Category Archives: COVID-19

Updated COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies

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COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies Update

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. In response, Albemarle County Public Schools has updated our COVID-19 guidance and practices.

Please visit our COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies web page for details, including helpful information on the steps you can take if you have symptoms of a respiratory virus* and what to do if you test positive for COVID-19. We’ve also updated our guidance on when students and employees can return to normal activities following a respiratory illness. Continue reading →

Updated COVID-19 Infection Control & Isolation Guidance

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COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies Update

As a reminder, the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration ended on May 11, 2023, and in response, ACPS discontinued its COVID Leave Bank program effective August 12, 2023. COVID-related absences are treated like absences for any other illness, requiring employees to use their accrued leave. To aid in this transition, ACPS will add a one-time grant of five sick leave days to the sick leave balances of all benefits-eligible employees on or around September 1, 2023. Eligibility requires employment commencement by that date. For more information, please see our August 22 Compass post.

The division’s current COVID-19 infection control and isolation protocols and guidance can be found on the Mitigation Strategies page of our COVID-19 Response site. Continue reading →

Renewal of the COVID Leave Bank Program

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COVID-19 Nasal Swab Test

Following the expiration of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Expanded FMLA (EFMLA) on September 30, 2021, Albemarle County Public Schools created a COVID Leave Bank program equivalent to 10 days of leave for all regular employees. While this program expired on June 30, 2022, given the highly contagious COVID-19 variants in the county, ACPS is reinstating the COVID Leave Bank program retroactive to July 1, 2022. The bank is accessible to benefits-eligible regular employees who are symptomatic, those who test positive for the virus, and those who must take leave as the primary caregiver of someone who contracts the virus. Continue reading →

COVID Leave Bank Extension & Annual Leave Overage Reminder

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Extension of COVID Leave Bank

ACPS Logo

With the expiration of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Expanded FMLA (EFMLA) on September 30, 2021, Albemarle County Public Schools created a program called COVID Leave Bank, equivalent to 10 days of leave for all regular employees, effective October 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022. This program has now been extended through June 30, 2022, for continued use by employees who have not exhausted the 10 days of leave. Continue reading →

COVID Testing Clinic at Walton Middle School Canceled Today!

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COVID Testing Signage

Due to a power outage, the COVID-19 testing clinic scheduled from 4 to 7 today at Walton Middle School has been canceled. Testing will resume tomorrow at Center I from 12 to 6 p.m.

As a reminder, this week is the final week of mandatory COVID-19 testing for employees. Employees who are required to test must test this week to remain in compliance with the school board’s COVID-19 mitigation policies. Continue reading →

Changes to Our Mitigation Strategies

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COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies Update

Effective this Friday, April 1, ACPS will suspend contract tracing efforts. Beginning Monday, April 4, face masks will become optional for everyone, including staff and visitors. Also, while the requirement remains in effect this week, employees who have had to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing will no longer be required to do so beginning next week. Please keep reading for more details. Continue reading →

Face Mask Update

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COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies Update

The following message will be shared with our full school community at 1:30 this afternoon:

Dear Families, Students & Staff:

Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 1, students no longer will be required to wear masks on school property, including on school buses. These changes are required by the new state law, Senate Bill 739, which was signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin on February 16. Continue reading →

Everything You Need to Know About COVID-19 Testing for Employees Is Now on Our Website

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ACPS testing sites are open to all ACPS employees, with or without symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. Our testing sites are available to any employee who is experiencing symptoms, has been identified as a close contact, is required to test weekly by school board resolution, or simply wants peace of mind.

Now, all the information you need to know about the ACPS COVID-19 testing program is available on our website at www.k12albemarle.org/CovidTesting. In addition to general information, you’ll find our regular testing schedule, expectations for employees who are required to test weekly, testing instructions for symptomatic employees, answers to common questions, and more. Plus, we’ll post updates to our COVID-19 Testing page when inclement weather or school holidays impact the testing schedule. Continue reading →

Extension of COVID-19 Leave Bank

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With the expiration of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Expanded FMLA (EFMLA) on September 30, 2021, Albemarle County Public Schools created a program called COVID Leave Bank, equivalent to 10 days of leave for all regular employees, effective October 1, 2021, and set to expire January 31, 2022. This program has been extended through April 30, 2022, for continued usage by employees who have not exhausted the 10 days of leave. Continue reading →