Masks requirements for GA county schools | WJBF Under the protocol, masks are required for all students, staff and visitors to all school district facilities and on buses, regardless of vaccination status. About 50 people attended the Augusta. 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. Columbia County schools make face masks optional moving forward - WRDW 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. About 20 minutes into the school. Augusta County residents lead busy lives. Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. 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. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. In the meantime, there are many ways for you to get vaccinated in our community. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. Pediatric death is rare, but not zero, so its our responsibility to protect all children. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. 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. Login. School districts in southwest, central Virginia address COVID mask policies Augusta school board reaffirms mask mandate, plans COVID-19 testing Mask Mandate Rescinded In Columbia County Schools - The Augusta Press But the Virginia Department of Health is not making any masking decisions yet. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. 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. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County School Board votes against VDoE transgender model policies There is [sic] three reasons why COVID cases are going up. 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. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . How many Columbia County students are following mask rules? - WRDW Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. 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. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. Some in Augusta County oppose faculty masks mandates as COVID-19 Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. I was a Title 1 reading teacher and was treated with professionalism and respect. They have thrived and remained healthy.. 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. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. We have always tried to be non-political. 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. May 19, 2021. 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. 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.. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. Augusta-area governments weigh response to revised CDC mask guidelines Augusta County, VA | Home Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. 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. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. 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. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. 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. Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. Augusta County follows Staunton, Waynesboro on masks in schools Already have a commenting profile? To get one, go to the subscriptions page. 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. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. 1:30 PM Community Policy Management Team. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Please subscribe or login first for digital access. 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. McCormick said she wished the discussion about masking would have been at the business meeting instead. Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. 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. 0:57. Anastasio said its easier at all levels since people move around the district. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. Wayne District representative Tim Swortzel made the motion to make face-coverings optional and North River representative Nicholas Collins seconded. 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." Shop the collection. All rights reserved. Log in to join the discussion. You have permission to edit this article. Aiken County Schools eliminate mask mandate | WJBF Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. 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. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. Working at AUGUSTA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 22 Reviews - Indeed New CDC re-masking guidelines say several Central Virginia - NBC12 Timothy Simmons will take a seat on the Augusta County School Board in January. Charleston County schools fall in line with SC law. Masks will be 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. 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. Glenn Youngkin's executive order on masks in schools. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. . Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-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. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall - NBC29 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. Learn more. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Between Dec. 4 and 18, Georgia reported just under 20,000new cases, and most of the state's map was a light-yellow. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Riverheads High School 19 Howardsville Road Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 337-1921 Fax: (540) 337-0258. "We'll revisit it. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. Augusta County School Board votes against transgender policies Another potential headache: the CDC is still recommending schools continue to space kids out and keep their desks three feet apart. Send us your news tip here. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. Some in Augusta County oppose school mask mandates as COVID-19 - WHSV Bond's letter did say that parents who choose to keep their children home for the full 10-day quarantine period can do so. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting Her motion died for lack of a second. Some in Augusta County oppose school mask mandates as COVID-19 - NBC29 Richmond County schools dropping mask mandate in buildings - WRDW Augusta County Public Schools | Augusta County, VA Augusta County Schools to make masks optional on Valentine's Day, with 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. We are excited to begin the school year but have some updates and reminders to help prepare our students as they return next week. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. Youngkin, Psaki respond to Northern Va. school systems' announcements 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. How to order free testing kits from the government. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. All rights reserved. 2023 www.newsleader.com. You can cancel at any time. Afterward, the public spoke and most of the comments were about masks in school. 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! Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. He said "lots of parents" had reached out to him saying masks had created emotional damage for their children. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. 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 superintendent also reminded families that student assessments, such as Georgia Milestones, will count toward student promotion. Augusta County Schools Kids Masks for Sale | Redbubble 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. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. The school district will not have to pay for them so long as theysign an agreement to keep the cameras up for five years. I feel like its the parents decision. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. My recommendation to follow recommendation of the CDC is on the basis of following those who are more knowledgeable than I am regarding information on the pandemic.. Enter your email and password to access comments. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Regardless of vaccination status, the Augusta Public Schools will require masks for people entering its buildings next school year. While the nation's top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some. Kortney joined the 10 News team as a Lynchburg Bureau Reporter in May 2021. Sign in or Subscribe The winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . Augusta County, VA Decision on Masking Goes Against Science & Data Via has three kids in Augusta County Public Schools and only one of them is old enough to get the shot. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. 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. . Residents | Augusta County, VA Augusta County Virginia schools quickly go mask optional for all The opportunity to grow professionally is evident there. In rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variants after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others, she said. Do you have a story idea? About 50 people attended the Augusta County School . To date, they have distributed 20,230 devices. 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. 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. Get up to 20% off. 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. Copyright 2021 WVIR. Under the protocol,masks arerequired for allstudents, staff andvisitors to all school districtfacilities and onbuses,regardless of vaccination status. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. Allegan Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 TBD; 9-12 optional | Details. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. Harrisonburg man charged with crimes connected to Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. I hope youre on the same side.. 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. McDuffie County schools mandate masks; surge hits hospitals hard - WRDW The Allegan County Health Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade. Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, At-home COVID test website launches early. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. Kortney Lockey, Lynchburg Bureau - Multimedia Journalist. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. Editor. 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. 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. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. "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. Latest trends. The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. See Offers. Here are a few of them: Blue Ridge Health District vaccination scheduler, Call the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline 434-972-6261. The district had held. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Anastasio also said the DOE will require schools to report teacher vaccination status, which will be done anonymously and through a survey. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. 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. Charleston County schools to require masks; senators want session on 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. The letter continued, we know masking works and applauded children for their efforts in masking in the past school year. 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. 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. Over the summer, our children have been maskless, Welcher said. 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.
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