Pooled testing involves students swabbing their noses with a short swab at school each week and staff collecting these swabs in a "pool."   Parents need to consent for their child to participate in pooled testing. The pooled sample is sent to a lab and tested for the COVID-19 virus and within 24 to 48 hours the district is notified of the results.

If the sample is positive, a second test will be given to students at school in the identified positive pool.  The positive case will be sent home.  Students who are part of pooled testing can remain in school. Students who do not participate in the pooled testing program are considered close contacts if the positive case is in their class or part of their daily schedule.  Per Maine CDC rules, unvaccinated close contacts must quarantine for 10 days.

The main advantages of pooled testing are that it (1) reduces the number of students who have to quarantine for 10 days if there is a positive case in the school and (2) helps identify positive cases more quickly and reduce the risk of viral spread in school.

The Maine Department of Education recommends that schools participate in the pooled testing program.  Before making a decision about this program, we want to get feedback from St. George School families.

More information about pool testing is available on the Department of Education website (https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19/toolkit#pooled) as well as this FAQ (https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/Pooled%20PCR%20Testing%20FAQ_v.3_6.10.21.pdf)

Thank you,

Mike Felton, St. George MSU Superintendent