PEORIA, Ill. — With students returning to Peoria Public Schools in phases, the Board of Education Monday night approved the policy for testing students.
Thanks to a $200,000 gift from the Gilmore Foundation, which was matched by Reditus Labs, the tests will be of no cost to the school district.
According to Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, Reditus will provide employees to be at each high school to provide the tests.
Each high school will provide the test administer a location within the building for students to be tested, said Kherat.
Students will be tested periodically on a set schedule similar to the A/B scheduling the school has used in return to school plans.
Director of Transportation Josh Collins said the number of students tested each day will depend on how many each school can handle.
“Each school will make a determination on how many students they can test in a day without major interruption,” said Collins.
“Any students, that are attending in person, there is an expectation they will submit to COVID-19 testing.”
However, Collins says those who do not want to be tested can fill out paperwork saying so. It then has to be accepted by administration.
For example, Collins said, if a school can test 50 students; then 50 will be tested everyday until all students have been tested before starting the cycle over again.
Kherat says the tests that are provided by Reditus labs have a quick turnaround.
“It’s non-invasive . . . where results will be available within 48 hours,” she said.
She added that the hope is that the same student can be tested twice a week.
Board member Dr. Anni Reinking questioned if there were any HIPAA violations possible with this procedure, and she was told there were no violations because names would not be announced.
