Masks are still required on buses per federal law. Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. Designed and sold by artists. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Best for a great weekend. 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. "We have to consider how the mask is affecting them emotionally," Simmons said. 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. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. 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. I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. 5:00 PM Joint Meeting-Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Augusta County . Story ideas and tips always welcome. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108, Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally. Story ideas and tips always welcome. 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. Timothy Simmons, who represents the Pastures District, said he is in favor of making masks optional. Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. We have no affiliation up here because we did not want that to interfere, it does not need to interfere with the decisions that we make for our parents and for our kids, but I am going to go against the grain tonight and say that we have got to get a republican governor into the state house this fall, board member Nicholas Collins said. 0:57. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. The Governor also stated, "K-12 school districts and charter schools still maintain the right to institute and enforce policies to mitigate against COVID-19 spread including the use of masks." The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Eric Bond. 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. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. 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. Dr. Flynt tells us plans are dependent on cases staying low and the mask policy . His first item of focus is the rights of parents. Anastasio also said the DOE will require schools to report teacher vaccination status, which will be done anonymously and through a survey. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. 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. 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. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. 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. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended universal masking in schools at every grade level. Wayne District representative Tim Swortzel made the motion to make face-coverings optional and North River representative Nicholas Collins seconded. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Make masks mandatory!" Aiken Public Safety officers rushed out to where the overflow crowd was gathered because of meeting room capacity restrictions, and the . Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . I want to work with you. Now. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Collins said he worded his motion so it gave a date for going mask optional, but also gave the board its own options. Her motion died for lack of a second. 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. Photo by Atoms on Unsplash. 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.". Get up to 20% off. May 19, 2021. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. 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. 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. People spoke for and against requiring students to wear masks this fall, as the school board previously stated masks would be optional. Waynesboro Public Schools followed the VDHs guidance and voted earlier this week to mandate masks for elementary students and staff. 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. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. 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. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. I anticipated more discussion before we voted.. 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. Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. 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 . Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) The Augusta Public Schools will have in-person learning, five days a week. ", 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). About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday night. 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. All rights reserved. Copyright 2021 WVIR. 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. Stay Connected . To date, they have distributed 20,230 devices. 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. However, counties around the state had already rejected the policies, and lawsuits appear to show funding is not in jeopardy for localities that voted no, according to a report from the Courthouse News Service. 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. Still, theres no doubt this will make for some challenging school environments. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. on March 2.Read more about the C.D . Northam's K-12 mask mandate, and we will continue to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety . 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. The Allegan County Health Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade. Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. Verify your phone numbers and contact preferences are correct in Campus Parent > User > Settings > Contact Preferences. All rights reserved. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. Allegan Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 TBD; 9-12 optional | Details. The week of Jan. 17 there were 171 cases. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. 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. If you can't find the answer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. 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. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! 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. 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. Please wait for the page to reload. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . As a further precaution, the superintendent said they are partnering with Heritage Pharma Groupto offer on-site COVID-19 testing with guaranteed results in 24 to 48 hours. I hope youre on the same side.. Editor. That's why we try our best to make it easy to live in this beautiful place we call home. Based on current conditions, this is what we need to do to make that happen. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Scotto's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria building up for lease, KFC is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 10-year hiatus, Jim Wood urged to surrender vice mayors position, resign, Waynesboro family-owned pig farm embraces sustainable pork production, Newly-opened local fashion boutique celebrates grand opening, Waynesboro City Council appoints RISE co-founder Chanda McGuffin to Waynesboro's Economic Development Authority board, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with Reelz TV show 'On Patrol: Live', Staunton boys basketball team suffers season-ending loss to Cave Spring, No. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. "Not seeing facial expressions. 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. About 50 people attended the Augusta. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County. This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendation., RELATED: New CDC guidelines call for masks in schools K-12. Please subscribe to keep reading. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. Need a COVID-19 test? Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 Your cooperation with this change is expectedand appreciated. Success. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - Augusta County Public Schools is set to become mask-optional in three weeks. 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. 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. "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. 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. I feel like its the parents decision. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. How to order free testing kits from the government, Augusta schools' 1:1 tech rollout under way, benefiting students who have gone without, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Copyright 2021 WVIR. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . Many have since returned to school, but the virus continues to spread. But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. Augustas annual free backpack, school supplies event scheduled for Sunday, Amid shouts and anger from parents, Skowhegan-area school board requires masks for first weeks of school, Madison man serving 30 days for violation of privacy in cellphone incident, With Domino's opening in Farmington, 'pizza wars' taking place on community Facebook group, Reporting Aside: As China woman confronts fatal diagnosis, she hopes for a final wish, Girls basketball: Lawrence defeats Brunswick to win Class A title, Clinton man sentenced to at least 9 months in jail for reckless driving that killed girlfriend. By Jessica Mallow. Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. So far this week the school division has reported 85 casesdespite studentsbeing out all week because of a holiday and snow. McClintock said they hope to get the cameras within the next month. The parents of any child enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or a school based early childcare and educational program may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect at the childs school or educational program. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. //]]> Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The community level of Covid-19 in Augusta County is low based on cases and hospitalizations, according to the most recent update from the C.D.C. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. Already have a commenting profile? Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. 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. Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning, Valley Career & Technical Center49 Hornet RoadFishersville, VA 22939Phone: (540) 245-5002Fax: (540) 885-0407info@valleytech.us. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. 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. 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. Fennville Public . Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. 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. You will receive an email to complete the registration. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. That comes days after Staunton and Waynesboro announced their school divisions will continue to require masks to help with COVID-19 mitigation with no end date set for thosemandates. People are also reading Do you have a story idea? Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. 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. While the nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some say its too soon. All rights reserved. List of Augusta County Public Schools. 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. Use the form below to reset your password. All students, staff and volunteers in county schools will wear masks to begin the school year. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. //