But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. But the Virginia Department of Health is not making any masking decisions yet. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. How to order free testing kits from the government. Sign up for breaking news alerts. 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 are excited to begin the school year but have some updates and reminders to help prepare our students as they return next week. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. 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. Some people asked what the penalty is for not wearing a mask and the board said they do not have an exact answer at this time. "We'll revisit it. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. ", 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). Masks have been and continue to be required on all Georgia school buses. "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. To be considered for employment, you must provide the following: A completed online application Transcripts or high school diploma (if required for the position for which you are applying). All rights reserved. They have thrived and remained healthy.. 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. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. New CDC guidance says some counties in our viewing area meet the threshold to put those face coverings back on. There is [sic] three reasons why COVID cases are going up. Need a COVID-19 test? 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. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. 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. Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. Login. Some in Augusta County oppose school mask mandates as COVID-19 cases surge. 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. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. Its why the news isnt sitting well with him and others. 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 CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. Enter your email and password to access comments. All rights reserved. Heres why. We do not appreciate it. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta County students will head to school on Tuesday, August 10 wearing masks. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. 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 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. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. At their meeting. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. Don't have a commenting profile? With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. Use the form below to reset your password. 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. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. Over the summer, our children have been maskless, Welcher said. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Board Chairperson Amanda Olson told McCormick there had been more of a discussion for the mask mandate at a board workshop a couple of weeks earlier, which McCormick did not attend. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". The Allegan County Health Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade. More: Augusta schools' 1:1 tech rollout under way, benefiting students who have gone without. 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. Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. MORE | Threat puts Thomson High School put on. Story ideas and tips always welcome. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. 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. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. 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. The Augusta Board of Education voted. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday night. We got to show some force or whatever you need to do to show those people down there to understand that we need to be allowed to make the decision that best suits our kids because we deal with our kids, we deal with the parents, board member Tim Swortzel said. People are also reading 'Cousin Eddie' display from 'Christmas Vacation' leads to Kentucky police response Riverheads High School 19 Howardsville Road Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 337-1921 Fax: (540) 337-0258. The winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . 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. 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 . 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.. 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. 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. 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. 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. If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. Between Jan. 4 and 18, Georgia reported over 200,000 new cases, and the map had turned a dark burgundy. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. "Not seeing facial expressions. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. I believe in Jesus Christ. 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.. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. School Board members made the decision Thursday . The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. McClintock said they hope to get the cameras within the next month. Mask Policy AMI Dates; Augusta School District: Full mask requirement: McCrory School District: My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. 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. I hope youre on the same side.. 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. Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. The availability of onsite testing will be of particular help since testing appointments at area providers have been backed up and there are shortages of at-home, rapid tests available for purchase. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. 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. Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. 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. Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. 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. Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) More. 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. The opportunity to grow professionally is evident there. 0:57. Do you all understand that? 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. 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. 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. The speakers who opposed the policies voiced concerns about safety issues, parental and privacy rights, and religious freedom. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. 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. 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. Please wait for the page to reload. Photo by Atoms on Unsplash. 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. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Otherwise, a 14-day quarantine will be required. "We have to consider how the mask is affecting them emotionally," Simmons said. 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! About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. His first item of focus is the rights of parents.

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