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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – During a Virginia Beach School Board work session Tuesday, administration leaders gave a presentation with the latest COVID-19 data.
According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), community transmission in the city is high, with a 36.1 percent positivity rate over the last seven days.
Board members plan on discussed an alternative schedule model to overcome teacher shortages and save on costs associated with staffing challenges.
Administrators say there is a total of 116 staffing vacancies.
The school board voted unanimously to change high school schedules to a hybrid model, which remains in-person and allows students the option of keeping their study blocks.
Masks weren’t even on the agenda Tuesday, but the topic was front and center for parents and students.
Some of the youngest students stood tall, speaking out on both sides of the controversial debate on masks.
“Hopefully my nose acne will go away now that I can be mask-free,” said fourth-grade North Landing Elementary student Natalie Rash. “Today was the best day in the last two years of going to school. Thank you.”
The administration is in the process of buying KN95 masks for students and staff. They said masks could arrive within the next two weeks.
During a special school board meeting last Thursday, members voted to allow parents to opt their child out of the mask requirement while also following guidance from the CDC and Virginia Beach Department of Health.
Related: Students caught in middle of polarizing mask debate
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