Special Update from EUSD
August 24, 2021
_______________________________________
Updates in this communication include:
- COVID-19 Notification Process
- COVID-19 Testing Options Update
Dear Staff and Families,
As we have just concluded our first full week, we wanted to share some updates with families to help inform and clarify processes and procedures. Like most districts, we have experienced positive cases of Covid-19 in a number of our schools. While this of course is concerning, we want to assure our families that we are taking all of the necessary precautions to reduce the possibility for transmissions and to implement updated quarantine procedures.
We have created some documents that hopefully provide more clarity.
For information on our Notification Process when there is a positive case, please click here.
For information on the different quarantine options this year and what they entail, please click here.
This week we are waiting for the on-boarding of our additional medical response team that will be administering our testing program. The team will undergo extensive training on testing and reporting systems and our central testing site is being outfitted. We will soon be offering the following testing in our district:
Asymptomatic Testing for students that are choosing to do the modified quarantine. This is described in the document above as Option 1. Covid-19 response teams of testers will go to the site to perform antigen testing on the students in quarantined classes. As mentioned previously, parents or guardians will need to consent to this testing for their child. Students self swab and results are determined within 15 minutes. Parents receive the notification of the results via email. There is no cost to families. If a student tests positive, they will be required to do a PCR test and will move to at home isolation. The PCR test can be done at Farm Lab.
Symptomatic Testing for students and staff will be done at our central testing site, Farm Lab. Additionally, anyone with a positive antigen test will have a PCR test done at this site. This will be a drive through option available before, during and after school. Individuals that have experienced symptoms must do the PCR test in order to return to work or school. There is no cost to families. Individuals may also still choose to get tested at County sites or with their physicians.
Although we are doing everything possible to start testing sooner, we must have the staff, tests and training completed prior to our first testing day. Given the timelines given to us by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), our vendors and staffing agencies, we have targeted September 1st for the testing options to be fully operational within the district. Should this happen sooner or if there are delays we will keep families informed. In the meantime, testing can be done at any of the County sites linked here. There is no cost to families.
Warmly,
Andrée Grey, Ed.D.
Superintendent