Category Archives: COVID-19

ACPS Will Return to All-Virtual Instruction on Jan. 19

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Superintendent Matthew Haas

Dear Colleagues:

Working with the health department, I have closely been tracking the virus transmission data in our school community. Like many of you, I have become increasingly concerned about recent increases in the case incidence rate and the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in our county as reported by our health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since the holidays, increases in these two measures signify increases in the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our county. Continue reading →

Zoom Link for This Afternoon’s COVID-19 Recovery Focus Group Meeting for Teachers

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Wednesday, January 13, 2021 | 4:30 to 6 p.m. | Zoom

Attention Teachers: If you’re planning to participate in today’s focus group conversation from 4:30 to 6 p.m. regarding the future response of ACPS to COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on student learning and social-emotional well-being and development, please click here to join at 4:30 this afternoon. Continue reading →

COVID-19 Vaccine Program for ACPS Employees

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health professional holding COVID-19 vaccine

ACPS is currently in discussions with the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) and local government to plan a COVID-19 vaccination program that will be available to all school division employees. The BRHD is leading vaccination program decisions in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

You may already know that vaccinations are taking place in phases that prioritize those most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Our local health department is now in Phase 1a of its vaccination operations. The next phase, Phase 1b, will include all ACPS employees. Continue reading →

Update on Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) Leave Provisions

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ACPS Logo

You may remember the leave programs we rolled out in the spring under legislation known as the FFCRA—the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act. The FFCRA mandated two kinds of leave: Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Expanded FMLA. While the mandated leave programs under the FFCRA expire on December 31, 2020, Albemarle County will voluntarily be keeping these programs in place until March 31, 2021, pursuant to the recently signed Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which includes the coronavirus stimulus and relief. Continue reading →

Save the Date: COVID-19 Recovery Focus Group Meeting on Jan. 13

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Superintendent Matthew Haas

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 | 4:30 to 6 p.m. | Zoom

Greetings, ACPS Teachers:

I am writing to invite you to a second focus group conversation from 4:30 to 6 next Wednesday evening, January 13, to talk about the future response of ACPS to COVID-19 and the virus’s impact on student learning and social-emotional well-being and development. We will gather on Zoom with up to 300 teachers to share an overview and have small group conversations about our response going into 2021-22. Continue reading →

Staying Safe and Enjoying the Holidays

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Stay Safe with masked gingerbread cookies

Dear Colleagues:

Similar to what we’re seeing throughout Virginia and across the country, our local number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and percentage of positive test results have been on the rise following the Thanksgiving holiday.

As we approach our winter break, the Blue Ridge Health District is asking all residents to plan safe and joyous holiday celebrations. Continue reading →

Stage 4 Accommodation and LOA Requests: Additional Info

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Requests

With the presentation to the School Board last night regarding plans for Stage 4, staff who are requesting Stage 4 Accommodation and Leave Requests should proceed with submitting these requests as previously communicated.

ADA Requests

ADA accommodation requests for Stage 4 should be submitted by December 17 to COVIDworkrequests@albemarle.org so that we may begin processing them as we assess division needs. Continue reading →

Preparation for Stage 4 Accommodations: Requests Due December 17

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Requests

At tonight’s School Board meeting, the Board will hear the plans associated with implementation of Stage 4 of our Return to School plan. This will be an overview of Stage 4, focusing on the instructional plan, operations, and staffing. Tonight’s meeting will not include a recommendation by Superintendent Haas as to when we would progress to Stage 4. Continue reading →

As a Precautionary Measure, Division Will Move to Virtual Learning for All, Dec. 14-18 and Jan. 4-8

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Important Announcement

Dear Colleagues:

In a short while, we will publicly announce a move to Stage 1, all-virtual instruction, for the week prior to winter break (December 14-18) and the week after (January 4-8). This week will be the last week of face-to-face instruction until Monday, January 11, when Stage 3 will resume. While there will not be students in our buildings, buildings will remain open to staff December 14-18 and January 4-8. Continue reading →

Staying Safe and Protected as COVID-19 Cases Rise

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face masks

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase across the country and in Virginia, Albemarle County’s positivity rate in testing for the illness remains at low-risk levels. The most recent statistics from the Virginia Department of Health put the rate here in our county at 2.2%, which falls within the low-risk category according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Continue reading →