Copyright 2021 WVIR. Kortney joined the 10 News team as a Lynchburg Bureau Reporter in May 2021. See Offers. 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. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. Weve been saying all along students should be in school and shouldnt be tied to masks, said Conservative Parents of Lynchburg Founder Andrew Glover. They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - "It's just not right to have them mandate it," said 8th grader Jonathan Vasquez. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. Editor. 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. //]]> 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. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. 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. 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. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting Its still a big health problem, she said. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. The Augusta Board of Education voted. The Virginia Department of Health reported 113 new COVID cases in Augusta County Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 4. It was heated at times - like when people called board members cowards for wearing masks and forcing students to wear them. We do not appreciate it. Its why the news isnt sitting well with him and others. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. While the nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some say its too soon. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. 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. 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 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. But the Virginia Department of Health is not making any masking decisions yet. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". We have always tried to be non-political. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. All rights reserved. May 19, 2021. All rights reserved. I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. 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. Otherwise, a 14-day quarantine will be required. Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. All rights reserved. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. on March 2.Read more about the C.D . Between Jan. 4 and 18, Georgia reported over 200,000 new cases, and the map had turned a dark burgundy. You have permission to edit this article. Tomorrow marks one week until Columbia County and some Richmond County students start the new year. 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. 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. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. 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 dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. 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. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. 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. ", 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). 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. Augusta County Public Schools18 Government Center LaneVerona, VA 24482Phone: 540-245-5100Fax: 540-245-5115. 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. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. I believe in Jesus Christ. Sign in or Subscribe Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . 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 delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that made their decision possible. "We have to consider how the mask is affecting them emotionally," Simmons said. Augusta County Public 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. All students, staff and volunteers in county schools will wear masks to begin the school year. However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. ", 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 registered? 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. He shared the letter from the pediatricians at the board meeting. 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. 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. Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School . Her motion died for lack of a second. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. The district had held. nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask. (844) 698-3261 Free Consultation info@ritchielawfirm.com Case Results People are also reading Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Masks are still required on buses per federal law. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . Learn More You are now exiting the Augusta County, VA. 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." Need a COVID-19 test? 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. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 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. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. The division also said that. Augusta County Schools will become mask-optional in three weeks. 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. Latest trends. The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. 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. A child whose parent has elected that he or she is not subject to a mask mandate should not be required to wear a mask under any policy implemented by a teacher, school, school district, the Department of Educationor any other state authority. Story ideas and tips always welcome. By Jessica Mallow. 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. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. "Not seeing facial expressions. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. 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. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. People are also reading 'Cousin Eddie' display from 'Christmas Vacation' leads to Kentucky police response Under the protocol,masks arerequired for allstudents, staff andvisitors to all school districtfacilities and onbuses,regardless of vaccination status. Schools, including in Waynesboro and Augusta County, have the freedom to "implement local mask policies." Waynesboro school board members will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Waynesboro High School and are expected to tackle the state's guidelines when discussing the city's reopening plan. Timothy Simmons, who represents the Pastures District, said he is in favor of making masks optional. Parent Portal Student registration DOCUMENTS PERSONNEL Acceptable use policy STAFF Portal bGMS construction update RMS Construction Update 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. Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. "Arlington Public Schools implemented our mask requirement this school year prior to Gov. All rights reserved. Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. All rights reserved. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a child-friendly fit. 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. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. 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. Verify your phone numbers and contact preferences are correct in Campus Parent > User > Settings > Contact Preferences. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". At their meeting. The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. 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.. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Face coverings and masks will be optional at Charleston County schools when students return to their classrooms Aug. 18. I want to work with you. 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. "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. 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. 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. Hope everyone is doing well. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. Im not real sure how well they work to begin with, Dana Worley, her mom, said. More: Augusta schools' 1:1 tech rollout under way, benefiting students who have gone without. The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. You are muzzling our children. Use the form below to reset your password. 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 Public Schools reported on its dashboard that the week of Jan. 9 it had 236 total cases of COVID, including 209 among students. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Photo by Atoms on Unsplash. In rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variants after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others, she said. 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. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. I anticipated more discussion before we voted.. 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. McClintock said they hope to get the cameras within the next month. Waynesboro Public Schools followed the VDHs guidance and voted earlier this week to mandate masks for elementary students and staff. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. She asked if it was considered by administration to have a mask mandate for the younger students and recommended for the older students. 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. 0:57. . New CDC guidance says some counties in our viewing area meet the threshold to put those face coverings back on. While the nation's top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some. 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. Over the summer, our children have been maskless, Welcher said. Augusta County Public Schools is the organization that operates the public school system in Augusta County, Virginia. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. Make masks mandatory! This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendation., RELATED: New CDC guidelines call for masks in schools K-12. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. Wayne District representative Tim Swortzel made the motion to make face-coverings optional and North River representative Nicholas Collins seconded. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. Timothy Simmons will take a seat on the Augusta County School Board in January. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - With the latest surge in COVID cases easing, the Richmond County School System is dropping its mask mandate on campuses starting Tuesday. 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. 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. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . 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. Your cooperation with this change is expectedand appreciated. 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.. The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 on Thursday to make masks optional . School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County. 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.