COVID-19 Testing Survey for Parents/Guardians of AECSD Hybrid Students Due 11/24

Dear Auburn Families,
 
There have been rumors going around the community saying the Auburn Enlarged City School District will be closing between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. These rumors are simply NOT true. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that our doors remain open and that we continue with our in-person hybrid learning model as long as it continues to be safe to do so.
 
With that being said, the Auburn Enlarged City School District is planning ahead in case New York State identifies our region as a focus zone experiencing an increase in COVID spread. If that happens, the state will designate our county a Yellow Zone, which means our school district will be required to test 20% of in-person students and employees over the two-week period immediately following the announcement of a yellow zone designation in order to be able to stay open for in-person instruction. These designations are determined by many parameters, not just the 7-day rolling average rate.
 
We are asking all in-person employees and parents of in-person learners of the Auburn Enlarged City School District to fill out a survey to determine willingness to be tested for COVID-19. The test is called BinaxNOW, and it is a FREE, non-invasive simple nasal swab that produces results in approximately 15 minutes. Testing would be done during regular school hours and right in the school buildings. If we do end up moving forward with the testing, we will send out further notification regarding when and how it will take place.
 
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 in our school district will no longer be required to continue. A positivity rate in a school that is lower than in the yellow zone is a sufficient demonstration that in-person instruction is not a significant driver of local viral spread. However, if the results of the testing over the first two weeks reveal that the positivity rate among in-person students and employees is higher than the Yellow Zone’s current 7-day positivity rate, the school will be required to continue to test 20% of the in-person population on a bi-weekly basis.

Survey Link

COVID-19 Testing Survey for Parents/Guardians of AECSD Hybrid Students

 
Please complete this survey by the end of the day Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
 
*Please be sure to fill out a survey for each in-person hybrid learner in your household.