Royal Oak Schools To Use Clear To Go! Health Screening App

ROYAL OAK, MI — Shortly after Oakland County officials announced the county was contracting with a Rochester-based software company to roll out a health screening process for area restaurants and schools, one local school district said it would utilize the company's new screening app.

Royal Oak Schools on Friday announced the district is rolling out the use of the Clear To Go! app for health screening for all families and students in the district taking part in in-person classes or activities. The first day of in-person instruction at Royal Oak Schools is slated for March 1.

“The first and most important step is for parents to evaluate their own children at home," Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick said in a statement to Patch. "The app will be a good daily reminder of that commitment so that any symptoms are considered before sending children to school. As always, even when not in a pandemic, we request that children who feel ill are kept home, and staff who are not feeling well stay home, too.”

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Oakland County is paying between $500,000-$750,000 for the software using federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding passed at the end of 2020, officials said in a news release Tuesday. The contract runs through June.

Related: Oakland Co. To Use Local Software Company's Contact Tracing App

Scott Garretson, Clear To Go! co-founder and the chief executive officer said the company has performed over 1.5 million screenings and helped clients manage over 15,000 cases. That number includes screening apps for employees, case management for human resources and a visitor management system, county officials said. The company's software is in use in several local communities and Lake Orion Schools.

Families with students in the Royal Oak Schools district will receive an email from Clear Support with the subject saying, "Your child is being asked to screen," asking them to set up their student's account. The district is asking families to set up accounts shortly after receiving the email to ensure students are ready for their first day of in-person instruction.

Families with children participating in in-person instruction or activities including athletics will be required to screen daily for COVID-19 symptoms or exposure, the district said. Families of preschool and elementary school-age children are asked to screen on their child’s behalf. Middle School and High School students may complete their own daily screenings if they are enabled to do so.

The entire setup process will take less than five minutes, officials said.