augusta county schools mask policy
A. R. Ware Elem 330 Grubert Avenue Staunton, VA. Augusta Corr Center 1821 Estaline Valley Road Craigsville, VA. Berkeley Glenn Elem 1020 Jefferson Avenue Waynesboro, VA. "TheBoard and administration have consideredand reviewedthe continued reduction of positive cases amongourstudentsand staff, as well as recent court rulings, General Assembly action,Executive Order 6, andpendingHealth and Safety Codes Board actionnext week," Bond wrote in an email to The News Leader asking about the decision for staff. People are also reading 'Cousin Eddie' display from 'Christmas Vacation' leads to Kentucky police response The opportunity to grow professionally is evident there. In a statement, the Blue Ridge Health District said: The Virginia Department of Health will analyze the CDCs guidance now that it has been released. 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. School Board members made the decision Thursday . Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Heres why. Kortney Lockey, Lynchburg Bureau - Multimedia Journalist. That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. To be considered for employment, you must provide the following: A completed online application Transcripts or high school diploma (if required for the position for which you are applying). Your cooperation with this change is expectedand appreciated. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. Get up to 20% off. 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. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta County students will head to school on Tuesday, August 10 wearing masks. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. The Allegan County Health Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade. Administrators say theyre hearing the same from other parents. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy. 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! Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. Waynesboro Public Schools followed the VDHs guidance and voted earlier this week to mandate masks for elementary students and staff. Allegan Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 TBD; 9-12 optional | Details. All rights reserved. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. @NBC29 pic.twitter.com/L8eS6n0bxz. Designed and sold by artists. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. Augusta County chose to follow Youngkin's executive order, which states in part: Youngkin's order goes into effect Monday, Jan. 24, but Augusta County's School Board wanted to add additional time to see if the current COVID surge in the area will subside. When voting to rescind the mask mandate, the Augusta County School Board said it would watch COVID numbers in schools and keep the mandate in place if numbers weren't trending in a good direction. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. As we learn more, I am comfortable with yes. "Not seeing facial expressions. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108, Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally. Board Chairperson Amanda Olson told McCormick there had been more of a discussion for the mask mandate at a board workshop a couple of weeks earlier, which McCormick did not attend. on. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. 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. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. Already registered? ", More: Here's how fast the special use permit process has gone for Houff's Churchville pit, More: Resignation of Staunton City Manager Steve Rosenberg: Councilor Mead's remarks. We are excited to begin the school year but have some updates and reminders to help prepare our students as they return next week. All rights reserved. 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. People spoke for and against requiring students to wear masks this fall, as the school board previously stated masks would be optional. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. But the Virginia Department of Health is not making any masking decisions yet. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. 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. Copyright 2021 WHSV. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School . 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.". MORE | Threat puts Thomson High School put on. //]]> Make masks mandatory!" Aiken Public Safety officers rushed out to where the overflow crowd was gathered because of meeting room capacity restrictions, and the . The week of Jan. 17 there were 171 cases. Glenn Youngkin's executive order on masks in schools. The letter continued, we know masking works and applauded children for their efforts in masking in the past school year. The policy was part of the districts response to COVID last school year, but now state law prohibits individual school systems from requiring students to wear masks. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Between Dec. 4 and 18, Georgia reported just under 20,000new cases, and most of the state's map was a light-yellow. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. All rights reserved. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. 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. The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Eric Bond. 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 . Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Rules for school Masks have been mandated for all students, staff and visitors at all Richmond County School System facilities and on school buses, regardless of vaccination status. https://www.augusta.k12.va.us The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. Send us your news tip here. Welcher, a licensed nurse and mental health professional, said her child in pre-K came home from school last year with remnants of food, moisture and snot from being forced to wear a face-covering for eight hours. So far this week the school division has reported 85 casesdespite studentsbeing out all week because of a holiday and snow. See Offers. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". 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. They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. Its why the news isnt sitting well with him and others. Augusta County residents fill Wilson Memorial High School's auditorium on Wednesdaynight for a school board meeting where transgender policies and a mask mandate were voted on. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. He said the Maine Department of Education is strongly recommending school in person, universal masking and following other recommendations such as hand washing and staying home when sick. Augusta County residents lead busy lives. Some people asked what the penalty is for not wearing a mask and the board said they do not have an exact answer at this time. May 19, 2021. Kortney joined the 10 News team as a Lynchburg Bureau Reporter in May 2021. Create one. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. Based on current conditions, this is what we need to do to make that happen. Verify your phone numbers and contact preferences are correct in Campus Parent > User > Settings > Contact Preferences. I hope youre on the same side.. "Personally, I would like to see the masks gone," Chairperson David Shiflett said, "but now I dont think is the time.. Starting on Jan. 24, Highland County Public Schools says masks will be recommended to protect students and staff amid a high number of COVID-19 cases in the county. McClintock said they hope to get the cameras within the next month. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. The division also said that. I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. You can cancel at any time. "These absences from school will be excused and students will be permitted to make up all missed work," the letter said. "We have to consider how the mask is affecting them emotionally," Simmons said. About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. Face coverings and masks will be optional at Charleston County schools when students return to their classrooms Aug. 18. on March 2.Read more about the C.D . AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. The district had held. Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. 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. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! 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. You are muzzling our children. The superintendent also reminded families that student assessments, such as Georgia Milestones, will count toward student promotion. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. Shop the collection. Copyright 2021 WVIR. We fear if we dont have universal masking, the letter stated, there will be outbreaks warranting school closure.. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. I want to work with every one of you. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. Timothy Simmons, who represents the Pastures District, said he is in favor of making masks optional. More. The main issue was the recent Commonwealth decision that all schools needed to have a non-discrimination policy in place in regards to transgender students. 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. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. It was heated at times - like when people called board members cowards for wearing masks and forcing students to wear them. Enter your email and password to access comments. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. Bond's letter did say that parents who choose to keep their children home for the full 10-day quarantine period can do so. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. 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. 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. His first item of focus is the rights of parents. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Kelly F. Troxell Ed.D., Executive Director of Personnel (540) 245-5107, Section 504 Coordinator Douglas W. Shifflett, Jr. Ed.D, Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108. Athletics DirectorScott McClintock reported that the Georgia High School Association is providing every high school with two automated cameras that will live-stream games online. Our children under 12 years of age are not eligible to be vaccinated, so the best thing to protect them is to continue masking and social distancing, the letter from the local pediatricians said. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. 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. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. While the nation's top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some. Sign in or Subscribe The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. (844) 698-3261 Free Consultation info@ritchielawfirm.com Case Results . If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Augusta County Public Schools is the organization that operates the public school system in Augusta County, Virginia. Don't have a commenting profile? However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. 5:00 PM Joint Meeting-Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Augusta County . The school district will not have to pay for them so long as theysign an agreement to keep the cameras up for five years. Best for a great weekend. Milestones were waived in 2020 as a result of the chaos caused by the initial outbreak of COVID-19, and the weight of the test was greatly diminished last year. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. By Jessica Mallow. Another potential headache: the CDC is still recommending schools continue to space kids out and keep their desks three feet apart. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. Columbia County . As areas around the state see an uptick in COVID-19 cases, with many related to the delta variant, the Virginia Department of Health, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education, released guidance on July 21 that urged masks for all students and staff at elementary schools, regardless of vaccination status. Copyright 2021 WVIR. "We'll revisit it. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. . Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. 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.. Harrisonburg man charged with crimes connected to Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. Thats because its flu season, masks dont work, and upcoming elections., This is not a joke to any of us, said Rebecca Lotts, who opposes the mandates. Fennville Public . Masks have been and continue to be required on all Georgia school buses. Below you will find several links to helpful resources for our residents. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - Augusta County Public Schools is set to become mask-optional in three weeks. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Kelly F. Troxell Ed.D., Executive Director of Personnel (540) 245-5107, Douglas W. Shifflett, Jr. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Columbia County schools decided to make masks optional for students moving forward effective for summer school. Otherwise, a 14-day quarantine will be required. 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 winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. 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. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. He said "lots of parents" had reached out to him saying masks had created emotional damage for their children. 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. My recommendation to follow recommendation of the CDC is on the basis of following those who are more knowledgeable than I am regarding information on the pandemic.. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. Here are a few of them: Blue Ridge Health District vaccination scheduler, Call the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline 434-972-6261. The Virginia Department of Health reported 113 new COVID cases in Augusta County Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 4. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) [CDATA[ The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. To date, they have distributed 20,230 devices. Weve been saying all along students should be in school and shouldnt be tied to masks, said Conservative Parents of Lynchburg Founder Andrew Glover. I feel like everyone should still be wearing masks, vaccinated or not, said Shae Helms, a sophomore at Amherst County High School. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. Schools, including in Waynesboro and Augusta County, have the freedom to "implement local mask policies." Waynesboro school board members will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Waynesboro High School and are expected to tackle the state's guidelines when discussing the city's reopening plan. Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County. 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.