December 7, 2020
Dear Galway CSD Families,

Galway Central School District continues to prepare its COVID-19 testing procedures should our area enter a yellow zone per the governor’s NYS Cluster Action Initiative. Student consent forms are due by the end of the day by Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Click here to view the original communication and link to the consent form. Failure to sign the consent form does not mean your child cannot attend on campus school. Your child is able to attend on campus learning until their name is randomly selected.

If a student who is randomly selected for testing does not have a consent form on file with the district, we will call you to discuss your options. If you continue to decline consent, your child will have to go to an alternative home learning model for 10 days from the date the test was supposed to be administered, as not being tested would be a presumed positive test result (this would be presumptive isolation, not a quarantine due to exposure). The 10 days will remain in effect even if the district’s test results remove them from the yellow zone. It is our absolute goal to prioritize in-person learning for our students and staff.

While the district’s plan is still being finalized, we are sharing an outline summary of what has been prepared so far. Families may want to have conversations with their children at home prior to a test possibly being administered; we will do everything we can to support our students and make the testing process as efficient as possible. 

Testing Process

The free diagnostic test for the COVID-19 virus will be administered by a certified Registered Nurse from Adirondack Health and Wellness. A rapid COVID-19 test will be used, which will involve inserting a small swab, similar to a Q-Tip, into the front tip of the nose. The testing process will take two days on campus. Pre K-8 tests will be administered in the morning. 9-12 tests will be administered in the afternoon. 

Testing Sites

• The Elementary Art room 104 will be used for check-in and registration of students/staff who have randomly been selected.
• Elementary Room 105 will be used for private secure testing
• The Middle School Gym will be used as the test result waiting area. 
• Those who test positive will be isolated and exit through the side gymnasium door to be picked up by a parent or guardian
• Students who test negative will be escorted back to class.

Building administrators and staff will be present at the check-in, testing site, and waiting areas to assist with the following:

• Checking in faculty/staff/students and verifying information – Administrators
• Timing and result identification – School Nurse
• Data entry – Secretarial
• Overseeing cleaning procedure in check-in and waiting area – custodial
• Testing and waste material removal – Adirondack Health and Wellness

Testing Procedures

Should our area enter a yellow zone, the following procedures would go into effect. 

*Please note, the dates and days of the week for testing have not been determined. This is a hypothetical situation being used for planning purposes at this time. 

Who will be tested on Day #1 and Day # 2

• 10% of Elementary students/staff who are selected 
• 10% Jr. Sr. High School students/staff who are selected

Testing Day #2 (exact date TBD)

Testing Results

• When it is an individual’s turn to be tested, the student/staff member will go to the check-in table. Elementary Students will be escorted by staff to this area. Seating will be arranged to be at least six feet apart. 
• The RN will signal when ready for the next staff member or student.
• The RN will verify the name via pre-made student labels and staff will attach it to the test kit. 
• Once the test is complete, students and staff will be placed in a waiting area waiting for results. The School Nurse will bring the completed test kit to the results table where results checkers will have timers set up for the 15-minute incubation period. 
• Once the 15-minute incubation period is up, the result checkers will document the individual’s results. The results will be input into a data tracking form. Positive results will be reported to school administrators. 
• Parents will be notified once the test concludes (negative or positive result). If negative, the student will stay at school for the remainder of the school day. If positive, the parent will be directed to pick their child up, bring them home, and be in contact with their pediatrician.
• Just a reminder – if a student tests positive, the whole family (i.e. siblings) will be sent home from school per the district's Reopening Plan
• The district will notify the Saratoga County Department of Health of any positive results and follow established protocols for isolation and sending students or staff home. The Department of Health will advise on the next steps.

Testing Selection Process

Students

• Consent forms were previously sent to families. 
• Pre-populated reporting forms will be generated for each building for use in this process, aligned with the consents received from families. The tracking sheet will be used to submit the required data to New York State.

Faculty/Staff

• Testing of faculty and staff is required per an executive order from the state. 
• Consent forms will remain on file for the testing agency.
• School administrators will determine the times for staff to be tested.

We realize this is a lot of information to digest, but it is important information we feel needs to be communicated to our faculty, staff, and families. Please refer to the Question and Answer section below or feel free to contact your child’s Principal with any additional questions.

FAQ

Please note: Galway Central School District has not been designated as a "yellow zone."  If Galway Central School District  is designated as a "yellow zone," we will initiate the above plan.

The District is committed to remaining open for in-person instruction with the health and safety of our students and staff as our top priority. When a region moves to the “Yellow Zone” under Governor Cuomo’s Micro-Cluster Initiative, schools will have one month to randomly test 20% of in-person students and staff for COVID-19 to remain open for in-person instruction. If the results of the testing reveal that the positivity rate among the 20% of those tested is lower than the yellow zone’s current 7-day positivity rate, testing at that school will no longer be required to continue.

1. What test is being used and who is administering the tests? 

The state is providing us with the COVID-19 rapid test, and the tests will be administered by Registered Nurses from Adirondack Health & Wellness to students for whom we have received consent. The testing process will involve inserting a small swab, similar to a Q-Tip, into the front of the nose. This is a quick nasal swab test of both nostrils. Results are available in 15 minutes. We want students to be as comfortable as possible during testing and will not “force” students to get tested if they are unwilling or do not have parental consent. 

2. How do I consent to have my child tested at school?  

Please complete the parent consent form for each of your children. 

3. How many people need to be tested to keep schools open? 

A total of 20% of 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 proportionately spread across the month with 10% the maximum/minimum to be tested biweekly. If we do not meet the testing requirements, it is our understanding that we must switch to fully online instruction. 

4. What is the process for selecting students for testing? 

We will create a confidential database for each building that includes the names of all eligible students and staff members. Taking into account which students at which locations have consented to testing, we will randomly select the students to be tested. 

5. Can I be present when my child is tested? 

Parents and guardians may not be present for testing during the school day as we must limit the number of people within our school buildings. 

6. What if I prefer to get my child tested offsite? 

You can get your child tested by your healthcare provider or at any testing site. In order for those tests to “count” toward the 20% threshold, results need to be provided to your school nurse within a week. If it is your intention to test offsite, please notify the school and indicate when your child will be tested. 

7. If I do not consent to testing, will my child be forced to switch to fully online instruction?  

Your child can continue to be part of the in-person learning model as long as we have enough volunteers for the random 20% testing and if his/her name is not randomly selected for testing. If a student who is randomly selected for testing does not have a consent form on file with the district, we will call you to discuss your options. If you continue to decline consent, your child will have to go to an alternative home learning model for 10 days from the date the test was supposed to be administered, as not being tested would be a presumed positive test result (this would be presumptive isolation, not a quarantine due to exposure). The 10 days will remain in effect even if the district’s test results remove them from the yellow zone. 

8. If I don’t consent now, will I have an opportunity to reconsider? 

Yes. Depending on the number of parents who consent, we could have to solicit more volunteers to test in future weeks. If that happens, we would send another email asking new families to consent.

9. Can parents or family members get tested too? 

No, schools only get enough tests to accommodate 20% of our school population, so unfortunately, we cannot test family members. 

10. What happens if a student tests positive? 

If your child tests positive, an administrator will notify you and you will need to pick-up your child. In addition, we share that information with Saratoga County Public Health Services to contact you to discuss next steps. Just a reminder – if a student tests positive, the whole family (i.e. siblings) will be sent home from school per the district's Reopening Plan.

11. Why is the rapid test being used?

The rationale of using the rapid test versus the PCR test is that these tests will be done on students and staff who are asymptomatic. If a person tests positive with the rapid test, they will be separated and need to get an additional PCR test for confirmation.

12. Is it possible that schools will still have to switch to fully online instruction?  

Yes. If cases continue to rise, we may need to switch to fully online instruction. In addition, if a significant number of staff are placed in mandatory quarantine, this could require the district to temporarily shift a class or school building to online instruction.