Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. Augusta County Schools, VA 4+ - App Store Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall - NBC29 Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. Heres why. MORE | Threat puts Thomson High School put on. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. 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. Copyright 2021 WVIR. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. You can cancel at any time. I feel like its the parents decision. We do not appreciate it. Augusta County Public Schools will keep masks mandatory until Feb. 14 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. Need a COVID-19 test? Below you will find several links to helpful resources for our residents. The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. In a retreat Thursday afternoon at the Augusta County Government Center, the school board voted 5-1 to make masks optional in schools beginning Monday, Feb. 14. Its equal or worse than in December, and our healthcare workers are drowning, said Tara Mahanes. She asked if it was considered by administration to have a mask mandate for the younger students and recommended for the older students. Glenn Youngkin's executive order making masks optional or "any changing negative trends related to our local area health concerns.". School districts in southwest, central Virginia address COVID mask policies Even though mask mandates will not be enforced inside school, masks will still be required on school buses, as well as for staff members and adults inside the school building. Make masks mandatory!" Aiken Public Safety officers rushed out to where the overflow crowd was gathered because of meeting room capacity restrictions, and the . Stay Connected . Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. Please subscribe to keep reading. . Masks are still required on buses per federal law. 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. We reached out to school leaders all over the region. Masks will be required for anyone inside Charleston County schools until Oct. 15, 2021. To mask or not to mask? Local schools determine policies - WRDW Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. 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. 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. 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. Augusta County Schools Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The decision for Columbia County schools to require masks comes after the district says it has at least 1,000 people at home quarantining, and 296 more students who. Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. 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. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. You have permission to edit this article. 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. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Augusta County residents lead busy lives. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. on. Columbia County schools make face masks optional moving forward - WRDW 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. "We'll revisit it. North River representative Nick Collins made the motion Thursday, which gives the school board a chance to reevaluate the decision in the coming weeks if there are any legal challenges to Virginia Gov. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. 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. Richmond County students will be permitted to remove masks during lunch and while outside. Campus Parent | Augusta County Public Schools Fennville Public . Editor. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. 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. If you can't find the answer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. With this vote, students and staff must still wear masks while in school until Feb. 14. 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. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Thank you for visiting the Augusta County, VA. You will be redirected to the destination page below in 0 seconds. Masks will return to Augusta County schools this fall. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. The Augusta Board of Education voted. Administrators say theyre hearing the same from other parents. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 Augusta County Public Schools. Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, At-home COVID test website launches early. School boards are required by state law to enact the policies for the 2021-22. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. 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. 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. Create one. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Scotto's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria building up for lease, KFC is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 10-year hiatus, Jim Wood urged to surrender vice mayors position, resign, Waynesboro family-owned pig farm embraces sustainable pork production, Newly-opened local fashion boutique celebrates grand opening, Waynesboro City Council appoints RISE co-founder Chanda McGuffin to Waynesboro's Economic Development Authority board, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with Reelz TV show 'On Patrol: Live', Staunton boys basketball team suffers season-ending loss to Cave Spring, No. 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 . The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. Already have a commenting profile? We have always tried to be non-political. 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.". AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Local parents, students react to CDC guidance on masks in schools - WSLS https://www.augusta.k12.va.us They have been in public places and taken place in social gatherings. People spoke for and against requiring students to wear masks this fall, as the school board previously stated masks would be optional. 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. 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! 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. Tomorrow marks one week until Columbia County and some Richmond County students start the new year. Augusta County, VA Decision on Masking Goes Against Science & Data Waynesboro school officials still deciding on mask mandate 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. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! Based on current conditions, this is what we need to do to make that happen. AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. Augusta County Public Schools elections (2015) - Ballotpedia You will receive an email to complete the registration. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. I want to work with every one of you. More. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. VERONA Augusta County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks for students and staff at least three more weeks. Another potential headache: the CDC is still recommending schools continue to space kids out and keep their desks three feet apart. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. 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, VA | Home 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. Augusta County Public Schools | Home Bradshaw said they are not putting an end-date on theprotocol, but that they are continuing to monitor the latest data and consult with experts on the necessary way to proceed. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 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. The policies say schools should allow students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. May 19, 2021. By Jessica Mallow. He said "lots of parents" had reached out to him saying masks had created emotional damage for their children. About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. Augusta County joins other Valley schools masking up - WHSV 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). The 2015 election was the last election for all seven seats to appear on the ballot at the same time. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108, Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally. School board votes to make masks optional for all students, staff in Augusta County. 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. 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.. Some in Augusta County oppose school mask mandates as COVID-19 cases surge. 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. But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. Some in Augusta County oppose school mask mandates as COVID-19 - WHSV Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. New CDC guidance says some counties in our viewing area meet the threshold to put those face coverings back on. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. 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. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. VERONA Officials with Augusta County Public Schools have announced that masks won't be required beginning Monday for students, staff and visitors. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 on Thursday to make masks optional . 0:57. Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . 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. 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. . "In light of those considerations, the practice is to allowconsistencyin how students and staff are treated with respect to mitigation measures.". About 50 people attended the Augusta. Augusta County School Board votes against transgender policies Timothy Simmons will take a seat on the Augusta County School Board in January. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that made their decision possible. Lawrence County School District: Full mask requirement: Sloan-Hendrix School District: . The Augusta County School Board voted 5-1 during its annual retreat Thursday to set the date when students and staff can take off their masks, with parameters in place that allow the board members to change its mind if cases persist or legal objections strike down Gov. 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. Don't have a commenting profile? The Augusta County School Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, status as a veteran, national origin, or disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Augusta County School Board's refusal to enact state policy - WHSV I think they should still be wearing masks for their safety and everyone elses, said Will Via, a dad from Verona. I want to work with you. Sign up for breaking news alerts. Augusta County follows Staunton, Waynesboro on masks in schools "These absences from school will be excused and students will be permitted to make up all missed work," the letter said. Charleston County schools fall in line with SC law. Masks will be The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Eric Bond. Copyright 2021 WHSV. //
augusta county schools mask policy