In preparation for a possible move to a Yellow Zone designation, Byron-Bergen is asking parents and guardians to fill out COVID-19 Testing Consent forms for each child attending in-person school, full-time or hybrid. No students will be tested without consent. Consent forms will be distributed to families via Parent Square but will also be made available on the District website.
Full Department of Health Guidelines as of December 4, 2020
What will testing look like?
If, and when Byron-Bergen is designated as a yellow zone, we will be required to test 20% of in-person students, faculty, and staff every two weeks. We will receive rapid response test kits from the Genesee County Department of Public Health. Collecting a specimen for testing involves inserting a small swab, similar to a Q-Tip, into the front of the nose. The test takes approximately eight seconds and the results are available in 15 minutes.
Please take a moment to view this brief video of Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mike Mendoza demonstrating the test can be viewed below.
How are the 20% chosen?
Students, faculty, and staff would be chosen for testing using the random selection feature in Excel. The parent or guardian of chosen students will be notified 48 hours prior to testing.
How many people is 20% of the District?
The District has less than 1000 students, faculty, and staff members and two weeks to test 20%. Spread out over ten school days, that is less than 10 individuals per day, per school.
Can parents have their child tested by a family doctor?
Yes. If a parent elects to take their child to their own physician for testing, we would require a copy of the test results from the doctor or testing agency.
Where and when would testing take place?
Testing will take place at the end of the school day. Selected students will be called to the in-school testing site just before dismissal and will then proceed to dismissal with their classmates. The Elementary School testing site is located in room 303. The Jr./Sr. HS testing site is located in room 79.
Who will administer the tests?
Tests will be administered by our school nurses or by trained District staff members.
Can I be present for my child’s test?
Yes. Parents or guardians are allowed to witness their student’s test. It is also permissible for parents or guardians to assist with the nasal swab as younger students may feel nervous. Parents or guardians entering the building will be required to wear a mask, present their government-issued ID, and fill out a health screening questionnaire.
When will we find out the results?
Parents and guardians of tested students will be contacted with results later that day. In the case of a positive result, you will also be contacted by the Genesee County Health Department to evaluate quarantine and begin contact tracing.
What if we cannot get a 20% sample?
If too many families decline to provide consent, and we cannot obtain a 20% sample each week, we will be forced to go full-remote. This makes it critical that we obtain consent forms for as many students as possible.
Do remote students count towards the total pool of individuals needing to be tested?
No. Only in-person students and staff count towards our testing mandate.
Can I move my student to the fully-remote cohort until the Yellow Zone designation is lifted?
Parents or guardians can move their students to the fully-remote cohort at any time. However, students in the fully-remote cohort will not be eligible to return to in-person learning until the end of the semester and then, only if their return can be accommodated by classroom and bus capacity.
How accurate are the tests?
The tests are very accurate at catching positive cases in individuals exhibiting symptoms. In asymptomatic individuals, there is a higher rate of incorrect negative results (called “false negatives.”) If your child tests negative but has symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have concerns about your child’s exposure to COVID-19, you should call your child’s doctor.