A non-invasive and rapid response COVID-19 test could be offered to Longview High School students and staff, if approved by district trustees.
The Longview Independent School District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting 12 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5th to consider a resolution allowing U.S. MedTest Affirmative Solutions Group to provide free COVID-19 tests to the first 200 LHS students who sign up.
If approved by the board, Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Wilcox said the tests would be “100 percent voluntary” and would require parental consent.
“This is going to be first-come-first-serve for our high school students and staff,” he said. “The test is non-invasive, with some results available in minutes, and all results posted to the district website.”
And free of charge to LISD taxpayers, Dr. Wilcox added.
“U.S. MedTest would be covering the costs and supplying staff to administer the tests,” he said. “So it’s a win-win for our students, staff, and community stakeholders.”
All test results will be confidential to comply with FERPA and HIPAA requirements, and any reports of positive cases would be completely anonymous.
The safety of Longview ISD students and staff is the “absolute top priority” for the administration and board, said Dr. Wilcox.
“We want all our students in LISD classrooms to ensure they have the most effective instruction possible,” he said. “Our district’s number one goal is to provide the most effective educational environment for our students and staff to be successful.”
Dr. Wilcox said the intention is to help implement a protocol for the State of Texas “to keep our schools open for the entire school year, by ensuring a safe workplace for all our teachers.”
Trustees will meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center (1301 E. Young Street), at 12 p.m., Monday, Oct. 5th.
Due to public health protocols currently in place, the public will not be admitted into the trustees' boardroom. The meeting will be streamed online at LISD.org/BoardroomLive.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.
