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Vol. 37, No. 19 | Richmond Suburban News | August 18, 2021
Masks required in Hanover schools per governor’s order Before order, School Board voted against requiring masks By Jim Ridolphi The Mechanicsville Local ate last week, Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver issued a statewide Public Health Order requiring all students aged 2 and older to be masked when inside all public schools in the state. “This Public Health Order makes it very clear that masks are required in all indoor K-12 settings, and Virginia expects all schools to comply,” Governor Ralph Northam said in a statement issued shortly after the Order was released. The mandate includes all Hanover students, staff and visitors and requires mask wearing in all county schools when classes begin in September. But two days earlier, it appeared that no mask mandate would be instituted in Hanover schools when the Hanover County School Board rejected a recommendation by Superintendent Michael Gill that would have required masks in all county elementary schools, and mandate mask wearing for unvaccinated secondary students.
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County Administrator John Budesky explains plans for a new library/community center in Beaverdam last week. Once a site is agreed upon, the facility could be completed in 18 to 24 months. Jim Ridolphi / The Local
Citizen engagement is key to success of Montpelier project $10 million community center/library planned Jim Ridolphi / The Local
An enthusiastic, and sometimes disruptive, audience at last week’s School Board meeting made sure their voices were heard regarding a policy that would have mandated masks for most students. More than a dozen speakers spoke in opposition to the policy recommendation, and School Board members voted 4-3 to allow parents to choose if their children would wear masks when school opens this fall.
In a 4-3 vote, the board instead passed a no mask policy for teachers and staff, leaving all decisions associated with mitigation efforts with parents. For the first time in recent memory, board members were forced to pause the meeting and exit the meeting room as a
disruptive group of anti-mask residents shouted and berated them following Gill’s recommendation. Convinced that Gill’s recommendation was a done deal, the group stood and shouted at board members eventually forcing the group’s exit. Additional
sheriff ’s deputies were called and positioned themselves in a hall adjacent to the board room. One group member reminded the protesters they were reacting prematurely by voicing their opinions on what see MASKS, pg. 8
By Jim Ridolphi The Mechanicsville Local Hanover officials are taking the first steps to begin a project that has long been anticipated in the Beaverdam area. A new library and community center are planned for the area, and, last week, officials began gathering input from citizens regarding location and plans for the new facility.
The county conducted three informational sessions earlier this month at the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education to provide preliminary plans and location options for discussion as citizens listened and later asked questions regarding the project. “The board has considered this project for many years and now they have not only verbally committed to the project, but they have funded it,” County Administrator David see MONTPELIER, pg. 4