Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. Editor. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. 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. All rights reserved. Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. Reading Specialist (Former Employee) - Verona, VA - August 12, 2020. The school board also voted to follow the contact tracing guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health. 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.. Between Dec. 4 and 18, Georgia reported just under 20,000new cases, and most of the state's map was a light-yellow. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. Its why the news isnt sitting well with him and others. The only instance where county students are required to wear masks is on the school bus because of a federal mandate related to public transportation. People are also reading About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday evening. 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. Bond's letter did say that parents who choose to keep their children home for the full 10-day quarantine period can do so. 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. Superintendent James Anastasio strongly recommended the board vote in favor of the mandate. I hope youre on the same side.. The VDOE did not mandate the mask usage, and Augusta County opted to leave it up to individual students and staff. Kortney joined the 10 News team as a Lynchburg Bureau Reporter in May 2021. May 19, 2021. 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. Fennville Public . Please wait for the page to reload. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. 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 school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . We are excited to begin the school year but have some updates and reminders to help prepare our students as they return next week. A month since Rosenberg was forced out, Staunton City Council hasn't secured search firm, Staunton man pleads guilty to a string of burglaries, gets nearly 10 years in prison, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. The Governor also stated, "K-12 school districts and charter schools still maintain the right to institute and enforce policies to mitigate against COVID-19 spread including the use of masks." Below you will find several links to helpful resources for our residents. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School Board meeting Thursday night. 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. 2023 www.newsleader.com. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. You can cancel at any time. https://www.augusta.k12.va.us The general election was held on November 3, 2015. Riverheads High School 19 Howardsville Road Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 337-1921 Fax: (540) 337-0258. About 50 people attended the Augusta County School . There was a problem saving your notification. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. 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, Ga. (WJBF) - "It's just not right to have them mandate it," said 8th grader Jonathan Vasquez. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. 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.". 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. Copyright 2021 WHSV. 5:00 PM Joint Meeting-Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Augusta County . We fear if we dont have universal masking, the letter stated, there will be outbreaks warranting school closure.. 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! That is its highest weekly total of the school year. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. 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. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. 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. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Anastasio said its easier at all levels since people move around the district. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols". See Offers. on March 2.Read more about the C.D . Washtenaw County schools opt to keep masks on 'until further notice' . //]]> They have thrived and remained healthy.. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. Already registered? 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). About 20 minutes into the school. 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. Latest trends. There is [sic] three reasons why COVID cases are going up. //