Board member Donna Wells stated that the board learned this afternoon that legislation passed earlier this year requires schools to follow CDC recommendations for mask wearing. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. More: Augusta schools' 1:1 tech rollout under way, benefiting students who have gone without. Anastasio also said the DOE will require schools to report teacher vaccination status, which will be done anonymously and through a survey. Shop the collection. School Board members made the decision Thursday . This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendation., RELATED: New CDC guidelines call for masks in schools K-12. Heres why. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. Photo by Atoms on Unsplash. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". Learn more. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Already have a commenting profile? Kristine Welcher, a licensed nurse, speaks out against a mask mandate at Wednesday nights Augusta County School Board meeting at Wilson Memorial High School in Fishersville. Even though mask mandates will not be enforced inside school, masks will still be required on school buses, as well as for staff members and adults inside the school building. So far this week the school division has reported 85 casesdespite studentsbeing out all week because of a holiday and snow. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy. Over the summer, our children have been maskless, Welcher said. All rights reserved. New CDC re-masking guidelines say several Central Virginia areas should bring back masks, Youngkin signs universal license recognition law at Richmond barber shop, National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear, V.D.O.T to conduct lane closures on I-95 north in Henrico, Health Minute: First at-home flu and COVID test authorized. Its why the news isnt sitting well with him and others. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. I want to work with you. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - Augusta County Public Schools is set to become mask-optional in three weeks. The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. . Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. https://www.augusta.k12.va.us The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. Augusta County Public Schools. Enter your email and password to access comments. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Log in to join the discussion. In numbers reported throughThursday morning, Augusta County was at 87positive cases this week, with 12 of those at Stuarts Draft High School and 11 more at Stuarts Draft Elementary. Several attendees at Tuesday night's Aiken County school board meeting jumped at the sound of a woman outside the meeting room shouting, "Make masks mandatory! Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - The Augusta County School Board voted unanimously Thursday night not to adopt model policies for the treatment of transgender students put forth by the. Augusta County Public Schools18 Government Center LaneVerona, VA 24482Phone: 540-245-5100Fax: 540-245-5115. I think they should still be wearing masks for their safety and everyone elses, said Will Via, a dad from Verona. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta County students will head to school on Tuesday, August 10 wearing masks. In the last five weeks since students returned from winter break, Augusta County Schools have reported 889 positive cases, the highest five-week total of the school year. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. By Jessica Mallow. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. Chief Technology OfficerCarolyn McCord provided an update on the school district's 1:1 initiative, PowerUp, which will supply every student with the use of a laptop with internet connectivity. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Do you have a story idea? All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. Copyright 2021 WVIR. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting Due to recent in local COVID conditions,the advice of our local health department, and school divisions policies, masks are now mandatory for all students, staff, and visitors. The Augusta County School Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, status as a veteran, national origin, or disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. More:A month since Rosenberg was forced out, Staunton City Council hasn't secured search firm, More:Staunton man pleads guilty to a string of burglaries, gets nearly 10 years in prison. In a retreat Thursday afternoon at the Augusta County Government Center, the school board voted 5-1 to make masks optional in schools beginning Monday, Feb. 14. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. Story ideas and tips always welcome. McCormick wondered about a remote option for families if they preferred their child not go into school for safety or medical reasons, but Anastasio said there is no plan since the CDC strongly recommends we have students in school. He said school officials may work with some families if there is a medial reason, but the district does not have the resources and staffing to offer a full remote option as it did last school year. You can cancel at any time. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. Now. Here's how fast the special use permit process has gone for Houff's Churchville pit, Resignation of Staunton City Manager Steve Rosenberg: Councilor Mead's remarks, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 during its annual retreat Thursday to set the date when students and staff can take off their masks, with parameters in place that allow the board members to change its mind if cases persist or legal objections strike down Gov. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. FISHERSVILLE The Augusta County School Board voted unanimously to make masks optional at all grade levels for both staff and students Thursday night at Wilson Memorial High School, which was met with cheers from the packed auditorium. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. The winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . Still, theres no doubt this will make for some challenging school environments. The only instance where county students are required to wear masks is on the school bus because of a federal mandate related to public transportation. Best for a great weekend. All rights reserved. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. No parent electing that a mask mandate should not apply to his or her child shall be required to provide a reason or make any certification concerning their childs health or education. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). North River representative Nick Collins made the motion Thursday, which gives the school board a chance to reevaluate the decision in the coming weeks if there are any legal challenges to Virginia Gov. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. His first item of focus is the rights of parents. Albemarle County Public Schools announced Monday that it continue to comply with the state law that masks be worn by all students in all schools and facilities. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. 0:57. [CDATA[ Weve been saying all along students should be in school and shouldnt be tied to masks, said Conservative Parents of Lynchburg Founder Andrew Glover. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday night. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Don't have a commenting profile? I was excited not to have them (masks), but then I saw new data said the delta variant could infect people with the vaccine and could result in a spread. Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. This huge statewide spike, and the 29schools that were shifted to distance learning in Richmond County, led to the school board's reaffirming its mask mandate Tuesday. The biggest questions will be at middle schools, where some students can get the shot and others cant. All rights reserved. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. Its equal or worse than in December, and our healthcare workers are drowning, said Tara Mahanes. Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. Board member Martha Witham said masks are the one thing that will keep everyone safe when school starts and they are a small price to pay to get kids back in school full time and to keep everyone safe., This wasnt a quick decision, board member Jennifer Dumond said. Mask Policy Due to recent in local COVID conditions, the advice of our local health department, and school divisions policies, masks are now mandatory for all students, staff, and visitors. That's why we try our best to make it easy to live in this beautiful place we call home. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. Following the publics comments, board member Donna Wells stated that the board learned just this afternoon that Senate Bill 1303 passed earlier this year requires schools to follow CDC recommendations, which recommends masks for teachers, students and staff inside. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. I feel like everyone should still be wearing masks, vaccinated or not, said Shae Helms, a sophomore at Amherst County High School. Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. Designed and sold by artists. We have always tried to be non-political. A month since Rosenberg was forced out, Staunton City Council hasn't secured search firm, Staunton man pleads guilty to a string of burglaries, gets nearly 10 years in prison, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. People spoke for and against requiring students to wear masks this fall, as the school board previously stated masks would be optional. There is [sic] three reasons why COVID cases are going up. The speakers who opposed the policies voiced concerns about safety issues, parental and privacy rights, and religious freedom. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. What we in public health and science are worried about is the virus and (how many) potential mutations away we are from a very transmissible virus that has the potential to evade our vaccines in terms of how it protects us from severe disease and death, she said. Editor. Another potential headache: the CDC is still recommending schools continue to space kids out and keep their desks three feet apart. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. The superintendent also reminded families that student assessments, such as Georgia Milestones, will count toward student promotion. Augusta County is still considered to be a community with a high transmission level, with the VDH reporting a 36.4% positivity level in its most recent update. The Augusta Board of Education voted. 2023 www.newsleader.com. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. As we learn more, I am comfortable with yes. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. Sign up for breaking news alerts. The Virginia Department of Health reported 113 new COVID cases in Augusta County Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 4. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The testing will at first be offered to only employees and students (with parents' permission), but the school district is open to possibly expanding it to the rest of the community. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that made their decision possible. With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. Send us your news tip here. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . The school board sent out a letter on July 22 stating the county did not have the legal authority to reject the state-mandated policies. Although most of the discussion at Wednesday nights meeting surrounded the VDOE model treatment of transgender students policies, Kristine Welcher spoke out against masks as a parent of children attending Stuarts Draft schools. Copyright 2021 WHSV. Waynesboro Public Schools followed the VDHs guidance and voted earlier this week to mandate masks for elementary students and staff. I anticipated more discussion before we voted.. In the meantime, there are many ways for you to get vaccinated in our community. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. Glenn Youngkin's executive order making masks optional or "any changing negative trends related to our local area health concerns.". AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - With the latest surge in COVID cases easing, the Richmond County School System is dropping its mask mandate on campuses starting Tuesday. See Offers. Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. Get notified when the ePaper has been delivered (requires subscription), Augusta Public Schools to enforce mask wearing for all students, staff, visitors, Augusta Public School Board pursues pool testing for reducing pandemic requirements. The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Eric Bond. Many board members said they are not happy that the decision is out of their hands, and went on to say they want things to change in Richmond. The letter continued, we know masking works and applauded children for their efforts in masking in the past school year. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. He shared the letter from the pediatricians at the board meeting. If you can't find the answer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. School boards are required by state law to enact the policies for the 2021-22. Augusta County Public Schools reported on its dashboard that the week of Jan. 9 it had 236 total cases of COVID, including 209 among students. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. Use the form below to reset your password. Some counties within the BRHD qualify for indoor masking, per the CDC guideline.Charlottesville and Albemarle County are not there as of today, but as you can see, the 7-day moving average is going in the wrong direction district-wide. 13 Virginia tops Clemson, snaps losing streak and clinches ACC tournament double-bye, On 'emotional' day, female wrestlers finally get to compete for their own Virginia state title, Former Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland dies after battling Alzheimer's, Buffalo Gap girls basketball team knocks off Rappahannock to reach semis, Augusta County School Board votes against transgender policies, Alaskas Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, Dogs, mushers prep for Iditarod as PETA accuses racers of animal abuse, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else. In the central Virginia community, as of the July 27 update, here are the following localities in the: The potential for this to be a problem is much, much lower in areas with low amounts of disease, said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. On Tuesday, Richmond County Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw displayed a map of Georgia for the school board and said, "The map tells it all with all that red.". Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. I was a Title 1 reading teacher and was treated with professionalism and respect. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. Virginia Public Schools are required by law to enforce mask mandates, and the State Health Commissioner has made it clear that masks are required to be worn by everyone inside the schools. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ndsTchhICxLNjF_dxI18aRlyWnQfS.IeNB3Ql0MS2hM-1800-0"}; In a retreat Thursday afternoon at the Augusta County Government Center, the school board voted 5-1 to make masks optional in schools beginning Monday, Feb. 14. The CDC also says all schools should have universal masking, which is something Albemarle County Public Schools are already planning to do, and Charlottesvilles school board could vote to do in early August. All students, staff and volunteers in county schools will wear masks to begin the school year. But the Virginia Department of Health is not making any masking decisions yet. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. Harrisonburg man charged with crimes connected to Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. Anastasio said its easier at all levels since people move around the district. At their meeting. 1:30 PM Community Policy Management Team. That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. We got to show some force or whatever you need to do to show those people down there to understand that we need to be allowed to make the decision that best suits our kids because we deal with our kids, we deal with the parents, board member Tim Swortzel said. Thank you for visiting the Augusta County, VA. You will be redirected to the destination page below in 0 seconds. The Augusta County Board of Supervisors will conduct a Public Hearing at 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 8, 2023, in the Board Meeting Room, Augusta County Government Center, 18 Government Center Lane, Verona, Virginia. Social distancing was one of the larger issues in the past as to why the schools had to do hybrid learning, but now, social distancing is less of a priority Anastasio said, if universal masking is mandated. There was a problem saving your notification. While Aiken County has lifted mandatory mask mandates inside its schools, Richmond County says for now it won't be changing any of its mask or social distancing guidelines. Create one. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . I believe in Jesus Christ. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . MORE | Threat puts Thomson High School put on. I feel like its the parents decision. Please wait for the page to reload. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Afterward, the public spoke and most of the comments were about masks in school. Virginias approach to COVID-19 has always been driven by the science, and we continue to emphasize that the only way out of this pandemic is through vaccination., A spokesperson for the Blue Ridge Health District, Jason Elliott, said in an interview with NBC29 last week that it is extremely important -- probably the most important -- to get vaccinated now more than it ever has been before.. Need a COVID-19 test? AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. 5:00 PM Joint Meeting-Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Augusta County . He said the basis for his recommendation came from the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, among other scientific studies, and said he would only make an unpopular decision on the err of safety., Im an experienced educator; I dont have medical training; I dont pretend to know what professionals in the medical field do, Anastasio said. Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. Riverheads High School 19 Howardsville Road Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 337-1921 Fax: (540) 337-0258. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. She asked if it was considered by administration to have a mask mandate for the younger students and recommended for the older students. Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. //]]> School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. Get up to 20% off. A child whose parent has elected that he or she is not subject to a mask mandate should not be required to wear a mask under any policy implemented by a teacher, school, school district, the Department of Educationor any other state authority. Board member John Ward said they do not want to expose faculty to liability and said hopefully they will see low numbers throughout the start of the school year. Hope everyone is doing well. The availability of onsite testing will be of particular help since testing appointments at area providers have been backed up and there are shortages of at-home, rapid tests available for purchase. To date, they have distributed 20,230 devices. . Parent Portal Student registration DOCUMENTS PERSONNEL Acceptable use policy STAFF Portal bGMS construction update RMS Construction Update . @NBC29 pic.twitter.com/L8eS6n0bxz. You have permission to edit this article. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. Anastasio said the big three in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in schools are universal masking, vaccination when possible and pool testing, which Augusta agreed to take part in at the end of the last school year. "If between now and then things go crazy," Shiflett said. The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. Dr. Flynt tells us plans are dependent on cases staying low and the mask policy . Bradshaw said they are not putting an end-date on theprotocol, but that they are continuing to monitor the latest data and consult with experts on the necessary way to proceed. They have thrived and remained healthy.. The week of Jan. 17 there were 171 cases. Collins said he worded his motion so it gave a date for going mask optional, but also gave the board its own options. The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 on Thursday to make masks optional .

Lauren Caldwell Engaged, Hidden Valley Transfer Station Hours, Articles A