However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. 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. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. Copyright 2021 WHSV. Many have since returned to school, but the virus continues to spread. 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. While the nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some say its too soon. 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. 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. "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. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. There was a problem saving your notification. Augusta County residents lead busy lives. 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. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. 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. VERONA Augusta County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks for students and staff at least three more weeks. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. 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. 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. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The school district will not have to pay for them so long as theysign an agreement to keep the cameras up for five years. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. All rights reserved. "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". 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. The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108, Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally. 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. 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. 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. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. All rights reserved. Athletics DirectorScott McClintock reported that the Georgia High School Association is providing every high school with two automated cameras that will live-stream games online. Parent Portal Student registration DOCUMENTS PERSONNEL Acceptable use policy STAFF Portal bGMS construction update RMS Construction Update 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. 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. "We have to consider how the mask is affecting them emotionally," Simmons said. 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. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. 2022, 12:02 p.m. Paula Gentile helps out as a substitute in Tana Spelman's class at Bishop Elementary in Augusta . The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. 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. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. 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. 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. Augusta County Schools will become mask-optional in three weeks. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. You are muzzling our children. 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. 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). Best for a great weekend. All rights reserved. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta County students will head to school on Tuesday, August 10 wearing masks. McCormick said she wished the discussion about masking would have been at the business meeting instead. Enter your email and password to access comments. I feel like its the parents decision. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - "It's just not right to have them mandate it," said 8th grader Jonathan Vasquez. Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. Make masks mandatory!" Aiken Public Safety officers rushed out to where the overflow crowd was gathered because of meeting room capacity restrictions, and the . Shop the collection. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Otherwise, a 14-day quarantine will be required. 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. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. His first item of focus is the rights of parents. If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. Timothy Simmons will take a seat on the Augusta County School Board in January. About 50 people attended the Augusta. The speakers who opposed the policies voiced concerns about safety issues, parental and privacy rights, and religious freedom. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday night. . Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. 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. The Augusta Board of Education voted. Story ideas and tips always welcome. 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. Northam's K-12 mask mandate, and we will continue to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety . Use the form below to reset your password. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . 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. Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 7:43 PM PST. People are also reading 'Cousin Eddie' display from 'Christmas Vacation' leads to Kentucky police response School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County. Log in to join the discussion. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The rise in COVID cases is also a concern for our local school districts. Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. 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. 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.". 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. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. You have permission to edit this article. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. 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. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. 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. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Masks have been and continue to be required on all Georgia school buses. 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. "These absences from school will be excused and students will be permitted to make up all missed work," the letter said. 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. Sign in or Subscribe Do you have a story idea? 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.. Regardless of vaccination status, the Augusta Public Schools will require masks for people entering its buildings next school year. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. In rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variants after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others, she said. Aiken County Public Schools spokesperson Mike Rosier said via email that they will not be mandating masks, citing a memo from South Carolina Superintendent Molly Spearman saying the General Assembly's Proviso 1.108 in the 2021-22 Appropriations Bill prohibits any school district from requiring students or staff to wear a mask. Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. School boards are required by state law to enact the policies for the 2021-22. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - The Augusta County School Board voted unanimously Thursday night not to adopt model policies for the treatment of transgender students put forth by the. ", 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. Anastasio said its easier at all levels since people move around the district. Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. on. While Aiken County has lifted mandatory mask mandates inside its schools, Richmond County says for now it won't be changing any of its mask or social distancing guidelines. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Bond's letter did say that parents who choose to keep their children home for the full 10-day quarantine period can do so. Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. It was heated at times - like when people called board members cowards for wearing masks and forcing students to wear them. "Personally, I would like to see the masks gone," Chairperson David Shiflett said, "but now I dont think is the time.. Based on current conditions, this is what we need to do to make that happen. 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. The school division will also follow the CDCs shortened timeline for those who have toisolateorquarantine. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. Augusta County Public Schools is the organization that operates the public school system in Augusta County, Virginia. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. 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. Augusta County School Boards motion on Wednesday includes flexibility to alter its plans if case numbers change. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. 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. Heres why. Over the summer, our children have been maskless, Welcher said. While the nation's top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. 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. However, counties around the state had already rejected the policies, and lawsuits appear to show funding is not in jeopardy for localities that voted no, according to a report from the Courthouse News Service. Augusta County Public Schools. Columbia County schools decided to make masks optional for students moving forward effective for summer school. Send us your news tip here. By Jessica Mallow. I want to work with every one of you. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. To date, they have distributed 20,230 devices. The Virginia Department of Health reported 113 new COVID cases in Augusta County Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 4. Wayne District representative Tim Swortzel made the motion to make face-coverings optional and North River representative Nicholas Collins seconded. Here are a few of them: Blue Ridge Health District vaccination scheduler, Call the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline 434-972-6261. We fear if we dont have universal masking, the letter stated, there will be outbreaks warranting school closure.. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! 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! ", Staunton and Waynesboro, in their announcements, mentioned SB1303, which requireseach school board in Virginia to provide the in-person instruction "in a manner in which it adheres, to the maximum extent practicable, to any currently applicable mitigation strategies for early childhood care and education programs and elementary and secondary schools to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that have been provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. 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. Between Jan. 4 and 18, Georgia reported over 200,000 new cases, and the map had turned a dark burgundy. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. They have thrived and remained healthy.. The opportunity to grow professionally is evident there. 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. A. R. Ware Elem 330 Grubert Avenue Staunton, VA. Augusta Corr Center 1821 Estaline Valley Road Craigsville, VA. Berkeley Glenn Elem 1020 Jefferson Avenue Waynesboro, VA. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendation., RELATED: New CDC guidelines call for masks in schools K-12. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay.