The countdown is on for the first day of school for many school districts and this year, Radford City Schools are making it easier to keep kids hydrated.

After leaving Radford City Schools, Pulaski County Superintendent Robert Graham has officially started the new job.

The board certified Radford City Superintendent Robert F. Graham’s voluntary resignation letter Tuesday

The bell schedule adjustments are meant to allow more planning time for teachers.

Radford school leaders are wanting to make sure your child gets a proper education and they want to do that by ensuring teachers have better planning times.

Radford City School leaders are looking to come up with a new plan to help teachers better educate students. School leaders said their goal right now is to give teachers more planning time.

The decision comes less than a week after the district announced a new bell schedule for the 2023-2024 school year.

Radford City Superintendent Robert F. Graham has been chosen as the Region VII Superintendent of the Year.

One school division is taking the lead to help students in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Superintendent Robert Graham sent a letter to Radford City School families encouraging they talk with their students about appropriate school behavior.

Two minutes after a Radford University student fired a gun on campus, he was in police custody, according to police.

RADFORD, Va. – Radford City Schools will open all buildings to all students who choose to participate in face-to-face learning beginning March 1. “Now that we’ve had our vaccinations and we’re getting better reports about lower case numbers in Radford and the New River Valley, we are excited to welcome those who want to come back four days a week,” said Superintendent Robert Graham. “Yes, you’re right at our elementary school in particular and you mentioned the construction at McHarg. That’s been hard to have two schools in one and make that physical distancing work.”AdThe school system is asking families to complete a survey that will help them revise bus routes, plan for school meals and ensure that mitigation strategies can remain in place regardless of the number of students and staff in the buildings. Click here to read the full release and for survey links.

RADFORD, Va – Superintendents in southwest Virginia are standing by the Department of Education’s call for more in-person instruction. Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham says while the hybrid learning model has done a great job of keeping his students safe during COVID-19 surges, Graham believes the best place for learning is in the classroom. Graham says he is grateful for the flexibility of parents, students and teachers throughout the school year. “We have greater success with in-person learning than we do virtual, now that’s not to say that some of our students aren’t excelling with virtual learning and they have an art teacher certainly have stepped up and provided just outstanding instruction,” Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham said. Graham says the division will be working with the Department of Education and the New River Health to make any adjustments.

RADFORD, Va. – Each year, public schools in Virginia report enrollment numbers to the Virginia Department of Education to help regulate state funding. A new survey estimates that Virginia’s public schools are down 36,000 students which could result in a loss of nearly $160 million. In Radford, public school attendance has dropped by roughly 70 students and Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham predicts that trend will continue. Typically, Radford schools lose 15-20 students each year but add the same amount. Across the state, an estimated 36,000 fewer students are enrolled in public schools, according to a survey by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS).

RADFORD, Va – Radford City Schools will continue virtual learning for the next two weeks as the number of Coronavirus cases continue to rise in the city. Full release from city schools:Due to the increasing number of Coronavirus cases in Radford CIty resulting in Radford being recognized as one of the top ten “Hot Spots” in the nation for COVID-19 cases, Radford City Schools will continue with virtual learning for hybrid students and Virtual Radford students as we did last week. We do have some exposures and cases of COVID-19 in our school community population, but they were contracted outside of our school system. As we continue with virtual learning for the next two weeks, we will also continue our food distribution program on Mondays from 4:30-6:30 at the Belle Heth cafeteria. Please review your email this weekend for more information and details regarding the extension of our virtual learning platform and instructional strategies, including synchronous opportunities for the next two weeks.

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.

RADFORD, Va. The United Way of the New River Valley awarded Radford City Schools $1,000 for personal protective equipment. Thursday, the nonprofit delivered a check to Superintendent Robert Graham, which the district will use to buy masks for students. Appalachian Power gave $5,000 in grant money to the United Way. Floyd and Montgomery County schools will also get a $1,000 donation. The rest of the grant money Davis says will likely go to other nonprofits in the New River Valley.

The City of Roanoke and Virginia 811 will hold a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony today. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will update its outlook for this years hurricane season. Radford City Schools holds a School Supply Drive today. The City of Lynchburg holds an informational meeting today about the Lakeside Drive Bridge over Blackwater Creek. The YMCA of Virginias Blue Ridge holds a virtual childcare job fair tonight at 6 p.m.

“It means a lot to us,” said Radford High School senior class vice president Sophie Graham about the banners going up around the city to honor seniors. “It’s felt really good to just have the signs up,” said class president Jon Woods. A Radford City employee hangs up banners on a lamp post along Main Street Tuesday. Radford City Schools, in partnership with the city and Ballpark Signs, is putting up banners on lamp posts along Main Street. “This is a really, really special senior class for us," he said.