Medford Public Schools Transitions to COVID-19 Pooled Testing for Students by Jackie Rosetti Piques

 

New post on City of Medford

Medford Public Schools Transitions to COVID-19 Pooled Testing for Students by Jackie Piques MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSITIONS TO COVID-19 POOLED TESTING FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF IN FEBRUARY THANKS TO PARTNERSHIP WITH TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH PHASED-IN HYBRID APPROACH SINCE SEPTEMBER, BEGAN SURVEILLANCE TESTING STUDENTS IN NOVEMBER, VIRTUALLY NO EVIDENCE OF IN-SCHOOL TRANSMISSION AMONG STUDENTS TO DATE  Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Superintendent of Schools Marice Edouard-Vincent, and Tufts University President Anthony Monaco announced this week that the Medford Public Schools moved to the novel pooled testing model for COVID-19 for students and staff this month. With the support of the COVID-19 testing program partnership with Tufts University and the Medford Board of Health, the Medford Public Schools successfully reopened school buildings for in-person learning beginning in September 2020, and currently has all grades (K through 12) enrolled in a hybrid model (except for families who opted for fully remote). To date, MPS and the City administration, with support from the School Committee and City Council, utilized nearly $2.7M in City CARES Act funding and an additional $1.6M in federal and state COVID-19 funding allocations to the district to: Replace and/or repair HVAC and filtration systems and other infrastructure needs, Purchase Personal Protective Equipment for staff and teachers, Update physical classroom and common space areas to accommodate for social distancing and sanitizing stations in each building, and Provide instructional technology for teachers, and educational technology for students. As a result, the COVID-19 positivity rate among students and staff has remained very low, and there has been virtually no evidence of in-school transmission among students to date. By request, Medford Public Schools recently began advising and offering site visits to surrounding school districts. “From day one, our priority has been getting students in all grades back into the classroom and having access to not only the educational resources, but also the social and emotional resources that students need. Thanks to the incredibly hard work by the Medford Public Schools staff, our Board of Health, teachers, and administration, and thanks in large part to the partnership with Tufts University and this testing program, we were able not only to get students back into school settings very early on but we have been able to keep schools open and keep students, staff, and families healthy and safe,” said Mayor Lungo-Koehn. “With this extraordinary testing program, our millions of dollars in COVID-related improvements to school infrastructure, and the incredible work of our team, I am so proud to say that the Medford Public Schools have become a model that surrounding communities have looked to for leadership. I am incredibly thankful to the Medford Board of Health, Medford Public Schools administration, the Medford Teachers Association, the Medford School Committee, staff, and families for working tirelessly on behalf of our kids.” “We were laser focused on how we could get students back into school, not only for the academics but just as important to be able to provide in-person social emotional support. With our three core values of safety, equity and consistency guiding our way, we knew that testing would play a crucial role in helping to get students and staff back safely,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent. “We are grateful to have been able to collaborate with our partners, Tufts University and the City of Medford, to make this testing happen. I must thank Mayor Lungo-Koehn, President Anthony Monaco, the Medford School Committee, School Health Services Supervisor Toni Wray and all of the school nurses, the City’s Board of Health Director MaryAnn O’Connor, our administrators, teachers, staff, students and families, for all coming together to make in-school education a reality here in Medford. The Mustang Community is extremely grateful for the amazing partnerships formed to move our district into in-person learning.” Since September 2020, Tufts University has partnered with the City of Medford to provide testing to staff within the Medford Public Schools. Student testing began in November 2020 using the individual testing model. Costs for individual testing were split evenly between the City and the University. Pooled testing requires only a fraction of the lab analysis but has been proven to be an effective testing strategy, it costs only a fraction of the cost of individual testing, and quickly and accurately detects early infection. In October 2020, the Cities of Medford and Somerville, and Tufts University announced the pooled testing model and plans to shift to pooled testing early in 2021. Beginning on February 4, 2021, the Medford Public Schools transitioned to pooled testing for students and staff in grades K-12, shifting away from the individual surveillance testing model. Of 2,600 pooled tests last week, only one positive pool was identified. Notably, since student testing began in November 2020, this week marked the first week that testing revealed ZERO positive cases among individuals tested. “There is growing awareness across the country of the tremendous importance that safely reopening schools plays in the health and development of children of all ages,” said Anthony Monaco, Tufts University President. “The cities’ mayors are demonstrating true leadership by implementing this innovative program that will enable local schools to hold in-person classes while protecting public health in a cost-effective manner. We at Tufts are proud to have been able to share our expertise and actively support this initiative that will benefit our communities as a whole.” The Medford Public Schools currently remain on a hybrid learning schedule, with Cohort A (most vulnerable/highest needs students) in school four days per week, and Cohorts B and C in school two days per week. All students are in a remote learning model on Wednesdays. Testing is conducted twice per week – once each for Cohorts B and C, and twice for Cohort A and all staff – and is optional for students but mandatory for teachers. Participation in athletics also requires weekly testing for all student athletes. Medford Public Schools anticipates continuing with a pooled testing model for the duration of the school year.   Medford city services are available to all residents, regardless of economic situation, immigration status, ability, benefit eligibility, or religious affiliation.     ###         Jackie Piques | February 11, 2021 at 10:30 am | URL: https://www.medfordma.org/?p=19672

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