The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) has authorized schools in Erie County to begin utilizing a commonly used Test to Stay (TTS) strategy that limits student quarantines that is already in place in many areas of NYS. This has been implemented to help decrease the number of students placed in a mandatory quarantine when determined to be a close contact to a person that has tested positive for COVID within school. 

Please read the following Test to Stay Letter from Superintendent Wright describing the Test to Stay Program that the Cheektowaga Central School District (CSD) will be starting on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.

We ask that you fill out the Test to Stay Consent Form for each of your school age children. Filling out this form will allow your child to participate in the Cheektowaga CSD Test to Stay program at school for the 2021-2022 school year.

Q: Can my child participate in the Test to Stay (TTS) program if their exposure occurred outside of school?

A: No. The exposure must have occurred in the school setting and while both the person with COVID-19 (called the “index patient”) and exposed student/person were consistently and properly masked.

Q: What if I choose not to have my student participate in the TTS program?

A: Students who are unvaccinated and whose families choose not to have them participate in the TTS program will be required to quarantine for 10 days after exposure as required by ECDOH.

Q: Is there a cost or fee to participate in the TTS program?

A: No. There is no cost or fee for a student to participate in the TTS program.

Q: When will the daily rapid antigen test be administered to my child if he or she is not vaccinated, identified as a “close contact” and was exposed in school?

A: The daily rapid antigen test must be administered to unvaccinated, identified “close contact” students who were exposed in school AND whose parent has granted CONSENT to participate in the program PRIOR to the start of the school day. The ECDOH requires that the TEST TO STAY be administered at school and the test(s) cannot be administered in the home. The Cheektowaga CSD will be testing students for the TEST TO STAY program as identified (identified as a “close contact”, exposed at school, unvaccinated and with parental consent) before the school day starts as follows:

Location: Cheektowaga High School, entry at door #5 ONLY.
Time: High School Students beginning at 6:30-7:15 AM
Middle School Students beginning at 7:15-7:45 AM
Union East Elementary Students beginning at 8:00-8:30 AM

Monday through Friday each week.

Process: ALL K-12 identified students will be tested on the main campus in the High School located at 3600 Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. Students and parents accompanying their child should arrive on the main campus and park in the parking lot to the left of the high school. Entry will be at door #5 ONLY which is behind the high school directly next to the parking lot. Upon entry, the identified student and parent should make the first left once inside the door, speak with the registration staff member/attendance and be tested. The child will then be directed into the high school auditorium to wait while the test is timed. Results of the test will be provided to the parent as positive or negative. If negative, the child can attend school and if positive, the child will be isolated and sent home. All test results are reported to the County of Erie and the New York State Department of Health.

Q: Can my child ride the bus when participating in the TTS program?

A: Yes. While participating in the TTS program, testing negative and while a-symptomatic, your child can ride the bus.

Q: Can my child participate in activities outside of the school day (clubs,activities, after school sports)?

A: No. TEST TO STAY as per the NYSDOH, does not permit a student to participate in sports, extracurricular activities or other activities at school outside of the school day for the duration of the 10 day quarantine period.

Q: Is daily testing required on weekends and holidays?

A: No. Daily testing as part of the TTS program is only required on days when school is in session (weekends and holidays are excluded). Tests will therefore not be administered on weekends or holidays.

Q: What if my child develops symptoms during the time he or she is participating in the program?

A: If your child who is participating in the TTS program develops symptoms or becomes symptomatic, he or she must be excluded from the school as per the current ECDOH guidance.

SYMPTOMS at SCHOOL or (SAS):

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat

If your child participates in the TTS program is negative, he or she will go to school. If he or she tests positive, they are isolated and sent home immediately. It has long been our practice to send student home if they come to our school clinics with a fever, vomiting or diarrhea and that will continue. Please remember to NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK WITH THESE SYMPTOMS.

Download a PDF copy of the Test to Stay Program Commonly Asked Questions.

Download a PDF copy of the Test to Stay Program Protocols.