Mixed Parent Reactions To Student Covid Testing In One LI Town

EAST ISLIP, NY— As more Long Island school districts inch toward the so-called "yellow zone," a New York State designation of a potential hot spot of coronavirus cases, parents are engaging in heated debates across social media. East Islip is one district that is asking parents to opt in for consent to have their students tested in advance of possibly becoming a yellow zone district. Yellow zone districts must test 20 percent of the student body and staff weekly in order to keep in-person learning going.

Some parents who consented for their children to be tested see it as a way to preserve crucial in-school learning after many difficult months of remote or partially-remote learning. Nicole Amorim of East Islip is one.

"I am opting to have my kids tested. First, it is not an invasive 'procedure.' Some of the exams we had in schools as children were far worse than what our kids will experience with this. Second, they need to stay in school. We fought so hard, attending BOE meetings to plead our case."

"School and the teachers are not just a glorified babysitter, but the virtual was taking a toll on the mental health of our kids. I don’t know a single parent who says they have not noticed a change for the better since they went back full time. There is less arguing and crying on the home front. And last, these kids are more resilient than we give them credit for," she said.

Others are deciding to opt out of the testing, which consists of the less-invasive lower nostril rapid swab test. Maria Barbagallo-Magliaro is an East Islip parent who will not be consenting, she told Patch.

"There is no place for medical procedures in school. The accuracy leaves something to be desired. And what are we teaching our kids? That it is ok for healthy people to be poked, swabbed and prodded? No way. We agreed to masks, temperature checks, plexiglass, social distancing—the more you comply, the more overreach we will have."

While East Islip is not yet officially a yellow-zone area, Massapequa Park is one district that hit the mark in November and a similar divide of opinions is playing out in the district. Members of the PTA recently demonstrated in opposition to the testing requirements.

"We need you to sign up so we can meet the 20 percent and keep our schools open and our students and staff safe and healthy. Get tested this week. Be part of the 20 percent; we need your help," Superintendent John Dolan urged the East Islip school district in an email this week.

Yellow zones are declared in Nassau and Suffolk counties when the area has an average test rate of 2.5 percent positive for ten days.

As of Wednesday, the four yellow zone micro-clusters on Long Island are: Great Neck, Massapequa Park, Riverhead and Hampton Bays.