As you are most likely aware, COVID-19 cases are on the rise everywhere, including in our region.  The State has instituted a cluster migration strategy to help protect citizens living in an area with a significant uptick in cases, as well as to hopefully prevent transmission in surrounding areas.  Red zones are areas of micro-cluster, orange and yellow zones are buffering areas to prevent spread.  Additionally, orange and yellow zones can be designated independently based upon case metrics.

If Warrensburg Central School District is identified as being in a yellow zone, the school is mandated to test 20% of the school community.  Therefore, Warrensburg Central School District is seeking your consent to test your child for COVID-19 infection. If you consent, your child may receive a free diagnostic test for the COVID-19 virus that will be administered by a certified or licensed medical provider (CNA, LPN, or RN). A rapid COVID-19 test will be used, which involves inserting a small swab, similar to a Q-Tip, into the front of the nose. We will notify you if your child tests positive for COVID-19. Any students who test positive will be sent home and must be kept at home until meeting the Warren County Department of Public Health criteria to return to school. Please contact your child’s doctor immediately to review the test results should your child test positive for COVID-19.

The law requires and/or allows some information about your child to be shared with Warren County, New York State Public Health Agencies and appropriate Warrensburg Central School District officials. This includes notifying the Warren County Department of Public Health about the COVID-19 results of each student who is tested, including the student’s name, date of birth, race, ethnicity, gender, address, phone number, and result of the COVID-19 test. By signing below, I attest that:

• I have signed this form freely and voluntarily, and I am legally authorized to make decisions for the child named above.

• I authorize Warrensburg Central School District to test my child for COVID-19 infection.

• I understand that my child may be tested at multiple times during the 2020-2021 school year.

• I understand that this consent form will be valid through June 30, 2021, unless I revoke such consent in writing.

• I authorize my child’s test results and other information to be disclosed to any governmental entity as may be required or permitted by law.

• I acknowledge that a positive test result will require my child to be sent home from school and remain at home until he/she meets the criteria to return to school according to the Warren County Department of Public Health.

• I understand that this testing does not replace treatment by my child’s medical provider, and I assume complete and full responsibility to take appropriate action regarding my child’s test results. I agree that I will seek medical advice, care, and treatment for my child from his/her medical provider if I have questions or concerns or if I become ill or my condition worsens.

• I understand that, as with any medical test, there is the potential for a false positive or false negative COVID-19 test result.

(If you have more than one child, please complete a separate form for each one.)