January 27, 2022

Dear Williamsville Central School District Faculty and Staff,

In partnership with Buffalo Homecare, beginning Monday, January 31, 2022, the District will begin to implement its Test to Stay (TTS) program for students and staff who are not fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact in a school setting (i.e. classroom, cafeteria, transportation) following an exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual.  We believe this program will help preserve instruction and maintain in-person learning.

It is important to note that Test to Stay is an optional program.  Testing will take place at the Amherst Youth & Recreation's Williamsville Youth & Family Center (5005 Sheridan Drive) prior to the school day beginning. The TTS program will allow for students and staff to attend school in lieu of quarantining during the instructional day provided they remain symptom free and adhere to the TTS guidelines.

To help provide the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding the TTS program, the District has established a Test to Stay information page: WCSD Test to Stay Program.  This page features a Test to Stay Frequently Asked Questions document, test location information, and other visuals to help better understand the TTS program.

As a reminder, fully vaccinated individuals, as defined by the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), and those who have tested positive within 90 days from the last date of exposure to a positive individual, are not required to quarantine.

The Test to Stay program cannot be used by unvaccinated faculty and staff members to meet the weekly proof of testing requirement outlined in the September 13, 2021, memo regarding proof of vaccination status and mandatory testing for unvaccinated indivdiuals.

Consent forms to participate in TTS can be filled out on WITS.  While the goal of the TTS program is to test individuals a minimum of 2 times over the 5 day quarantine period, we understand indivdiuals are most often identified several days after their last exposure to a positive individual.  For example, a close contact in a school setting may be identified on a Monday, with their last exposure coming the previous Thursday.  This would mean if Thursday is “day 0” and Monday is “day 4,” the first day of testing would take place on Tuesday, which would be “day 5.” For additional context, please review the TTS Quarantine and Testing Explanation document.

Negative test results for students and staff members participating in TTS need to be received prior to reporting to your work site on the designated day of testing.  If an individual is not tested on their designated days of testing, they will be unable to attend work on that day.  On days individuals are not scheduled to test they are eligible to attend work provided they remain symptom free. If day 5 of quarantine falls on a weekend or non-school day, individuals are required to test the morning of the next school day.

If a student or staff member becomes symptomatic, all guidelines regarding isolation and return to school must be met in order to resume in-person work.  If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they need to isolate and are required to meet all the guidelines regarding return to school.

Please be sure to review these materials and reach out if you have any questions.

As guidance continues to change, we will work diligently to share that information with you as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

Dr. Darren J. Brown-Hall
Superintendent of Schools