SAW holds town halls on opioid settlement funds
STAUNTON – Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro are calling for input on how to use funds from the National Opioid Settlement.
The Knowledge Advisory Group and Carter Foundation will present preliminary findings and recommendations on how to use the funds at the town halls.
The two organizations have been interviewing local community health professionals and reviewed published data related to opioid use. Their goal is "to better understand how opioid use has impacted residents in the area, the resources that currently exist to address opioid use, and gaps in services to address opioid use," the town hall announcement reads.
To sign up for the virtual town hall on July 16, click here – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SAWTownHall1
To sign up for the in-person town hall on July 17, click here – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SAWTownHall2 .
Augusta assessments reconsidered by board of equalization
VERONA – The Augusta County Board of Equalization will meet several times this week, giving residents a chance to appeal the recent reassessments.
The 2024 reassessment process came back with a 54% average property value increase . For an in-depth look at the assessments, see previous coverage from The News Leader . The assessments are not responsible for the 10-cent equalized tax rate increase passed by the Augusta County Board of Supervisors earlier this year .
This week, the board will meet on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Meetings are also scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week.
For details on how to apply, visit the Appealing to the Board of Equalization page on the county’s website.
Augusta Planning Commission takes up a light agenda
VERONA – The Augusta County Planning Commission only has one public hearing this week.
Zachary Dean requested to rezone approximately 2.5 acres he owns at 3840 East High Highway from Rural Conservation Area to General Business. The rezoning would allow him to "expand a storage and sales lot, add a shop, and keep a shipping container onsite."
Waynesboro school board takes up new literacy standards
WAYNESBORO – The Waynesboro School Board is re-evaluating its literacy standards this week.
Similar to the Augusta County School Board recently , the board will take up a plan to bring Waynesboro in line with the state's new reading comprehension guidelines passed with the Virginia Literacy Act .
The Act was passed by the 2022 General Assembly. The Virginia Department of Education notes it will support school divisions to "improve early literacy outcomes for Virginia's young learners." This includes kindergarten instruction with "scientifically based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction, online resources, and reading plan interventions for students not meeting benchmarks.
The new Waynesboro plan includes the following "key components."
- Regular progress reports: Implement a regular schedule for literacy progress reports to be sent home. Clearly outline individual student achievements, areas for improvement, and specific literacy skills being developed.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences: Conduct periodic parent-teacher conferences with a dedicated focus on literacy progress. Provide opportunities for in-depth discussions about each child's literacy development, strategies for improvement, and collaborative goal setting.
- Interactive Workshops, Literacy Nights, and Seminars: Organize workshops and seminars addressing key aspects of the Virginia Literacy Act. Cover topics such as understanding literacy assessments, supporting literacy at home, and effective communication strategies between parents and teachers.
- Parent Literacy Toolkit: Develop a comprehensive parent literacy toolkit providing resources, tips, and activities to support literacy development at home. Include guides on reading strategies, recommended book lists, and ways to create a literacy rich home environment.
Regularly scheduled meetings cancelled in early July
Cancelled meetings are popular in all three localities this week and next.
The Augusta County Board of Supervisors cancelled its regular July 10 meeting, pushing business back to later this month.
Staunton City Council did the same for its July 11 work session and regular meetings. However, on July 10, Staunton will hold a public hearing on the 5-Year Consolidated Plan (CP) and the Annual Action Plan for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Both documents are available on the city's website, and deal with housing, public infrastructure, homeless and special needs resources, and other similar programs.
In Waynesboro, both the Historical Commission and Economic Development Authority cancelled their July meetings.
Both Staunton councilors and the Augusta supervisors cut the meetings to give themselves and staff a break during the summer months, when government business slows down in comparison to the rest of the year.
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Thursday, July 11
Friday, July 12
- Augusta County Board of Equalization 8 a.m. Augusta County Government Center, 18 Government Center Lane, Verona.
Monday, July 15
- Augusta County Board of Equalization 8 a.m. Augusta County Government Center, 18 Government Center Lane, Verona.
- Augusta County Recycling Committee 5 p.m. Augusta County Government Center, 18 Government Center Lane, Verona.
Tuesday, July 16
Cancelled
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Opioid settlement funds, literacy standards, and cancelled meetings: THE AGENDA
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