Pooled Testing

Pooled Testing

Peter Loiselle

January 28, 2022

January 27, 2022

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians,

RSU 67 is committed to taking the steps necessary to maintain a safe and healthy school environment for students, staff, and visitors.   In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep our schools open for in-person learning, we will offer a free, voluntary COVID-19 Pooled Testing Program for students and staff at Ella P. Burr School, Mattanawcook Junior High School, and Mattanawcook Academy.  Regular testing will help protect our students, staff, family members, and others who are at risk for getting seriously sick from COVID-19.

Through this program, we will be able to identify COVID-19 cases quickly and early, which can help us stop an outbreak before it happens. This will help us keep students in the classroom where they will be able to take part in the school activities they love. Again, this program is voluntary and we will only test those students and staff that give us permission to do so.

The District is working with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and are joining other school districts throughout the state that offer this program.

  • Who will be tested? 

    • We will offer testing to all students and staff, even if they don’t have symptoms of COVID-19. We will only test those individuals with written permission on file. 

  •  How is the testing done? 

    • The COVID-19 testing is free, quick, and easy.  Members of our school staff will oversee testing with an antigen test, which includes:

    • Gently swabbing the inner part of the lower nostril. This test is not painful.  We do not use the longer swabs that reach higher into the nose. 

  • Where and when is the testing done? 

    • Testing will occur at each school once a week.  Results will be available within 48-72 hours.

  • How can I be sure that my child’s information will be protected? 

    • Sharing of information about your child will only be done for public health purposes and in accordance with applicable law and policies protecting student privacy and the security of your child’s data.

This letter asks your permission for us to:

  • Regularly test your child as part of a free COVID-19 testing program at school, and test your child if they show symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19 while in school.  

We are extremely grateful to our committed families and staff who continue to show great flexibility and resilience as we work together to contain the spread of this virus. If you have questions regarding the Pooled COVID-19 Testing Program, please reach out to your school principal.

Sincerely,

Jean M. Skorapa, Superintendent of Schools

Consent for 18 and under

This process should take no more than 5 minutes to complete using a computer or a smartphone.

  1. First, go to https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent

  2. Then, enter the school access code, see below

  3. Finally, enter your child’s information, and you’re done!

Note: If you need to provide consent for more than one child, please complete the process separately for each child.

**Access code for Ella P Burr Elementary is PETEREPB

 

 

Consent for anyone over the age of 18 (i.e., staff)

1.       First, click here https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/invite-by-code

2.       Then, enter the school access code

3.       Finally, enter your information