Oakwood ISD Parents and Students,
Oakwood ISD is committed to doing all we can to keep staff and students healthy and safe. With this goal in mind, we are pleased to share that we will be taking part in a statewide program offering rapid tests for use in schools. This program will allow Oakwood ISD to test both symptomatic and asymptomatic staff and students-- and reduce the risk to our school and community. This notification offers further information on the tests and the testing program. If you have additional questions, please contact Russell Holden at 903-545-2600 or at rholden@oakwoodisd.net.
What COVID-19 tests are used in this program?
This program uses BinaxNOW tests, which provide results in 15-20 minutes and are administered using a nasal swab in the front area of the nostril. These tests have been shown to be highly accurate, with accuracy rates of 97-98% for symptomatic individuals.
Who will be tested and when?
We will be offering these tests on a daily basis as needed to students and staff that are on campus. Campus administration will determine who qualifies for testing. The tests will be phased in starting with student and staff members that are symptomatic first, then moving on to the asymptomatic staff and students. These tests are optional, but we encourage all staff and students who are on campus to participate in the testing program.
How will the information from the tests be used?
If a parent has given permission for Oakwood ISD to administer the BinaxNOW test for their child, your child’s school will call you to let you know that your student is experiencing symptoms and that they will be administering a BinaxNOW test. The test administrator will also call to share the results after the test has been administered. Additionally, the student’s parent or guardian will receive test results via text and will also receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.
The results will also be shared with the school administration, district administration, and TEA to allow for public health reporting and contact tracing and to determine the stay-at-home period for individuals who test positive. Additionally, the total number of positive tests per school will also be shared with the Texas Department of State Health Services as is required by law.
What happens next?
Tests are available to all students who are showing symptoms of COVID-19. To participate, parents must complete the parent authorization form. The first date testing will be available is January 6, 2020. A copy of this notification and the parent authorization form will be sent home today (Jan. 6, 2021) to all Oakwood ISD students.
If your child is experiencing symptoms and you would like for him/ her to be tested, please do NOT send him/her to campus. Instead contact Traci Bynum (903-545-2106) for additional testing information. Students that are already on campus will be tested in the nurses office following all safety protocols.
Testing is limited only to Oakwood ISD students and staff. We are unable to offer testing to any other individuals due to Covid safety concerns and a very limited number of tests that are available to our school.