Ysleta ISD could stop weekly Covid-19 rapid testing

EL PASO, Texas -- The Yselta Independent School District could likely discontinue its weekly Covid-19 rapid testing for students due to several factors, including the district's positivity rate that district officials say is on the decline.

During a board meeting on Sept. 15, Lynly Leeper, YISD's chief financial and operational officer recommended to the board that rapid testing only be conducted for those who were exposed and symptomatic.

Leeper stated that the Texas Department of Emergency Management through Texas Education Agency have provided all COVID testing supplies, as well as personal protective equipment.

TDEM will no longer be providing those supplies. The TEA however will be able to provide an allocation to school districts to get its own rapid tests from one of its approved vendors.

Leeper said during the board meeting that YISD would have to recreate its entire tracking system. “The challenge will be not getting the tests," she told the board. "The challenge will be getting the data into our system."

Another reason for the recommendation is YISD's positivity rate on the decline and only seven new cases among students have been reported in the last week.

“I can tell you that our nurses and staff are very tired....This is a huge burden on campus staff to conduct testing Monday mornings," Leeper said.

Leeper added that the district does have enough tests to last until October, even November for those who need a test.

If a large Covid-19 outbreak were to occur, Leeper believes the district's software engineering team could re-create a new tracking system, if need be.

You can watch the board meeting in its entirety below.