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State lawmaker: COVID-19 testing program for Massachusetts schools needs improvement

Northampton High School in Northampton, Massachusetts, where COVID-19 pool testing was canceled on October 7, 2021.
JOHN SUCHOCKI
/
The Republican / Masslive.com
Northampton High School in Northampton, Massachusetts, where COVID-19 pool testing was canceled on October 7, 2021.

The school system in Northampton, Massachusetts, had to cancel pool testing for COVID-19 for one day last week because of a lack of testing staff. A state lawmaker said it points to larger issues with the program.

Earlier this year, the state said it would make pool testing available to school districts that requested it. A company called CIC Health was contracted to conduct the tests.

But State Rep. Mindy Domb of Amherst said many districts across the state don't have the testing in place.

"It's what we promised school districts and families would keep their kids their kids safe, who were not eligible for vaccination but who we were saying in-person school was the best thing for them," she said. "We will keep that a safe and healthy environment. And we need to make sure that that happens."

Domb has asked Governor Charlie Baker to enlist the National Guard to help.

In a statement, CIC Health said nearly three times as many schools as were anticipated requested testing for students and staff. The company said it's working around the clock to meet the demand.

The state wouldn't say how many districts are waiting for pool testing to start.

"Massachusetts is making an unprecedented amount of no-cost testing available to schools in order to keep students learning in person as much as possible," a spokesperson for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said in a statement. "We’ll continue to work with CIC to build a larger base of people who can staff the testing programs."

The superintendent of the Northampton Public Schools, John Provost, said pool testing went smoothly the day after the district had to cancel it. He said CIC Health offered to significantly increase staffing in the district to prevent problems going forward. 

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.
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