch menus are available online at https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1498255712935&page=menus. Parents can print monthly menus from this site.
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES STATEMENT ON SUMMER 2022 P-EBT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has authorized the Virginia Department of Social Services to provide Summer P-EBT to K-12 students. All school-age children who attended a school last year, the school year 2021-2022, that was approved to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or who were determined eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals are eligible for Summer 2022 P-EBT.
All eligible students enrolled during the last month of the school year 2021-2022, including new high school graduates, can expect to receive a one-time summer benefit of $391 beginning on August 25, 2022, on their previously issued P-EBT or SNAP EBT card.
If you do not have an existing P-EBT card, or your information has changed since you last received P-EBT, a card will be mailed to the address provided in your student's school record within 7 to 10 business days. To request a replacement for a lost or discarded P-EBT card, contact ConnectEBT at 1-866-281-2448 or log on to https://www.connectebt.com/ or download the ConnectEBT app on a mobile device.
Contact VDSS with questions about P-EBT at one of the following contact points. Do not contact your child’s school or the central office for P-EBT information.
P-EBT Call Center 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday - Friday and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 866-513-1414 or 804-294-1633 or use the P-EBT Online Inquiry Form.
Update 9/13/22:
This is an update regarding questions we have received about summer Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has recently made us aware that many households did not receive summer P-EBT benefits due to a card processing error. We have been informed that affected households will be issued a new P-EBT card and that all cards should be received no later than September 30.
If you recently received a P-EBT card that is not working, a replacement card is already on the way. You do not need to take any action to report your invalid card. VDSS has identified the households affected by this error. Please do not contact the P-EBT call center to order another card, as this may further delay the processing of your benefits.
We understand this delay has been frustrating and want to assure you that we are in communication with VDSS to ensure the issue is fixed as quickly as possible. Schools are not able to provide answers to your P-EBT questions. Please visit PEBTVA.com for the latest information and guidance concerning P-EBT.
ONLINE MEAL APPLICATION
Free and Reduced Price Meals are available to families who believe they may qualify. You will be notified by mail of your child's status. Only complete one application per family. To submit an application online, click the button below.
ANGEL FUND DONATIONS
Would you like to help support the feeding needs of students in Bedford County Public Schools? Click the button below to donate to the Angel Fund Account at a school of your choice. Thank you in advance for making a difference in a child’s life!
SCHOOL CASH ONLINE
School Cash Online is a safe, simple and secure way for parents to pay for field trips, yearbooks, spirit wear, athletic fees and more. No need to take out cash or write checks, now you can shop online from the comfort of your own home. Click here and choose Register.
Parent Registration Resource Flyer
Click here for School Cash Online - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in PDF format
SCHOOL BOARD INFORMATION
The Bedford County School Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting on September 8, 2022, in the Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center auditorium located at 600 Edmund Street, Bedford, VA 24523.
The agenda for the 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. portion of the meeting includes a closed session to discuss personnel and legal matters, a dinner break, and, as time permits, staff reports, and Informational items.
The Board will reconvene for the formal meeting at 7:00 p.m. for Information, Action, and Consent items.
All Board meetings are open to the public and are broadcast via live stream on the school division’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvIyLnQJ8uBXH9Y36C9uvw
The complete agenda can be accessed on BoardDocs:
https://bedford.sharpschool.net/school_board/board_docs_-_school_board_meetings__policies
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