Plans are in place to attempt a return to in-person instruction the week of January 25. Since the Westmoreland Central School District is located in a “yellow zone,” the district must test at least 20 percent of its staff and student population for COVID-19 to potentially reopen, and remain open, to in-person instruction. 
The necessary amount of staff was already tested. Testing for students is scheduled as follows:
Monday, January 25 – Grades K-6
Tuesday, January 26 – Grades 7-12
All testing is free and will take place in the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria from 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Please use the side entrance.
Parents who would like their child or children to get tested, must contact their child’s or children’s school nurse(s) to make an appointment at least one day before the scheduled testing. While testing is voluntary, again, the district must test at least 20 percent of its student population to potentially reopen to in-person instruction.
School Nurses – Contact to Make a Testing Appointment
Jr./Sr. High School
Laura Martino, R.N.
(315) 557-2624
lmartino@westmorelandschool.org
Upper Elementary School
Sabrina Verdgeline, R.N.
(315) 557-2605
sverdgeline@westmorelandschool.org
Primary Elementary School
Alicia Brown, R.N.
(315) 557-2631
abrown@westmorelandschool.org
Important Testing Information 
· Testing will be conducted using rapid antigen tests manufactured by Abbott and provided for free by the New York State Department of Health.
· Testing is a simple and painless process. A swab similar to a Q-tip is briefly inserted into the lower part of the nose. Parents will be asked to administer the test on their child or children.
· Parent consent is needed for a student to be tested. Parents must also accompany their child or children to testing. Click here to download and print a parent consent form. Please fill out, sign and bring the form to your appointment. Some older students may be allowed to test without parent consent or a parent present. Please inquire with a school nurse.
· School nurses will be present for all testing.
· While results will be available in a relatively short amount of time, please leave after testing. Parents – if your child tests positive, you will be contacted the same day of testing.
· All results, negative and positive, will be reported to the New York State Department of Health. In addition to contacting parents, positive results will be immediately reported to the appropriate building principal and superintendent of schools.
· A student displaying COVID-19 symptoms will not be tested. Testing is intended for asymptomatic individuals only. Parents – if your child is experiencing symptoms the day of their test, do not show up for your appointment or enter school. Instead, contact your primary care doctor and go to another testing site.
If the overall testing results reveal the positivity rate among the 20 percent of those tested is lower than the “yellow zone’s” current seven-day positivity rate, testing will not be required to continue. If the testing results reveal the positivity rate among the 20 percent of those tested is higher than the “yellow zone’s” current seven-day positivity rate, a school district must test 20 percent of its students, faculty and staff on a bi-weekly basis for in-person instruction to continue.
Assuming testing does not reveal a significant number of positive cases, Primary and Upper Elementary students will return to in-person instruction on Tuesday, January 26, Jr./Sr. High School Cohort A students will return to in-person instruction on Wednesday, January 27, and Jr./Sr. High School Cohort B students will return to in-person instruction on Thursday, January 28.
For more information on the planned reopening of school from Superintendent of Schools Mr. Migliori, click here.
Thank you for your continued patience, understanding and support.