School leaders agree to COVID pooled testing program

By Mike Berger

With its application completed and accepted, the Canton Public Schools is moving forward with a COVID-19 pool testing program offered by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Department of Public Health.

Although absent from the February 4 School Committee meeting, School Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller made the announcement through a report read by Assistant Superintendent Derek Folan.

Pooled testing involves mixing 10 to 25 test samples together in a ‘batch’ or ‘pool’ and then testing the pooled sample with a PCR test for detection of COVID-19.

This approach, as previously explained by Fischer-Mueller, increases the number of individuals that can be tested using the same amount of resources as a single test.

“The test is performed at least once per week and results are delivered within 24 to 48 hours. If a pooled test result is negative, then all individuals within that pool are presumed negative and may remain in school. If the result is positive, then all individuals in the pool must quarantine until they are retested individually.

The district plans to begin conducting pooled testing after February vacation. The schools will be working with an outside vendor, Concentric by Gingko, to finalize plans to implement the initiative. School Business Administrator Barry Nectow said he is working on the logistics of the program, including who will administer the rapid test and where. The program is free to participating districts for the first six weeks. If CPS wants to continue with the program beyond that point, then the district would be responsible for all costs related to testing, administration and record keeping.

CPS to revisit ‘all-in’ model

In her report to the committee, Fischer-Mueller stressed the importance of having students return to school safely to the “greatest extent possible.” To that end, she announced plans to establish an “All-In” Steering Committee to refine the original “all-in” plan as outlined in the School Department’s August 2020 reopening plan. The committee will include representation from parents, students, teachers, administrators and health professionals and will work in collaboration with the Canton Health Department and the Board of Health.

Update on FY21 budget deficit

The School Department’s FY21 operating budget deficit, previously projected at $1.54 million, may not be as serious as first thought thanks to the infusion of government pandemic assistance funds.

“We are definitely in better shape with the additional government programs,” said Nectow. “The numbers are changing daily and there are still many wild cards out there.”

Nectow said the deficit will be made up using a combination of FinCom reserve funds ($370,000), Special Education Reserve funds and borrowing from various school revolving accounts, with the hope of replenishing the latter two sources via funding requests at the upcoming annual town meeting.

Nectow said the school district is receiving significantly more grant funding …

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