My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Login. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. (844) 698-3261 Free Consultation info@ritchielawfirm.com Case Results That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ndsTchhICxLNjF_dxI18aRlyWnQfS.IeNB3Ql0MS2hM-1800-0"}; 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. Otherwise, a 14-day quarantine will be required. 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. 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. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a child-friendly fit. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. 1:30 PM Community Policy Management Team. "These absences from school will be excused and students will be permitted to make up all missed work," the letter said. About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. Regardless of vaccination status, the Augusta Public Schools will require masks for people entering its buildings next school year. McCormick said she wished the discussion about masking would have been at the business meeting instead. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Allegan Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 TBD; 9-12 optional | Details. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. 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. 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. Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) Enter your email and password to access comments. Hope everyone is doing well. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Send us your news tip here. See Offers. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. 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 . Tomorrow marks one week until Columbia County and some Richmond County students start the new year. 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. New CDC guidance says some counties in our viewing area meet the threshold to put those face coverings back on. 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. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Now. 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. Already registered? 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. 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. Timothy Simmons will take a seat on the Augusta County School Board in January. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. Anastasio said its easier at all levels since people move around the district. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. 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. 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. Augusta County residents lead busy lives. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. The district had held. School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. Create one. That's why we try our best to make it easy to live in this beautiful place we call home. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. Dr. Flynt tells us plans are dependent on cases staying low and the mask policy . 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. Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. ", 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.". Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Many have since returned to school, but the virus continues to spread. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. All rights reserved. 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.. More:A month since Rosenberg was forced out, Staunton City Council hasn't secured search firm, More:Staunton man pleads guilty to a string of burglaries, gets nearly 10 years in prison. Below you will find several links to helpful resources for our residents. I feel like everyone should still be wearing masks, vaccinated or not, said Shae Helms, a sophomore at Amherst County High School. The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. She asked if it was considered by administration to have a mask mandate for the younger students and recommended for the older students. Fennville Public . 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. The Augusta Board of Education voted Wednesday night, 5 to 1, to mandate mask wearing. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. All rights reserved. AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta County students will head to school on Tuesday, August 10 wearing masks. Sign in or Subscribe Via has three kids in Augusta County Public Schools and only one of them is old enough to get the shot. Designed and sold by artists. 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. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. 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. The division also said that. Columbia County schools decided to make masks optional for students moving forward effective for summer school. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. The school district will not have to pay for them so long as theysign an agreement to keep the cameras up for five years. School boards are required by state law to enact the policies for the 2021-22. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . Kortney joined the 10 News team as a Lynchburg Bureau Reporter in May 2021. ", 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). 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. With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. 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. Copyright 2021 WVIR. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . 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." Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. 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. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . 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. There were no specific numbersgiven as far as the number of COVID cases that would make the board consider extending the mandatory mask policy, only a very broad explanation by the board's chair. More. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy. 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. You are muzzling our children. The week of Jan. 17 there were 171 cases. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108, Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. Anastasio also said the DOE will require schools to report teacher vaccination status, which will be done anonymously and through a survey. Learn More You are now exiting the Augusta County, VA. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. 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. 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. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday night. 2023 www.newsleader.com. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. 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. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. Get up to 20% off. 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. So far this week the school division has reported 85 casesdespite studentsbeing out all week because of a holiday and snow. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. 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. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. You have permission to edit this article. 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. I think they should still be wearing masks for their safety and everyone elses, said Will Via, a dad from Verona. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. The biggest questions will be at middle schools, where some students can get the shot and others cant. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 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.. About 50 people attended the Augusta. "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.
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