by Doug La Rocque
After some small delays, the school districts in The Eastwick Press coverage area have all reported they have received a supply of the at home COVID-19 tests kits promised over the past weekend by Governor Kathy Hochul. These kits are part of the Governor’s plan to help keep children in the classroom even if a classmate tests positive for the virus. Until this week, such classmates would have been subject to a 5- to 10-day quarantine. Governor Hochul is suggesting these at home test kits be used by parents if they wish to check their child for COVID-19 and if negative, they would be allowed to return to in-classroom learning under the districts’ COVID-19 protocols.
Each test kit contains two tests per student. As Hoosick Falls School Superintendent Pat Dailey stated in a letter to District parents, this is not a requirement that their children be tested, and any parent can opt out of the program if they wish. The plan at HFCS was to allow parents to pick up these tests kits on either Tuesday, January 4 or Wednesday, January 5. They could also request the test kits be sent home via backpack.
At the Brunswick Central School District, Superintendent Dr. Angelina Maloney told The Eastwick Press they had a very similar plan. She sent out a survey to parents, asking if they wanted the kits sent home or to pick them up. She also asked that if not interested, please let the District know so as not to waste the resources.
In Berlin, Superintendent Joseph Dhara said they began distributing the test kits through a parent pick-up program on Tuesday.
In New Lebanon, the School District was also planning on a parental test kit pick up on Tuesday, or later in the week if a parent requested in writing. The District joined all the other area schools in pointing out these kits are optional and not a School District or NYS requirement.
