Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. You are muzzling our children. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. School boards are required by state law to enact the policies for the 2021-22. Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, At-home COVID test website launches early. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. //]]> Shop the collection. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday night. Under the protocol,masks arerequired for allstudents, staff andvisitors to all school districtfacilities and onbuses,regardless of vaccination status. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. By Jessica Mallow. His first item of focus is the rights of parents. All rights reserved. She asked if it was considered by administration to have a mask mandate for the younger students and recommended for the older students. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. 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. I think they should still be wearing masks for their safety and everyone elses, said Will Via, a dad from Verona. 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. Augusta County Public Schools18 Government Center LaneVerona, VA 24482Phone: 540-245-5100Fax: 540-245-5115. Administrators say theyre hearing the same from other parents. The letter continued, we know masking works and applauded children for their efforts in masking in the past school year. . 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. McClintock said they hope to get the cameras within the next month. Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. He said "lots of parents" had reached out to him saying masks had created emotional damage for their children. Success. on March 2.Read more about the C.D . 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. 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. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. "We'll revisit it. We are excited to begin the school year but have some updates and reminders to help prepare our students as they return next week. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. 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.". 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.. Mask Policy AMI Dates; Augusta School District: Full mask requirement: McCrory School District: Certification or licensure (if required for the position for which you are applying) 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. 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. I feel like its the parents decision. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. 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. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. 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. 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . 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 winners of the 2015 races in the Beverly Manor, Pastures and Middle River Districts served . My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. There was a problem saving your notification. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. New CDC guidance says some counties in our viewing area meet the threshold to put those face coverings back on. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that made their decision possible. Collins said he worded his motion so it gave a date for going mask optional, but also gave the board its own options. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. "Personally, I would like to see the masks gone," Chairperson David Shiflett said, "but now I dont think is the time.. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Between Jan. 4 and 18, Georgia reported over 200,000 new cases, and the map had turned a dark burgundy. 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. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". Don't have a commenting profile? You have permission to edit this article. May 19, 2021. 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. Verify your phone numbers and contact preferences are correct in Campus Parent > User > Settings > Contact Preferences. 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. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. Do you have a story idea? Northam's K-12 mask mandate, and we will continue to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety . Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Bond's letter did say that parents who choose to keep their children home for the full 10-day quarantine period can do so. Already registered? AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 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. We have always tried to be non-political. 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. 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. Many have since returned to school, but the virus continues to spread. The delta variant is so very contagious it appears to cause high viral loads even in vaccinated people who become infected.. Make masks mandatory! (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Columbia County . If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. Send us your news tip here. Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. 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. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. The goal is to be finished by Jan.31. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . 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. 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! People spoke for and against requiring students to wear masks this fall, as the school board previously stated masks would be optional. All rights reserved. Photo by Atoms on Unsplash. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School . Do you all understand that? Augusta County Public Schools is the organization that operates the public school system in Augusta County, Virginia. 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. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. 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 . But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. Sign in or Subscribe 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. The school district will not have to pay for them so long as theysign an agreement to keep the cameras up for five years. All rights reserved. @NBC29 pic.twitter.com/L8eS6n0bxz. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. (844) 698-3261 Free Consultation info@ritchielawfirm.com Case Results 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. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. 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. Learn more. More: Augusta schools' 1:1 tech rollout under way, benefiting students who have gone without. About 20 minutes into the school. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. //