Policy Review Committee Meeting, April 22, 2026

The VBSchools Policy Review Committee met on April 22, 2026, to discuss updates and revisions to several policies, with a significant focus on technology use in early education. Key procurement-related discussions included the potential impact on contracts for digital pre-kindergarten programs and the need to revise lesson plans and professional development to accommodate changes in device usage. The committee debated a recommendation to remove Chromebooks and similar devices from pre-kindergarten through first grade classrooms, with exceptions for special education needs and emergency virtual instruction. Concerns were raised about the wording of the policy, particularly the use of "shall not" regarding device usage, and the logistical challenges of device distribution during remote learning. The committee agreed to postpone finalizing the policy language to a special meeting scheduled for May 14, 2026, to ensure clarity and address concerns before forwarding the policy to the school board. Other policy updates included ethics in public contracting and personnel policies, but the primary procurement focus was on technology device management and related instructional impacts.