Please subscribe or login first for digital access. 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! By Jessica Mallow. The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. All rights reserved. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Heres why. Stay Connected . Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. 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. 5:00 PM Joint Meeting-Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Augusta County . 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. Kortney Lockey, Lynchburg Bureau - Multimedia Journalist. They have thrived and remained healthy.. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. {{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 County Public Schools reported on its dashboard that the week of Jan. 9 it had 236 total cases of COVID, including 209 among students. Otherwise, a 14-day quarantine will be required. 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. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. 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 residents lead busy lives. 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. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. The Augusta Board of Education voted Wednesday night, 5 to 1, to mandate mask wearing. People are also reading Thank you for visiting the Augusta County, VA. You will be redirected to the destination page below in 0 seconds. Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . 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 board voted to confirm that they will abide by the law, but members went on to say they would like to write to Richmond and shake the tree.. Administrators say theyre hearing the same from other parents. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. 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. I feel like its the parents decision. 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. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. 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. I believe in Jesus Christ. Copyright 2021 WVIR. 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. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Dr. Flynt tells us plans are dependent on cases staying low and the mask policy . Success. In the meantime, there are many ways for you to get vaccinated in our community. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Editor. Log in to join the discussion. The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. 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. If you can't find the answer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. Designed and sold by artists. School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. 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. Timothy Simmons will take a seat on the Augusta County School Board in January. The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 on Thursday to make masks optional . If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. 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, Ga. (WJBF) - "It's just not right to have them mandate it," said 8th grader Jonathan Vasquez. Please wait for the page to reload. Create one. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Here are a few of them: Blue Ridge Health District vaccination scheduler, Call the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline 434-972-6261. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. List of Augusta County Public Schools. @NBC29 pic.twitter.com/L8eS6n0bxz. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. The winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . 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. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Its why the news isnt sitting well with him and others. Shop the collection. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ndsTchhICxLNjF_dxI18aRlyWnQfS.IeNB3Ql0MS2hM-1800-0"}; Make masks mandatory! If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. Collins said he worded his motion so it gave a date for going mask optional, but also gave the board its own options. With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended universal masking in schools at every grade level. 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. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. 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. [CDATA[ Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. Im not real sure how well they work to begin with, Dana Worley, her mom, said. As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 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. 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.. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. More: Augusta schools' 1:1 tech rollout under way, benefiting students who have gone without. Story ideas and tips always welcome. 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. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. Don't have a commenting profile? //]]> I hope youre on the same side.. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. Login. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. School Board members made the decision Thursday . "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. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. https://www.augusta.k12.va.us The Allegan County Health Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade. You will receive an email to complete the registration. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. 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. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that made their decision possible. "We have to consider how the mask is affecting them emotionally," Simmons said. Its still a big health problem, she said. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta County students will head to school on Tuesday, August 10 wearing masks. Augusta County Public Schools. I anticipated more discussion before we voted.. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . The week of Jan. 17 there were 171 cases. You have permission to edit this article. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. Glenn Youngkin's executive order on masks in schools. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! We reached out to school leaders all over the region. 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. 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. It was heated at times - like when people called board members cowards for wearing masks and forcing students to wear them. Northam's K-12 mask mandate, and we will continue to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety . Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning, Valley Career & Technical Center49 Hornet RoadFishersville, VA 22939Phone: (540) 245-5002Fax: (540) 885-0407info@valleytech.us. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. The speakers who opposed the policies voiced concerns about safety issues, parental and privacy rights, and religious freedom. on. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. The division also said that. While the nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some say its too soon. The biggest questions will be at middle schools, where some students can get the shot and others cant. Over the summer, our children have been maskless, Welcher said. Columbia County schools decided to make masks optional for students moving forward effective for summer school. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. 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. 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. Do you all understand that? 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. 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.". The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. More. "We'll revisit it. 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 district had held. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. Your cooperation with this change is expectedand appreciated. 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. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. Timothy Simmons, who represents the Pastures District, said he is in favor of making masks optional. 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. Augusta County Schools will become mask-optional in three weeks. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. 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. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. Hope everyone is doing well. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. Now. Verify your phone numbers and contact preferences are correct in Campus Parent > User > Settings > Contact Preferences.
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