BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) "This is a game changer for students and families in our community right now." Grand Island School Superintendent Dr. Brian Graham says the Test to Stay pilot program that began in his district this week,
has tremendous potential.
The pilot program, which started Monday, has shown that all students, so far, who have been identified as being a close contact to a person who tested positive for Covid, have tested negative and have been allowed to stay in school and continue learning.
Twenty two students were tested in five district school buildings on Monday.
All tested negative.
Twenty four students were tested Tuesday. All tested negative and remained in school.
If Grand Island was not participating in a Test to Stay program, all of these students would not have been allowed in school and would have been placed in quarantine.
The program allows students, who wish to avoid quarantine, an option to test
negative in a rapid test for seven consecutive days after a possible exposure.
"For families to have this option," Graham reiterated, "is a game changer."
There are three options for families with Test to Stay in Grand Island.
*They can keep their child in quarantine.
* They can consider having their child become fully vaccinated
* They can consider participating in the Test to Stay program
Grand Island families are being asked to participate on a case by case basis when there is a close contact. Graham says families that have agreed to participate are seeing outstanding results.
Grand Island schools have partnered with Buffalo Homecare Inc. for the Test to Stay program. They provide medical professionals in each building in the district before the school day starts. The Erie County Department of Health is providing the antigen tests.
The testing starts at 8am, one hour before the school day starts, in the district's three elementary schools. It starts a half hour before the school day in the middle and high school.
Could the program be expanded to other districts in the county? Graham is hoping for a collaborative spirit between Erie and Monroe Counties. Test to Stay was implemented throughout Monroe County schools a week before Grand Island's program.
Graham is hearing similar, positive results from Monroe County. "I have spoken with personnel in one district and they were very, very pleased with the results so far."
Other states have implemented Test to Stay programs including Massachusetts and Utah.
