", 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. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Augusta County Public Schools | Augusta County, VA . Between Dec. 4 and 18, Georgia reported just under 20,000new cases, and most of the state's map was a light-yellow. The Augusta Board of Education voted. 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. School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Contact Patrick (he/him/his) [email protected] follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. That guidance comes as cases are rising virtually everywhere across the country -- including in the Charlottesville area. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". 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. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. 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. At their meeting. See Offers. Regardless of vaccination status, the Augusta Public Schools will require masks for people entering its buildings next school year. 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. Albemarle County, Charlottesville bucking Youngkin on school mask policies Northam's K-12 mask mandate, and we will continue to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety . Riverheads High School | Home - Augusta County Public Schools He shared the letter from the pediatricians at the board meeting. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. McCormick said she wished the discussion about masking would have been at the business meeting instead. Riverheads High School 19 Howardsville Road Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 337-1921 Fax: (540) 337-0258. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Board member John Ward said they do not want to expose faculty to liability and said hopefully they will see low numbers throughout the start of the school year. There was a problem saving your notification. The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 on Thursday to make masks optional . The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. Latest trends. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Its equal or worse than in December, and our healthcare workers are drowning, said Tara Mahanes. Augusta County Schools will become mask-optional in three weeks. "If between now and then things go crazy," Shiflett said. Send us your news tip here. I feel like everyone should still be wearing masks, vaccinated or not, said Shae Helms, a sophomore at Amherst County High School. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. Use the form below to reset your password. Charleston County schools to require masks; senators want session on 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. 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. Augusta County Public Schools. Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. 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. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Augusta County follows Staunton, Waynesboro on masks in schools 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 . I want to work with you. 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. Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. 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. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. Augusta County Schools to make masks optional on Valentine's Day, with Important VCTC Update - Mask Policy | Valley Career & Technical Center 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. Still, theres no doubt this will make for some challenging school environments. All students, staff and volunteers in county schools will wear masks to begin the school year. Youngkin, Psaki respond to Northern Va. school systems' announcements Columbia County . Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . on. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. We have always tried to be non-political. 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. May 19, 2021. I believe in Jesus Christ. Her motion died for lack of a second. More. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. Heres why. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. 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. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. 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. //Augusta County Schools Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com 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. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. I think they should still be wearing masks for their safety and everyone elses, said Will Via, a dad from Verona. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. 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. Im not real sure how well they work to begin with, Dana Worley, her mom, said. //]]> Copyright 2021 WHSV. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. Learn more. 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. "Not seeing facial expressions. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It may be time for some of us in Central Virginia to mask back up. Do you all understand that? The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. 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. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . Wayne District representative Tim Swortzel made the motion to make face-coverings optional and North River representative Nicholas Collins seconded. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. 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. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Need a COVID-19 test? You have permission to edit this article. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Do you have a story idea? 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. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. 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. If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. The biggest questions will be at middle schools, where some students can get the shot and others cant. 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. Augusta County joins other Valley schools masking up - WHSV Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Enter your email and password to access comments. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) [email protected] follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Augusta County School Board's refusal to enact state policy - WHSV The district had held. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". Augusta County Schools, VA 4+ - App Store As we learn more, I am comfortable with yes. The Augusta Board of Education voted Wednesday night, 5 to 1, to mandate mask wearing. The Virginia Department of Health reported 113 new COVID cases in Augusta County Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 4. I want to work with every one of you. Charleston County schools fall in line with SC law. Masks will be 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. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. "We'll revisit it. All rights reserved. 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). AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. We fear if we dont have universal masking, the letter stated, there will be outbreaks warranting school closure..