Dear Snook ISD Parents,
In Snook ISD, we are 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 are participating in the COVID‐19 Rapid Testing Program for Texas school systems. The Texas Education Agency (TEA), and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) are working with districts to implement this program. This program will allow employees and students (with permission from parents) to be tested free of charge with the BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Rapid Ag test provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While there is flexibility given in implementing this program, Snook ISD will focus on symptomatic testing of students and staff at this time. This email offers information on the tests and the testing program. A more detailed FAQ is available here. If you have additional questions, contact Nurse Emily Vacha, RN at vachae@snookisd.org or Superintendent Brenda Krchnak at krchnakb@snookisd.org.
What COVID-19 tests are used in this program?
This program uses BinaxNOW tests, which provide results in 15 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?
Tests are available to all students and staff who are showing symptoms of COVID-19. To participate, parents must complete the consent form. You only have to complete the form once per child. Please download and sign the consent form and return to the school. The first date testing will be available is September 1, 2021. Your child will not be tested without a signed consent form.
How will the information from the tests be used?
If a parent has given permission for Snook 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 within 1 hour and will also receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.
The results will also be shared with the school/district and with the Texas Department of State Health Services as is required by law.
What happens next?
If your child is experiencing symptoms and you would like for them to be tested, please do NOT send the student to campus. Instead, call Nurse Vacha at 979-272-8307 to schedule a time that she can come out to your vehicle to do the testing.