Letter: COVID-19 updates to testing, tutorial program
IMPORTANT COVID-19 PROGRAM UPDATES
Jan. 20, 2023
Dear OCSD Community,
I am writing to share the latest updates on the district’s COVID-19 free testing program and tutorial services for students who have a positive COVID-19 case.
Free COVID-19 Testing
Throughout the last year the district has been participating in the Federal Government’s Operation Expanded Testing Program, which was administered through Affinity Empowering, a national corporation that provided free COVID- 19 surveillance testing to school districts.
Recently, the district was notified the program was discontinued effective immediately. Given this information, the district will no longer be able to provide this program to our students and staff.
However, in the absence of this program the district will continue to provide parents and staff with free COVID-19 testing kits (while supplies last), and/or refer parents, guardians and staff to local facilities that provide COVID- 19 testing. Parents and guardians should also note many health insurance plans allow for a certain number of free tests through pharmacies as another possible path to explore.
COVID-19 Tutorial Program
Aside from this, the district will also no longer be providing online tutorial services for our K-12 students who have tested positive for COVID-19. This is due to low participation rates in this program.
Accordingly, the district will now return to its pre-pandemic practice. When students are ill, we will save their missed work and provide it to students and their families when they return to school. Please be advised, this change is being enacted effective immediately.
COVID-19 Hotline
Lastly, parents and/or guardians should know that the district will continue to operate its COVID-19 hotline until the end of this school year. The hotline has been organized to answer COVID-19 questions that parents and/or guardians and staff might have about COVID-19 related concerns. The hotline phone number is 315-341-2050.
Should any parent or guardian have any questions or concerns about any of these changes, we request that you reach out to your child’s principal to discuss them.
Yours in Education,
Mathis Calvin III, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Dear OCSD Community,
I am writing to share the latest updates on the district’s COVID-19 free testing program and tutorial services for students who have a positive COVID-19 case.
Free COVID-19 Testing
Throughout the last year the district has been participating in the Federal Government’s Operation Expanded Testing Program, which was administered through Affinity Empowering, a national corporation that provided free COVID- 19 surveillance testing to school districts.
Recently, the district was notified the program was discontinued effective immediately. Given this information, the district will no longer be able to provide this program to our students and staff.
However, in the absence of this program the district will continue to provide parents and staff with free COVID-19 testing kits (while supplies last), and/or refer parents, guardians and staff to local facilities that provide COVID- 19 testing. Parents and guardians should also note many health insurance plans allow for a certain number of free tests through pharmacies as another possible path to explore.
COVID-19 Tutorial Program
Aside from this, the district will also no longer be providing online tutorial services for our K-12 students who have tested positive for COVID-19. This is due to low participation rates in this program.
Accordingly, the district will now return to its pre-pandemic practice. When students are ill, we will save their missed work and provide it to students and their families when they return to school. Please be advised, this change is being enacted effective immediately.
COVID-19 Hotline
Lastly, parents and/or guardians should know that the district will continue to operate its COVID-19 hotline until the end of this school year. The hotline has been organized to answer COVID-19 questions that parents and/or guardians and staff might have about COVID-19 related concerns. The hotline phone number is 315-341-2050.
Should any parent or guardian have any questions or concerns about any of these changes, we request that you reach out to your child’s principal to discuss them.
Yours in Education,
Mathis Calvin III, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
