Texas Border Business
PHARR – The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District is starting its spring semester today, Jan. 5, continuing to serve students both virtually and in-person based on parent choice, while providing additional health measures for those choosing in-person instruction.
“It feels like yesterday that we started this unprecedented school year, and we are half-way through it,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo. “I want to thank our students, parents, teachers and staff for ensuring we continue to provide great learning opportunities for our PSJA students with their health and safety in mind.”
Continuing to ensure PSJA ISD is always at the forefront, last month all district facilities started offering RAPID Response COVID-19 Testing (nasal swab) to staff members reporting to work, and this semester, students can receive this 15-min. test with parent consent if they are doing in-person instruction.
“Although this is not a requirement it is highly encouraged by our health care professionals as early detection can save lives,” said PSJA Health Services Director Sulema Solis. “Testing for COVID-19, can help prevent the spread.”
According health officials, a positive test early in the course of the illness:
- enables individuals to isolate themselves
- reducing the chances that they will infect others and
- allowing them to seek treatment earlier,
- likely reducing disease severity and the risk of long-term disability, or death.
PSJA ISD School Board President Jorge Zambrano applauds the work of the school district to ensure preparedness and prevention.
“We commend the work of our Health Services Department and our entire nursing, custodial and administrative team for ensuring we diminish the possibility of positive cases in our community,” said Board President Zambrano. “Having this resource available for our PSJA Family is instrumental as we continue to work and learn through this pandemic.”
According to the Health Services Director, it is strongly recommended that all employees reporting to their work location be tested for COVID-19 using the RAPID Tests provided by the state. These tests can be done on a weekly basis as an additional health and safety measure at all of our facilities, and now students, with parental consent can also have these tests administered.
For parents of children who are attending in-person instruction who wish they receive the RAPID test, as well as staff members reporting to their work facility, they can start the process by clicking HERE.
For more information about current health and safety measures, please visit www.psjaisd.us/reopening.
