Williamsville Central School District

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12-07-20  Update to Families and Staff Regarding Re-opening and Testing

December 7, 2020

Dear Williamsville Central School District Families and Staff,

Late Friday evening, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) provided additional guidance regarding COVID-19 testing to school districts that are in a designated Orange or Red Zone micro-cluster. You can read the updated guidance regarding Orange and Red Zone micro-cluster testing here: 12-04-20 Testing Requirement for Schools in Orange and Red Zone Micro-Cluster.

Based on information and data from local, state, and national health professionals, schools are a safe place for students. We know school-aged children need to be in school, especially as it relates to the benefits of social-emotional learning and well-being.

After discussions with District administration along with leaders throughout the region, it is our intention to re-open all of our schools for in-person instruction for hybrid/hyflex students in kindergarten through 12th grade on Monday, December 14, 2020. Students will resume learning in the cohort model they were in prior to the Orange Zone designation.

It is important that we are part of a coordinated re-opening with other school districts on December 14th due to staffing implications that may arise depending on the status of other districts’ ability to re-open.  We have many teachers and staff members that reside in other school districts and we want to ensure our entire District staff has an opportunity to plan appropriately for the re-opening of our schools.  Opening on the 14th also gives our child nutrition and transportation departments time to properly prepare for schools to re-open.  During this time, we will continue to monitor the daily positivity rate and any change in micro-cluster designation.  It is also important to note that our District has been impacted by community spread that could affect staffing as well.  These are factors we will consider throughout the re-opening process, and we will do everything in our power to ensure a successful re-opening.

We will begin testing to meet the Orange Zone micro-cluster guidelines on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.  Starting today, staff members and custodial parents of students who are randomly selected to be tested will be notified through WITS.  Students in grades K-8 will be required to have a parent present during testing.  If a custodial parent wants to accompany their student in grades 9-12 for testing, they may do so.  Students randomly selected will not be penalized and will have an opportunity to complete assigned work if scheduled to take a COVID-19 test during instruction.

According to the guidance, there is no longer a requirement for schools to close for in-person instruction if they are in a designated Orange or Red Zone as long as they meet the testing guidelines. These are the new requirements for testing:

Orange Zone Micro-Cluster Testing

  • Schools located in a geographic area designated as an Orange Zone, a total of 20% of the in-person students, faculty and staff must be tested for COVID-19 over the one-month period following the zone designation.
  • The numbers tested should be proportionally spread across the month with 10% the maximum/minimum to be tested bi-weekly.
  • If the random sampling generates 9 or more positive cases in any school, or if for a sample size of more than 300 weekly tests achieves a positivity rate of 3% of one such discrete sample, then the school will be required to close.

Red Zone Micro-Cluster Testing

  • Schools located in a geographic area designated as a Red Zone, a total of 30% of the in-person students, faculty and staff must be tested for COVID-19 over the one-month period following the zone designation.
  • The numbers tested should be proportionally spread across the month with 15% the maximum/minimum to be tested bi-weekly.
  • If the random sampling generates 9 or more positive cases in any school, or if for a sample size of more than 300 weekly tests achieves a positivity rate of 3% of one such discrete sample, then the school will be required to close.

Please complete the Daily COVID-19 Health Screening Questionnaire prior to your scheduled appointment and wear a mask.  As a reminder, the type of test that will be administered is the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test. You can view a demonstration of this test here: BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Demonstration.

Here are the District’s testing procedures:

1)     If selected to be randomly tested, custodial parent(s) and staff will be notified through WITS. Only those randomly selected and notified will be tested.

2)     Those selected must complete the consent form digitally on WITS. If you do not consent, you will not be able to schedule a COVID-19 test through the Appointment Calendar.

3)     Access the COVID-19 Appointment Calendar through WITS

  1. Select the testing site of your choice:
  1. Select a testing date and time of your choice

4)     Arrive at your testing location at least 10 minutes before your scheduled test time

5)     Check-in with clerical staff in the gymnasium

6)     The COVID-19 BinaxNOW Rapid Test will be administered by the on-site nurse

7)     Custodial parent(s)/staff will receive an e-mail notification to check WITS for COVID-19 test results shortly after the test is conducted

  1. Custodial parent(s) and staff will receive a phone call for a positive COVID-19 test

8)     Follow the directions from the designated health care professional regarding COVID-19 test results

The District’s full testing packet, which includes testing procedures, how to schedule a test, and maps to the testing sites at Williamsville North and Williamsville South is attached to this letter. It is also available on our website: COVID-19 Testing Procedures.

In addition, we have a full video presentation on the testing procedures you can watch by clicking: VIDEO – COVID-19 Testing Procedures.

Based on these new guidelines for Orange Zone and Red Zone designations, below are the testing metrics that the District needs to meet:

School Building

Total On-Site Staff & Student Population

ORANGE ZONE

20% On-Site Testing

RED ZONE

30% On-Site Testing

Country Parkway

365

73

110

Dodge

495

99

149

Forest

453

91

136

Heim

565

113

170

Maple East

551

111

                    166

Maple West

603

121

181

Casey

517

104

156

Heim Middle

568

114

171

Mill

708

142

213

Transit

705

               141

212

East

948

190

285

North

1342

269

403

South

854

171

257

TOTAL

8,674

1,735

2,609

 

For additional information, be sure to visit our Yellow, Orange, and Red Micro-Cluster Information page.  On this page, you can read the latest guidance from the NYSDOH, a fact sheet on the BinaxNOW (non-invasive) Rapid Test, and watch a video demonstration of the BinaxNOW Rapid Test being performed.

Stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

 

Dr. John E. McKenna
Acting Superintendent of Schools