augusta county schools mask policy augusta county schools mask policy

. "Not seeing facial expressions. I feel like its the parents decision. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. Now. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Augusta County Schools will become mask-optional in three weeks. 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. 5:00 PM Joint Meeting-Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Augusta County . You can cancel at any time. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. 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. 1:30 PM Community Policy Management Team. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Kelly F. Troxell Ed.D., Executive Director of Personnel (540) 245-5107, Section 504 Coordinator Douglas W. Shifflett, Jr. Ed.D, Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108. Stay Connected . That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. His first item of focus is the rights of parents. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. The testing will at first be offered to only employees and students (with parents' permission), but the school district is open to possibly expanding it to the rest of the community. 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. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Please subscribe to keep reading. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. All students, staff and volunteers in county schools will wear masks to begin the school year. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. 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. 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. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . If you can't find the answer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. Wayne District representative Tim Swortzel made the motion to make face-coverings optional and North River representative Nicholas Collins seconded. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. I feel like everyone should still be wearing masks, vaccinated or not, said Shae Helms, a sophomore at Amherst County High School. Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. 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. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. Based on current conditions, this is what we need to do to make that happen. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. 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. Login. The Augusta Board of Education voted. Already registered? The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. 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. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. . Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. The district had held. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Augusta County chose to follow Youngkin's executive order, which states in part: Youngkin's order goes into effect Monday, Jan. 24, but Augusta County's School Board wanted to add additional time to see if the current COVID surge in the area will subside. The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. Columbia County . School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. New CDC re-masking guidelines say several Central Virginia areas should bring back masks, Youngkin signs universal license recognition law at Richmond barber shop, National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear, V.D.O.T to conduct lane closures on I-95 north in Henrico, Health Minute: First at-home flu and COVID test authorized. Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. 0:57. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. Thank you for visiting the Augusta County, VA. You will be redirected to the destination page below in 0 seconds. 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. This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendation., RELATED: New CDC guidelines call for masks in schools K-12. Regardless of vaccination status, the Augusta Public Schools will require masks for people entering its buildings next school year. "Arlington Public Schools implemented our mask requirement this school year prior to Gov. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. 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. Send us your news tip here. 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.. About 50 people attended the Augusta. 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 . //]]> It was heated at times - like when people called board members cowards for wearing masks and forcing students to wear them. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. School boards are required by state law to enact the policies for the 2021-22. School Board members made the decision Thursday . You can share 5 more gift articles this month. 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. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Pediatric death is rare, but not zero, so its our responsibility to protect all children. Below you will find several links to helpful resources for our residents. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! Please wait for the page to reload. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. People are also reading 'Cousin Eddie' display from 'Christmas Vacation' leads to Kentucky police response 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. Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. 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. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. All rights reserved. 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. ", More: Here's how fast the special use permit process has gone for Houff's Churchville pit, More: Resignation of Staunton City Manager Steve Rosenberg: Councilor Mead's remarks. Already have a commenting profile? Dr. Flynt tells us plans are dependent on cases staying low and the mask policy . Augusta County residents lead busy lives. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! 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. 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. Anastasio also said the DOE will require schools to report teacher vaccination status, which will be done anonymously and through a survey. Under the protocol,masks arerequired for allstudents, staff andvisitors to all school districtfacilities and onbuses,regardless of vaccination status. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. He shared the letter from the pediatricians at the board meeting. You have permission to edit this article. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. Do you have a story idea? Its still a big health problem, she said. Heres why. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended universal masking in schools at every grade level. 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.". Sign in or Subscribe Story ideas and tips always welcome. Collins said he worded his motion so it gave a date for going mask optional, but also gave the board its own options. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 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. I want to work with every one of you. "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. 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. Don't have a commenting profile? That's why we try our best to make it easy to live in this beautiful place we call home. Weve been saying all along students should be in school and shouldnt be tied to masks, said Conservative Parents of Lynchburg Founder Andrew Glover. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Eric Bond. She asked if it was considered by administration to have a mask mandate for the younger students and recommended for the older students. Create one. Its equal or worse than in December, and our healthcare workers are drowning, said Tara Mahanes. Face coverings and masks will be optional at Charleston County schools when students return to their classrooms Aug. 18. Under the protocol, masks are required for all students, staff and visitors to all school district facilities and on buses, regardless of vaccination status. 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. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. I hope youre on the same side.. Photo by Atoms on Unsplash. 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. Some counties within the BRHD qualify for indoor masking, per the CDC guideline.Charlottesville and Albemarle County are not there as of today, but as you can see, the 7-day moving average is going in the wrong direction district-wide. At their meeting. Log in to join the discussion. 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. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. 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 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." He said "lots of parents" had reached out to him saying masks had created emotional damage for their children. Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. 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. He said the Maine Department of Education is strongly recommending school in person, universal masking and following other recommendations such as hand washing and staying home when sick. They have thrived and remained healthy.. 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. About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. 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. We fear if we dont have universal masking, the letter stated, there will be outbreaks warranting school closure.. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. Copyright 2021 WVIR. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting In rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variants after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others, she said. VERONA Augusta County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks for students and staff at least three more weeks. 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. Masks have been and continue to be required on all Georgia school buses. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. McCormick said she wished the discussion about masking would have been at the business meeting instead. Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) Make masks mandatory!" Aiken Public Safety officers rushed out to where the overflow crowd was gathered because of meeting room capacity restrictions, and the . Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a child-friendly fit. {{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. "If between now and then things go crazy," Shiflett said. The opportunity to grow professionally is evident there. 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. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County. Bond's letter did say that parents who choose to keep their children home for the full 10-day quarantine period can do so. 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. Mask Policy AMI Dates; Augusta School District: Full mask requirement: McCrory School District: That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Use the form below to reset your password. More. You are muzzling our children. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. 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. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. The Augusta Board of Education voted Wednesday night, 5 to 1, to mandate mask wearing. 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. 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. North River representative Nick Collins made the motion Thursday, which gives the school board a chance to reevaluate the decision in the coming weeks if there are any legal challenges to Virginia Gov. Parent Portal Student registration DOCUMENTS PERSONNEL Acceptable use policy STAFF Portal bGMS construction update RMS Construction Update Via has three kids in Augusta County Public Schools and only one of them is old enough to get the shot. All rights reserved. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ndsTchhICxLNjF_dxI18aRlyWnQfS.IeNB3Ql0MS2hM-1800-0"}; AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. 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. Get up to 20% off. A. R. Ware Elem 330 Grubert Avenue Staunton, VA. Augusta Corr Center 1821 Estaline Valley Road Craigsville, VA. Berkeley Glenn Elem 1020 Jefferson Avenue Waynesboro, VA. So far this week the school division has reported 85 casesdespite studentsbeing out all week because of a holiday and snow. 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. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Welcher said the number of cases did not show a need for further mask mandates in schools as students return five days a week for in-person instruction. 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. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. 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.