AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. He shared the letter from the pediatricians at the board meeting. https://www.augusta.k12.va.us The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. 1:30 PM Community Policy Management Team. Augusta County Schools, VA 4+ - App Store //]]> There is [sic] three reasons why COVID cases are going up. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ndsTchhICxLNjF_dxI18aRlyWnQfS.IeNB3Ql0MS2hM-1800-0"}; As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. Human Resources - Richmond County School System 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. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. We are excited to begin the school year but have some updates and reminders to help prepare our students as they return next week. Students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. We fear if we dont have universal masking, the letter stated, there will be outbreaks warranting school closure.. 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. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! 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. Mask Mandate Rescinded In Columbia County Schools - The Augusta Press Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. You can cancel at any time. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. Story ideas and tips always welcome. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". ", 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. Augusta County joins other Valley schools masking up - WHSV . If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The Augusta Public Schools will have in-person learning, five days a week. Official transcripts are required at the time of employment. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. The speakers who opposed the policies voiced concerns about safety issues, parental and privacy rights, and religious freedom. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 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. Augusta County Public Schools is the organization that operates the public school system in Augusta County, Virginia. Augusta County Public Schools | Home Create one. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. School boards are required by state law to enact the policies for the 2021-22. 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. To date, they have distributed 20,230 devices. Im not real sure how well they work to begin with, Dana Worley, her mom, said. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - Augusta County Public Schools is set to become mask-optional in three weeks. Campus Parent | Augusta County Public Schools However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. While the nations top public health agency says vaccinated teachers and students can ditch the mask, some say its too soon. The district had held. Her motion died for lack of a second. ", 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). You can share 5 more gift articles this month. 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. Weve been saying all along students should be in school and shouldnt be tied to masks, said Conservative Parents of Lynchburg Founder Andrew Glover. Augusta-area governments weigh response to revised CDC mask guidelines Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. We have always tried to be non-political. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall - WHSV Augusta County Schools will become mask-optional in three weeks. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a child-friendly fit. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. Helms added that she would also like to see the masks stay. 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. Mask Policy AMI Dates; Augusta School District: Full mask requirement: McCrory School District: Many have since returned to school, but the virus continues to spread. Augusta County Public Schools - Wikipedia Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. If you can't find the answer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. Augusta County Schools to make masks optional starting Feb. 14 We reached out to school leaders all over the region. You have permission to edit this article. The board voted to confirm that they will abide by the law, but members went on to say they would like to write to Richmond and shake the tree.. Log in to join the discussion. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. 'Parental rights' at the front of Simmons' agenda for Augusta County List of Augusta County Public Schools. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. Between Jan. 4 and 18, Georgia reported over 200,000 new cases, and the map had turned a dark burgundy. 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. . Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendation., RELATED: New CDC guidelines call for masks in schools K-12. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. In rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variants after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others, she said. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. 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. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School . If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. 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. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. 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. Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. All rights reserved. Shop the collection. 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. In light of Virginia's school mask policy change, we have included a list of school districts and their decisions on masking. I was a Title 1 reading teacher and was treated with professionalism and respect. Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. 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. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. @NBC29 pic.twitter.com/L8eS6n0bxz. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Masks no longer required for anyone, even teachers, in Augusta County Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. He said "lots of parents" had reached out to him saying masks had created emotional damage for their children. Aiken County Schools eliminate mask mandate | WJBF All rights reserved. Richmond County schools will require masks - The Augusta Chronicle All students, staff and volunteers in county schools will wear masks to begin the school year. If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. Masks are still required on buses per federal law.