Officials with Caldwell County Schools announced Thursday afternoon the voluntary “Test to Stay” program for students and staff begins Monday.
The program was unanimously approved by the Caldwell County school board during a special called meeting on September 15th when Superintendent Jeremy Roach presented an updated COVID-19 Operations Plan. As he explained at that meeting, this program gives students and staff who are quarantined because of being exposed to COVID-19 the option to take an Antigen test each morning, and if it’s a negative test result the student or staff member will be able to attend school that day.
According to Public Relations Coordinator Lizzie Shelton, Wild Health of Paducah is managing the “Test to Stay” program which will be located in the Community Activities Building (CAB) at Caldwell County High School. She says students and staff who choose to participate in the voluntary program and be tested will need to use the Community Activities Building entrance between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. The results from the test will take approximately 15 minutes. Students and staff who receive a negative test result will be allowed to attend school for the day. Shelton adds students and staff must test negative each morning for six consecutive days or until their quarantine has ended, whichever comes first. If a student or staff member tests positive, she says they will be required to quarantine under the CDC guidelines.
Shelton says parents/guardians who have a student in the primary, elementary, or middle school will need to bring their child to the Community Activities Building and wait for the test result. If the test result is negative, she says the parent/guardian will need to take their child to their respective school and the student will still be able to ride the bus home in the afternoon.
Shelton reiterates the “Test to Stay” program is completely voluntary and free of charge. If you do not want your child to participate in the “Test to Stay” program, she says normal quarantine guidelines must be followed. However, if you want your child to participate in “Test to Stay”, she indicates parents/guardians must complete a “Test to Stay” consent form.
For more information or any questions, contact Caldwell County Schools at (270) 365-8000.
