Here is CLPA’s weekly recap of what occurred last week as well as a list of upcoming meetings. Most County and City Councils are still out on recess for August and will return next week.
Maryland
Charles County
On September 29th at 6:00 p.m., the Board of Charles County Commissioners will conduct a Virtual Public Hearing to consider an excise tax amendment (Bill 2021-07) to the County Code. The amendment’s purpose is to clarify that all new residential development on property within the geographic boundaries of Charles County is subject to the imposition of an excise tax for the funding of school construction.
Virginia
Loudoun County
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Loudoun grew by about 35% over the past 10 years. The next fastest-growing county in the commonwealth was New Kent County, which grew by 24.5% over the past decade—up to a population of 156,927, well under half of Loudoun’s reported 420,959 residents. Across the state, the population grew by 7.9% over the past decade, and the national average was 4.7% growth.
That was enough growth to catapult Loudoun into the fourth-place spot among Virginia’s most populous counties. And that growth happened mostly in a relatively concentrated area of eastern Loudoun, especially southeast Loudoun.
County supervisors have already made one decision on the new districts—there will still be eight districts and one chair-at-large voted on by the entire county. The county board plans to hear a report on the new census data in October, with a publicly available mapping tool launching on Nov. 1 and taking public submissions until Nov. 30. Supervisors plan to see a summary of possible scenarios on Jan. 18, 2022, and on March 15 choose which to send to a public hearing on May 11."
For more information about Loudoun County’s redistricting visit the county redistricting website here.
Washington, DC
The D.C. government released its COVID safety protocols. This school year, asymptomatic and symptomatic testing at DCPS and participating public charter schools will be done through a saliva test. Testing forms will be available at schools and online. Should there be any positive COVID-19 cases, schools will follow the DC Health guidance for quarantine. It is suggested that anyone testing positive for COVID-19 isolate at home for at least 10 days and show improvement of symptoms, including no fever for 24 hours.
The DC government has also outlined what is concerned close contact and how close contact with a COVID-19 positive person will be handed. Close contact is defined as a student being “within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes within a 24-hour window within 2 days prior to illness onset or positive test result.” Close contact protocols for both unvaccinated and vaccinated students and staff members have been defined as well:
Unvaccinated students or staff members in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, will be required to quarantine for at least 7 days. Students and staff may return to the classroom after 7 days if they take a COVID-19 test on or after day 5 and receive a negative result. Students and staff who do not take a test must quarantine for 10 days.
Vaccinated students and staff who are in close contact to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine if they are not showing symptoms but are recommended to take a test between 3 and 5 days after they are exposed.
Travel outside of the Washington Metropolitan Area is not recommended during the school years. Unvaccinated individuals who travel outside of the area are encouraged to self-quarantine upon their return. It is recommended that on their return individuals get a COVID-19 test. The self-quarantine can end after the seventh day if the test is negative. A ten-day self-quarantine is recommended if no test is performed, for unvaccinated individuals.
As for mask-wearing, all students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear a face mask on school grounds at all times. Students in grades 1st -12th grade may eat in the school cafeteria. Masks may only be removed while students are actively eating or drinking. Cafeterias will be set up to allow the greatest amount of distance between students and student seating will be assigned. For Pre-K students, masks can be removed during nap time. Students in Pre-K and Kindergarten will eat lunch in their classrooms.
Regarding vaccine mandates, staff will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination by September 19 or take a weekly COVID-19 test. The COVID-19 vaccine is currently not required for students but vaccination is suggested.
For more safety guidelines please see the DC government guidance here.
August 22nd-August 28th Meetings
Washington, DC
DC Council
DC Board of Education
Maryland
Charles County
Board of Charles County Commissioners
Board of Education
Middle Schools Redistricting Public Hearing #2, Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 6:30-8:30 p.m.,La Plata High School auditorium
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Council
Board of Education
Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County Council
Board of Education
Board of Education Special Meeting- Tuesday, August 24th at 5:00 PM
Virginia
Alexandria City
Alexandria City Council
Board of Education
Special Called School Board Meeting-Thursday, August 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Arlington County
Arlington County Board
Arlington County School Board
School Board Meeting- Thursday, August 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Fairfax County
Fairfax County Council
Fairfax County School Board
Regular Meeting- Tuesday, August 17th at 6:00 p.m.