The Loudoun County school system will increase security today after multiple threats were received. The threats were reported yesterday and investigators determined they were not credible. Classes will be held today but extra police and security officers will be deployed as a precaution. Frederick County canceled classes yesterday after receiving similar threats, but classes are scheduled to resume today.
The teacher vacancy rate in the commonwealth decreased to 3.4% at the start of the school year, down from 4.7% in July. Efforts to address the teacher shortage include relaxing guidelines to hire retired teachers and targeting recruitment and retention in areas of need. The Virginia Mercury reports state education officials believe new initiatives like the Grow Your Own program and new federal funding will help expand apprenticeship programs for K-12 teachers. Additionally, the department has updated its licensure office and launched a new teacher licensing system to streamline the application process.
Some Virginia first responders are adding sensory emergency kits to their ambulances. Richard Stelling with more.Preview: Inflation numbers did not go down quite as expected. The producer price index, which measures the costs of producing goods, was up in August by point-two percent. The numbers out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics dimmed hopes for a big rate cut from Fed.