Kaira Willis

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - As local schools prepare to welcome students back, two area divisions facing the nationwide bus driver shortage are taking very different paths. Franklin County is racing to fill gaping transportation holes before Thursday's start, while Roanoke City said a private transit partnership has them fully staffed for next week. School leaders said securing drivers is about much more than just geography.

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - A major revitalization project in Roanoke's Norwich neighborhood is taking a massive leap forward. It's been a year since city leaders announced plans to transform the former Walker Foundry site. The historical landmark has been vacant for years and now, heavy machinery is on the ground, carving out a new future for this community.

RADFORD, Va. (WDBJ) - Classes in Radford City Schools start on August 12, but when students walk back through those doors, they are going to notice a major shift in how they use technology. The school board is implementing an updated, division-wide procedure focusing on how screens are used in classrooms. Division leadership said this isn't about getting rid of devices altogether but using them more intentionally.

The school board is implementing an updated, division-wide procedure focusing on how screens are used in classrooms.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - As Roanoke County Public School students prepare to head back to the classroom, the division is preparing to lay down new ground rules for emerging technology. On Thursday, the Roanoke County school board met to discuss key updates to its artificial intelligence policy. School leaders said it's about being proactive.

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - As students and teachers prepare to head back to school next week, school districts are doubling down on cybersecurity. It follows a nationwide cyberattack on the learning platform of Canvas at the end of the last school year that left local school districts scrambling. WDBJ7 spoke with local IT leaders and an educational technology expert about what they've learned and how they're working to move forward.

ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS, Va. (WDBJ) - As back-to-school season kicks into high gear, school districts across our hometowns are searching for ways to streamline student transportation. In the Alleghany Highlands, school leaders are rolling out a new backup plan for the upcoming school year. It is a concept called “mini” bus routes, designed to tackle unexpected transportation challenges and driver shortages before they cause major disruptions.

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Tuesday marks the official start of the new school year for thousands of students across Roanoke City Public Schools. But for one top administrator, the day is a bittersweet milestone. Superintendent Dr. Verletta White greeted students this morning for her final first day of school before her retirement next June.

Published Aug. 12, 2026 at 10:50 PM GMT+2 | Updated moments ago

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - In this past Virginia General Assembly session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 607, giving localities a powerful new option to fund crumbling school infrastructure: a one-percent sales tax, but only if local voters approve it first. Now, Pulaski County is preparing to put that exact question on the ballot this November. School officials said this could completely rewrite their timeline for critical safety upgrades.