Test Kit Pickup (& Delivery Option) - Rensselaer City School District

Members of the Rensselaer City School District Community:

We had quite a few parents come in to pick up at-home tests today. We will continue to make 1 per student available for optional parent pick-up in both the VRES and JrSr High offices this week. We also had several requests to have tests sent home with students. We were advised not to use that method, but will make an exception for anyone that submits a request in writing (or email). VRES parents may email a student’s teacher with the request and JrSr high parents can email acoulombe@rcsd.k12.ny.us to request that their child bring one home. We will do our best to honor those requests in a timely manner.

At-Home Testing Procedures

The at-home test kits provide results within 15 minutes. Instructions are included in the test kits.
These kits are meant to be used as a voluntary screening tool for concerned parents. There is no requirement to use them immediately if you choose to pick one up.
Anyone who tests positive on an at-home test should immediately report their results to the school and begin isolating. Students testing positive using an at-home test kit must complete a lab-confirmed COVID test. Please visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you to find a nearby testing site or contact your pediatrician.
Students who test positive must isolate for 10 days and can return to school on day 11 if there is symptom resolution. At this time, individuals cannot test out of quarantine or isolation.

We have made a minor change to the VRES pickup process. The students released to parents that come up to the door will be escorted out to one parent at a time. This option was made to assist parents that were not comfortable with their children coming out to the parking lot. This will ensure direct delivery of those students. Thanks to the parents that suggested the incremental safety improvement. We always appreciate the teamwork in improving safety!

We have been notified of 1 more staff member and 9 students that have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Only one of these students was in the building today. We continue to see cases that originated over the holiday break. Please remember to send students to school with a mask and to keep the kids home if they have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. We will get through this together.

Joe