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. 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. You have permission to edit this article. "These absences from school will be excused and students will be permitted to make up all missed work," the letter said. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. We have always tried to be non-political. ", 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.". That's why we try our best to make it easy to live in this beautiful place we call home. You will receive an email to complete the registration. on March 2.Read more about the C.D . Augusta County residents lead busy lives. Photo by Atoms on Unsplash. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. Augusta County residents fill Wilson Memorial High School's auditorium on Wednesdaynight for a school board meeting where transgender policies and a mask mandate were voted on. (844) 698-3261 Free Consultation info@ritchielawfirm.com Case Results The letter continued, we know masking works and applauded children for their efforts in masking in the past school year. In rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variants after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others, she said. In the meantime, there are many ways for you to get vaccinated in our community. Tomorrow marks one week until Columbia County and some Richmond County students start the new year. 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). Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! "Not seeing facial expressions. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. 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. ", 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. 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. The school board sent out a letter on July 22 stating the county did not have the legal authority to reject the state-mandated policies. His first item of focus is the rights of parents. Create one. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. 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. 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. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. While the nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some say its too soon. Story ideas and tips always welcome. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . 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. All rights reserved. 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. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School . 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. Columbia County schools decided to make masks optional for students moving forward effective for summer school. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Make masks mandatory!" Aiken Public Safety officers rushed out to where the overflow crowd was gathered because of meeting room capacity restrictions, and the . 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 school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. 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. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. Log in to join the discussion. 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. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. The Allegan County Health Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade. AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. They have thrived and remained healthy.. 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 . 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. 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. Augusta County Public Schools. I want to work with every one of you. May 19, 2021. School Board members made the decision Thursday . You are muzzling our children. But the Virginia Department of Health is not making any masking decisions yet. 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. 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. With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. 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.". Heres why. 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. Editor. 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. Administrators say theyre hearing the same from other parents. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. "We'll revisit it. 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. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Dr. Flynt tells us plans are dependent on cases staying low and the mask policy . 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. Designed and sold by artists. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. 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. Do you all understand that? McClintock said they hope to get the cameras within the next month. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. 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. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. . Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. 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. Its equal or worse than in December, and our healthcare workers are drowning, said Tara Mahanes. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. 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. Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. Parent Portal Student registration DOCUMENTS PERSONNEL Acceptable use policy STAFF Portal bGMS construction update RMS Construction Update The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. 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 Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally Menu Schools Translate Employment Calendars COVID Info ACPS Podcast Please allow notifications from your school (s). Copyright 2021 WVIR. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 . The district had held. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. "If between now and then things go crazy," Shiflett said. They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. . I was a Title 1 reading teacher and was treated with professionalism and respect. About 20 minutes into the school. 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. List of Augusta County Public Schools. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. 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. All rights reserved. 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. The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. Another potential headache: the CDC is still recommending schools continue to space kids out and keep their desks three feet apart. 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. 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. 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. I feel like everyone should still be wearing masks, vaccinated or not, said Shae Helms, a sophomore at Amherst County High School. Please wait for the page to reload. 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. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Shop the collection. We do not appreciate it. I want to work with you. School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. 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." I believe in Jesus Christ. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. 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. Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting While the nation's top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. Anastasio said its easier at all levels since people move around the district. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. "Arlington Public Schools implemented our mask requirement this school year prior to Gov. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. Get up to 20% off. 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. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. Waynesboro Public Schools followed the VDHs guidance and voted earlier this week to mandate masks for elementary students and staff. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. 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. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. Success. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. Kortney joined the 10 News team as a Lynchburg Bureau Reporter in May 2021. 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. I feel like its the parents decision. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. 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. It was heated at times - like when people called board members cowards for wearing masks and forcing students to wear them. Stay Connected . Columbia County . Masks are still required on buses per federal law. Thank you for visiting the Augusta County, VA. You will be redirected to the destination page below in 0 seconds.

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