All rights reserved. About 20 minutes into the school board meeting Thursday evening, members went into closed session with its legal council. The Virginia Department of Health reported 113 new COVID cases in Augusta County Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 4. 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. They have thrived and remained healthy.. Northam's K-12 mask mandate, and we will continue to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety . 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! About 20 minutes into the school. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. Here are a few of them: Blue Ridge Health District vaccination scheduler, Call the BRHD COVID-19 Hotline 434-972-6261. List of Augusta County Public Schools. Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. The Augusta Public Schools will have in-person learning, five days a week. The policy was part of the districts response to COVID last school year, but now state law prohibits individual school systems from requiring students to wear masks. Designed and sold by artists. If you want to wear one, I dont see a problem with that. 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. Do you have a story idea? Kids' face masks with Augusta County Schools designs for a child-friendly fit. 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. 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.". My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. How to order free testing kits from the government. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. Afterward, the public spoke and most of the comments were about masks in school. But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. See Offers. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. MORE | Threat puts Thomson High School put on. Some quoted scripture, while others blamed politics. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Now. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. All rights reserved. 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. "We'll revisit it. Learn more. The CDC also says all schools should have universal masking, which is something Albemarle County Public Schools are already planning to do, and Charlottesvilles school board could vote to do in early August. Glenn Youngkin's executive order on masks in schools. Don't have a commenting profile? 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. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, At-home COVID test website launches early. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases surge within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask mandates. 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. 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. 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. 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 only instance where county students are required to wear masks is on the school bus because of a federal mandate related to public transportation. 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. It was heated at times - like when people called board members cowards for wearing masks and forcing students to wear them. //
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