MUSD launches COVID-19 testing to ensure health and safety of staff, students, and community

More than 200 Milpitas Unified School District employees participated in its first routine run of COVID-19 staff testing on December 15-16 before schools headed into the Winter holiday break.

In total, 213 COVID-19 tests were completed and submitted through Curative, which partnered with the district to help administer the non-contact, drive-through testing process for certificated and classified staff. Of the 213 tests, 208 came back negative with one positive result and four others deemed insufficient samples.

“Along with ensuring the utmost safety for all staff, students, and families, our intention is to test all employees monthly before moving to bi-monthly when conditions are safe to move to in-person learning support aligned with our MUSD EducatEveryWhere plan” said Superintendent Cheryl Jordan, who was one of the 213 to participate in the first round of testing.

Employees, who were divided into four groups to avoid congestion, drove into the large parking lot at 1331 E. Calaveras Boulevard, stopping at four stations.

Without rolling down their vehicle window, the driver would show their QR code and registration to the employee who would in turn find that person's test packet and place it on a table at the next station. The driver would go to that station, roll down their window, pick up the test packet, and roll the window back up. At the next station, the driver would open the test packet and self-administer the mouth swab test while in their vehicle, as an employee looked on from outside, keeping track of the time and making sure the test was done correctly. Finally, the driver would move up to the last station, and drop their test packet into a test collection box before driving away.

This was a test run of a bi-monthly testing plan for staff that will continue in 2021 at MUSD, which has been proactive since the onset of the pandemic in implementing various COVID-19 safety measures such as promoting and educating social distancing and exposure protocols to staff, students and the Milpitas community through its Safety First Campaign.
​
“Our Safety First Testing Team made the process smooth and easy to self-administer,” Superintendent Jordan shared. “It was wonderful to see their smiling eyes, and begin this next level of safety for all."

---