The latest focus of the local school divisions is the rollout of rapid COVID-19 testing in schools.
The province recently announced that school systems will be rolling out the testing. The main challenge right now is finding people or organizations willing to do the testing.
This week a call went out to Battlefords Chamber of Commerce members encouraging people to come forward. The Chamber shared email correspondence from Cory Rideout, director of education for Light of Christ School Division, encouraging people to apply.
鈥淎s discussed, there is currently a RFPQ posted by the Ministry of Health on SaskTenders for 鈥楻apid Antigen Testing for COVID-19鈥� (Competition 7983). These tests do not need to be administered by health professionals. Anyone, after taking a 90 minute training session provided by SHA, can administer the tests. If there are any Chamber members who are interested in entering this competition, please pass on this notice to them.鈥�
Over at the Living Sky School Division鈥檚 board meeting Wednesday night, rapid testing was also a top topic. It was confirmed at that meeting that lay people will be able to administer the tests.
Their director of education Brenda Vickers reported they are still looking for service providers for the rapid testing and the RFPQ is still out.
She also reported the division鈥檚 superintendent of student services Nancy Schultz had been in touch with the regional medical health officer Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu about the rapid tests and the potential for them to be in schools.
Vickers said 鈥渘ot everything is clear about when and how and even why the tests would be used.鈥� The indication at the meeting is there are still many details that need to be thought through.
What they at the division have decided to do, Vickers said, is wait for the medical health professionals to have their meeting scheduled for Thursday, and they would work with the local medical health officer and follow the health recommendations.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to let them lead on this one,鈥� said Vickers.
