Robbinsdale Area Schools

COVID-19 testing for schools

COVID-19 testing for schools

Dear Robbinsdale Area Schools families,

As we begin this school year, we are committed to using every tool available to keep our students, staff and families healthy and make sure our students can continue to learn in their classrooms. 

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have announced COVID-19 testing resources that will be available for schools this year. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 8, Robbinsdale Area Schools will provide Vault saliva test kits for both students and staff to be administered at home over Zoom. 

  • These tests are optional, free of cost and can be picked up from your school nurse in the school health office. 

  • People will register for a Vault Health account and test kit at covidtest.vaulthealth.com.

  • Instructions for taking the tests can be found here.

  • Upon taking the test, families and staff should place the completed test in the provided small biohazard bag. The bag should be returned to school and placed at the designated test collection location within the building. Schools will arrange pick-up.

  • Results are typically available from Vault Health within 48 hours of being received at the testing laboratory sites. 

  • Families and staff should inform the district of positive results by completing an online COVID Reporting Form so that steps can be taken to prevent the spread of the virus to other students and staff. 

  • Symptomatic students and staff who completed testing and were negative should inform their school nurse of the negative test results so they can return to school. 

Additional information about our COVID-19 plan is available at rdale.org/covid/updates.

Based on current levels of community spread across Minnesota, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and MDH recommend that all unvaccinated school-age children and school staff get tested for COVID-19 at least weekly throughout the school year. Unvaccinated children involved in extracurricular activities or sports should be tested more frequently. Vaccinated students and school staff should get tested if they are experiencing symptoms or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19.
 

Sincerely,

David Engstrom
Superintendent
Robbinsdale Area Schools

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