December 30, 2021

Dear Williamsville Central School District Families,

I hope you have enjoyed the Winter Recess and are ready for a strong start to 2022.  As we begin the new year, I want to share an important update prior to students returning to school.

Governor Hochul, in partnership with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), placed an order for more than 35 million COVID-19 at-home test kits to be distributed to families across New York State to test students prior to returning to school after the Winter Recess.  In anticipation of receiving the test kits, we have identified two time slots the District will utilize to distribute the at-home tests.

Distribution willtake place on Saturday, January 1, 2022: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., or Sunday, January 2, 2022: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  These dates and times are dependent on when the tests arrive at the BOCES distribution center, and are available for districts to pick-up. Once we have solidified the date and time for distribution, that information will be shared on the District website, through WITSMail, e-mail, and text messages. The distribution sites will be at our high schools.   Please follow the information below and pick up the at-home tests at the associated high school.

• If your child attends Country Parkway, Maple East, Transit, or Williamsville East, pick up will take place at Williamsville East.
• If your child attends Dodge, Heim Elementary, Heim Middle, Casey, or Williamsville North, pick up will take place at Williamsville North.
• If your child attends Forest, Maple West, Mill, or Williamsville South, pick up will take place at Williamsville South.

It is important to note that this testing is not required but being made available to students.  We believe providing this testing is another mitigation practice that will help maintain an educational environment that is healthy and safe.

Tests will not be provided unless a parent/guardian is present during pick up.

It is important to note the District is not recording or reporting test results.

However, if your child(ren) receive a positive result from the COVID-19 at home test, please report it to Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) at the following link: https://www3.erie.gov/covid/form/form-to-report-a-positive-covid-

Please know that if parents/guardians have their child(ren) tested and it results in a positive test, they will also need to follow all the COVID-19 health and safety protocols to return to school.

Finally, I am happy to share the NYSDOH along with the ECDOH are adopting the Test to Stay program after promising results in the Grand Island School District.  School districts throughout Erie County will be meeting with ECDOH next week to further discuss this program.  I look forward to sharing additional details regarding Test to Stay and when this will begin in our District.

Sincerely,

Dr. Darren J. Brown-Hall
Superintendent of Schools