Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. 2023 www.newsleader.com. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. Latest trends. The Augusta Board of Education voted Wednesday night, 5 to 1, to mandate mask wearing. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. 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 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. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. While the nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some say its too soon. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Allegan Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 TBD; 9-12 optional | Details. I hope youre on the same side.. 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. Afterward, the public spoke and most of the comments were about masks in school. Login. The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. Verify your phone numbers and contact preferences are correct in Campus Parent > User > Settings > Contact Preferences. 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. Under the protocol, masks are required for all students, staff and visitors to all school district facilities and on buses, regardless of vaccination status. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. She asked if it was considered by administration to have a mask mandate for the younger students and recommended for the older students. Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) 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. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. We are excited to begin the school year but have some updates and reminders to help prepare our students as they return next week. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. 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. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. About 50 people attended the Augusta. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. [CDATA[ nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask. The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Eric Bond. All rights reserved. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. "Arlington Public Schools implemented our mask requirement this school year prior to Gov. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. ", 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). . 5:00 PM Joint Meeting-Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Augusta County . The Virginia Department of Health reported 113 new COVID cases in Augusta County Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 4. Heres why. 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. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. 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. Stay Connected . The biggest questions will be at middle schools, where some students can get the shot and others cant. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. All rights reserved. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Get up to 20% off. The winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. How to order free testing kits from the government. Still, theres no doubt this will make for some challenging school environments. 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.. 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. They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. 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. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. That's why we try our best to make it easy to live in this beautiful place we call home. Administrators say theyre hearing the same from other parents. 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. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. 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. Send us your news tip here. By Jessica Mallow. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. Anastasio also said the DOE will require schools to report teacher vaccination status, which will be done anonymously and through a survey. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. 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. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting Already have a commenting profile? The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. 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. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. 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. 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.". Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. Many have since returned to school, but the virus continues to spread. 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. Glenn Youngkin's executive order making masks optional or "any changing negative trends related to our local area health concerns.". 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". The general election was held on November 3, 2015. 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. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. ", 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.". The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. 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. About 20 minutes into the school. Fennville Public . While the nation's top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some. Copyright 2021 WHSV. 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. 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. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. 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. Augusta County Public Schools. 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. 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. Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning, Valley Career & Technical Center49 Hornet RoadFishersville, VA 22939Phone: (540) 245-5002Fax: (540) 885-0407info@valleytech.us. Another potential headache: the CDC is still recommending schools continue to space kids out and keep their desks three feet apart. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ndsTchhICxLNjF_dxI18aRlyWnQfS.IeNB3Ql0MS2hM-1800-0"}; In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. You are muzzling our children. Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that made their decision possible. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. Copyright 2021 WVIR. Sign in or Subscribe 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. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Already registered? The Augusta Board of Education voted. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. //