Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. 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. //]]> We reached out to school leaders all over the region. The Augusta Public Schools will have in-person learning, five days a week. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. There was a problem saving your notification. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. 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). We have always tried to be non-political. 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.. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that made their decision possible. He shared the letter from the pediatricians at the board meeting. Glenn Youngkin's executive order making masks optional or "any changing negative trends related to our local area health concerns.". Kortney Lockey, Lynchburg Bureau - Multimedia Journalist. Your cooperation with this change is expectedand appreciated. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. McCormick said she wished the discussion about masking would have been at the business meeting instead. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. 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. 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. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. 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. 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. Learn more. 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. Fennville Public . Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. 13 Virginia tops Clemson, snaps losing streak and clinches ACC tournament double-bye, On 'emotional' day, female wrestlers finally get to compete for their own Virginia state title, Former Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland dies after battling Alzheimer's, Buffalo Gap girls basketball team knocks off Rappahannock to reach semis, Augusta County School Board votes against transgender policies, Alaskas Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, Dogs, mushers prep for Iditarod as PETA accuses racers of animal abuse, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else. All rights reserved. Between Dec. 4 and 18, Georgia reported just under 20,000new cases, and most of the state's map was a light-yellow. VERONA Augusta County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks for students and staff at least three more weeks. The Augusta Board of Education voted. nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask. You have permission to edit this article. The division also said that. The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . The main issue was the recent Commonwealth decision that all schools needed to have a non-discrimination policy in place in regards to transgender students. Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. Still, theres no doubt this will make for some challenging school environments. Sign in or Subscribe Already have a commenting profile? I feel like its the parents decision. 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. People are also reading 'Cousin Eddie' display from 'Christmas Vacation' leads to Kentucky police response Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. Bond's letter did say that parents who choose to keep their children home for the full 10-day quarantine period can do so. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. Its still a big health problem, she 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. Under the protocol,masks arerequired for allstudents, staff andvisitors to all school districtfacilities and onbuses,regardless of vaccination status. Her motion died for lack of a second. @NBC29 pic.twitter.com/L8eS6n0bxz. Do you all understand that? With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. 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. 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. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . 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.. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. Anastasio said the big three in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in schools are universal masking, vaccination when possible and pool testing, which Augusta agreed to take part in at the end of the last school year. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. "Arlington Public Schools implemented our mask requirement this school year prior to Gov. We do not appreciate it. 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. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - "It's just not right to have them mandate it," said 8th grader Jonathan Vasquez. The developer, Augusta County Public Schools, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. 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. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. All students, staff and volunteers in county schools will wear masks to begin the school year. I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. 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. . About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. 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. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. "Not seeing facial expressions. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. 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. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. People spoke for and against requiring students to wear masks this fall, as the school board previously stated masks would be optional. Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. 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. He said "lots of parents" had reached out to him saying masks had created emotional damage for their children. The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. The superintendent also reminded families that student assessments, such as Georgia Milestones, will count toward student promotion. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. Heres why. "These absences from school will be excused and students will be permitted to make up all missed work," the letter said. ", 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. 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.". "Personally, I would like to see the masks gone," Chairperson David Shiflett said, "but now I dont think is the time.. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. VERONA Officials with Augusta County Public Schools have announced that masks won't be required beginning Monday for students, staff and visitors. Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108, Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally. Regardless of vaccination status, the Augusta Public Schools will require masks for people entering its buildings next school year. I want to work with you. 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. 0:57. 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. Get notified when the ePaper has been delivered (requires subscription), Augusta Public Schools to enforce mask wearing for all students, staff, visitors, Augusta Public School Board pursues pool testing for reducing pandemic requirements. But the Virginia Department of Health is not making any masking decisions yet. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. Hope everyone is doing well. That rose to 206 the following week, but dropped back to 167 the week of Jan. 31. McClintock said they hope to get the cameras within the next month. //