Our plan will be reviewed and changes will be made as needed.

The district is hiring licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) who have experience working with children and will be trained to perform the tests. These individuals are not currently working, as their school districts are fully remote.

The BinaxNow test is best described as a non-invasive nostril swab. Please watch a demonstration of the test by one of our LCSD students. 

Results will be ready within approximately 15 minutes of taking the test. Parents will be notified immediately if their child tests positive.

The district will adhere to all privacy laws, as it does with all other matters involving our students, faculty, and staff.

Each building principal is working in concert with our school nurses and other school employees to create a process specific to each building.

Yes. That is, if the region remains "yellow" or better and there are enough members (20% per week) of the LCSD community testing, your child will be able to attend school. However, if the region is moved to "orange" or "red," then everyone (100%) who is in-person instructing would have to test or the district would remain in remote instruction until the region returned to "yellow."

No, it is a shallow nostril swab. Please view the Binaxnow video for specific testing information.

No.

NYS has set specific metrics regarding the percentage of students, faculty, and staff that must be tested. If LCSD cannot meet those requirements, then we will not be able to offer in-person instruction.

This test is of minimal discomfort for all who take part. Please see this short Binaxnow video to gain a better understanding of the tests that will be utilized.

Testing will occur at school. Each school (principal and school nurse) has met and will continue to meet to operationalize the testing. As we move forward and learn from our experiences, other options may be entertained.

The testing kits will be provided "free" by the NYSDOH. Certainly the tests were not "free," but the test kit cost burden is not on the Lancaster CSD.

We get it. Your children are more important to you than anything else. As we begin this new adventure, we are hoping there is a critical mass of parents who feel comfortable not being present, as this will speed up the process and give us the opportunity to maximize our testing efficiency. With the size of our district, we will have to do over 300 tests per day. At this time testing will happen in our schools, and due to COVID restrictions visitors cannot enter the buildings. In later stages of testing we may be able to move to a drive-through option, which would avail parents the opportunity to be present.

Before testing, the district will send an email notifying parents that their child has been selected.

If all families consent to testing, it will occur approximately every five weeks. However, there is the possibility children may receive multiple tests.

No.

Positive tests will be reported to the Erie County Department of Health. As always, the district will strictly adhere to all privacy laws, as it does with all other matters involving our students, faculty, and staff.