Stay Connected . Afterward, the public spoke and most of the comments were about masks in school. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 I want to work with every one of you. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. People are also reading 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 . The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. 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. 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. 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. Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. I hope youre on the same side.. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! Based on current conditions, this is what we need to do to make that happen. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. Use the form below to reset your password. ", As of its most recent update on Jan. 13, the CDC "recommends universal indoor masking by allstudents (ages 2 years and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.". I feel like its the parents decision. Fennville Public . Columbia County . 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. Under the protocol,masks arerequired for allstudents, staff andvisitors to all school districtfacilities and onbuses,regardless of vaccination status. Im not real sure how well they work to begin with, Dana Worley, her mom, said. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. Mask Policy AMI Dates; Augusta School District: Full mask requirement: McCrory School District: As we learn more, I am comfortable with yes. Contact tracing will only be done when there's anoutbreak, which is definedas"10% of a grade level, staff or entire school," per the letter. School Board members made the decision Thursday . 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. People spoke for and against requiring students to wear masks this fall, as the school board previously stated masks would be optional. He said universal masking is recommended in schools by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Maine CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, Department of Education, Maine Education Association, Maine School Management Association, Maine School Superintendent Association, Leadership of Augusta Education Association, and pediatric doctors in Augusta and Winthrop who personally sent Anastasio a letter urging the mandate. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. All rights reserved. Create one. Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Copyright 2021 WVIR. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. List of Augusta County Public Schools. Via has three kids in Augusta County Public Schools and only one of them is old enough to get the shot. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. 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. Don't have a commenting profile? If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. Some in Augusta County oppose school mask mandates as COVID-19 cases surge. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. There was a problem saving your notification. Northam's K-12 mask mandate, and we will continue to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety . It had already been announced that students could go masklessfollowing a vote by the school board in January, but there was some question about whether teachers would still be required to wear masks under requirements fromthe Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the Department of Labor and Industry. We have always tried to be non-political. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. 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, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. All rights reserved. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. You have permission to edit this article. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. The superintendent also reminded families that student assessments, such as Georgia Milestones, will count toward student promotion. 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. 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. "If between now and then things go crazy," Shiflett said. 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.. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. 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. Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. "These absences from school will be excused and students will be permitted to make up all missed work," the letter said. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. 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. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. Here are a few of them: Blue Ridge Health District vaccination scheduler, Call the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline 434-972-6261. Your cooperation with this change is expectedand appreciated. Regardless of vaccination status, the Augusta Public Schools will require masks for people entering its buildings next school year. Face coverings and masks will be optional at Charleston County schools when students return to their classrooms Aug. 18. "We'll revisit it. https://www.augusta.k12.va.us Learn more. That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. Do you all understand that? : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. 2023 www.newsleader.com. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. 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. 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. 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 numbers have fluctuated within the school division. Thank you for visiting the Augusta County, VA. You will be redirected to the destination page below in 0 seconds. Its still a big health problem, she said. 1:30 PM Community Policy Management Team. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. 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. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. 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. 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. Anastasio also said the DOE will require schools to report teacher vaccination status, which will be done anonymously and through a survey. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. 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! MORE | Threat puts Thomson High School put on. Heres why. Learn More You are now exiting the Augusta County, VA. EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The decision for Columbia County schools to require masks comes after the district says it has at least 1,000 people at home quarantining, and 296 more students who. 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. Make masks mandatory! The letter continued, we know masking works and applauded children for their efforts in masking in the past school year. Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. 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. We do not appreciate it. 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. Do you have a story idea? In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Several counties have full mask wearing policies for both on the bus and in the school buildings including: McDuffie County; Richmond County; Warren County; Hancock County; The other CSRA . New CDC guidance says some counties in our viewing area meet the threshold to put those face coverings back on. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. The winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Augusta County Public Schools. Make masks mandatory!" Aiken Public Safety officers rushed out to where the overflow crowd was gathered because of meeting room capacity restrictions, and the . Story ideas and tips always welcome. Riverheads High School 19 Howardsville Road Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 337-1921 Fax: (540) 337-0258. The CDC recommends those with COVID-19 should isolate for five days and, if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving, then wear a mask for fivedays when around others. 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. As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Shop the collection. The only vote against the motion was fromBeverley Manor representative Donna Wells, who had tried to amend the motion to extend the mandatory mask policy until Feb. 28. Aiken County Public Schools spokesperson Mike Rosier said via email that they will not be mandating masks, citing a memo from South Carolina Superintendent Molly Spearman saying the General Assembly's Proviso 1.108 in the 2021-22 Appropriations Bill prohibits any school district from requiring students or staff to wear a mask. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 on Thursday to make masks optional . 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. I feel like everyone should still be wearing masks, vaccinated or not, said Shae Helms, a sophomore at Amherst County High School. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The week of Jan. 17 there were 171 cases. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. Augusta County residents lead busy lives. Harrisonburg man charged with crimes connected to Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. 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. Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - "It's just not right to have them mandate it," said 8th grader Jonathan Vasquez. They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. Waynesboro Public Schools followed the VDHs guidance and voted earlier this week to mandate masks for elementary students and staff. AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. All rights reserved. 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. ", Staunton and Waynesboro, in their announcements, mentioned SB1303, which requireseach school board in Virginia to provide the in-person instruction "in a manner in which it adheres, to the maximum extent practicable, to any currently applicable mitigation strategies for early childhood care and education programs and elementary and secondary schools to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that have been provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 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. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols".
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