Superintendent McDonald gives update on COVID-19 testing

November 13, 2020
 
Dear parents and guardians,
 
Since the governor announced on Monday that our District was part of the yellow micro-cluster zone, we have been working to navigate the testing protocols required in order to keep our school buildings open to in-person instruction. Testing will begin next week.
 
We are pleased to announce that with the help of our school nurses, Onondaga County will be able to conduct COVID-19 testing at all four of our schools that fall within the yellow zone. Students and staff at Palmer Elementary School and Elden Elementary School will be tested on Wednesday, November 18th and testing will be held at Durgee Junior High School and C.W. Baker High School on Friday, November 20th.
 
We will not test a student without consent from their parent or guardian. Families will give consent by registering online prior to the day of testing. Once the registration link is available, we will send it out to Palmer, Elden, Baker, and Durgee families and staff. Registration will close as soon as we have reached the required number of tests. We are required to test 20 percent of the in-person population at each school, which is about 550 people each week.
 
I want to remind families that we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions, which will be updated as more information becomes available. The FAQ document can be found on our District website.
 
We appreciate your support and understanding on this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.
 
Sincerely,

Matthew J. McDonald
Superintendent of Schools