COVID-19 wreaked havoc on Botetourt County schoolsâ way of doing things, but the distance learning that it enforced also opened a new niche in the division: a virtual learning academy. School officials are in the early stages of developing a perennial online school that would begin in fall 2021. In January, they will present their plan to students and parents. Administrators for the past couple of months have been outlining the plan to the Botetourt County School Board, to mostly positive responses. âCOVID, while it is a bad thing, has given us this silver lining, in that we have to now force ourselves to be flexible enough to pivot into a virtual program,â board member Tim Davidick, who represents the Valley District, said during the boardâs November meeting.