Jed Hamberger, superintendent of the Oswayo Valley School District, said that district signed up for the state's COVID-19 tests as soon as they could.
“Our whole entire goal is to keep kids in school and in-person instruction," Hamberger said. "For us to be able to alleviate the quarantine timelines is why we really wanted to have those tests on hand, so that when we have students that aren’t showing symptoms or staff members that aren’t showing symptoms, then we can do one of those tests and get them back through the door much quicker.”
Under a state program, K -12 schools in Pennsylvania can sign up for free COVID-19 testing. Schools that participate have a few options.
The rural Oswayo Valley School District in northern Pennsylvania serves students in Potter County and some from McKean County. The district opted to have the testing available to use as needed.
Hamberger said rapid results are one of the benefits.
“It’s also helped us trace which students are showing some symptoms and which ones are not, because parents are much more open if they can get a rapid antigen test than they are if they have to go to a doctor or go see their PCP or whoever it is to get a test," he said.
According to the state Department of Health, so far 148 schools are actively testing in the program.
