In our efforts to keep students healthy and in school, District 54 will once again be offering optional COVID screening testing. This year instead of testing at school, families opting in to SHIELD testing will receive a test kit for each child each month. The test kits will contain 4 vials for sample collection.
Every Tuesday, students will take their sample at home, seal it in a biohazard bag and drop the bag in a test collecting bin at school. Please note, this unobserved testing is only approved in Illinois for students in grade 1 and older. District 54 maintains a supply of rapid tests in our nurse offices that are available for students in early childhood through eighth grade upon parental request.
At this time, we are asking all families to log into their portal account and make a selection for each child by Friday, August 5, 2022. This will allow us to order adequate supplies and send home test kits the week of August 22. If you do not have a portal account, please email [email protected] for assistance in creating an account. If you continue to have issues signing up, please call the main office for assistance.
Once you log into your account, you will see a new tab called Surveys (see image below). After clicking on the tab, you will see the names of all your children. Click on each child’s name and answer select Yes or No when asked if you want to opt that child into the optional weekly SHIELD test.
SHIELD testing requires students to spit in a vial, which will be sent to a lab for processing. Results are usually available within 24 hours. Any positive results will be shared with parents/guardians, District 54 and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Parents/guardians who opt children in for testing will receive a follow-up email with detailed information about how to access their children’s results online.
Dooley Elementary