Citing 'Essential' Need, Melrose Schools Push For Testing Program

MELROSE, MA — Facing a rising number of coronavirus cases and a frustrated teachers' union, school officials are calling for a district-wide testing program they call "essential" coming out of the winter break.

Superintendent Julie Kukenberger and Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs Leia Secor on Monday sent a letter to the School Committee requesting nearly $285,000 in budget transfers to implement district-wide testing for all in-person students and staff, including preschool students.

The letter said the program is "essential" to make sure Kukenberger and the Health Department "have as much information as possible to make informed decisions."

The School Committee has called a special meeting for Wednesday.

"An important part of our plan is to identify and keep COVID-19 cases out of schools," the letter reads. "Simply put, we need more testing to more fully understand and assess the situation and how it could impact the school community."

The letter didn't dive into details of a potential testing program, including how long it could last. School officials didn't immediately respond to questions late sent late Monday night.

The proposal would move $102,164 from the "substitutes" fund and $182,602 from the "personnel" fund, leaving $50,000 in the former and emptying the latter.

The letter said the district spent weeks with the Health Department and Mayor Paul Brodeur's office researching testing programs.

The request comes just five days after the teachers' union said in a letter to the community the district's buildings and policies weren't keeping students or staff safe. One of the concerns noted was the lack of regular testing.

"We are concerned that the practices and procedures currently being employed are not working and that students, families, and staff are at a much higher risk than they may realize," the union said.

The Melrose Education Association stopped short of calling for a change in the learning model.

Coronavirus cases in Melrose Public Schools have been at their highest yet this month, with officials anticipating another spike when students return from winter break. As of Dec. 23, there were 46 student cases — 16 of which were in school in the previous week — and 13 staff members — seven of which were in school the previous week.

Melrose hit 1,000 coronavirus cases in the weekly health report released Christmas Eve. The city remains in the red with a positive test rate over 5 percent.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.