SWABS IN THE SILVER HALL
COVID-19 testing center opens inside school
FRONT OFFICE
TESTING CENTER
SILVER HALLWAY
Time to test — Staff from other schools are provided with signs to direct them to the COVID-19 testing center. The center is open during school hours and must be accessed by walking down the silver hallway.
S
NYLA MARCOTT NEWS EDITOR
tudents walking down the silver hallway will notice a string of white signs with directions to a COVID-19 testing center. McLean High School no longer simply provides educational instruction during the school day; it now offers testing for the COVID-19 virus. On Nov. 1, FCPS began requiring unvaccinated staff members to get weekly COVID tests at one of nine locations throughout the county. McLean High School’s testing site is staffed by LongView International Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS), a private company contracted to provide antigen and PCR COVID-19 tests. The company uses a conference room in the front office to administer the tests on Tuesdays from 12 to 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. FCPS staff members are typically administered antigen tests. If they have been in close contact with an infected person, or if their results come back positive, staff are required to take a PCR test. “McLean was selected as a testing center location because of our proximity,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “They tried to centrally put [testing] where people live, so we are
4 | NEWS | DECEMBER 2021
probably hitting the Arlington group testing and student services, but if people pull up there, Covid-19 at McLean people who live that way.” they can’t circle around, so [LTS] said that McLean is currently one of only three they only wanted us to do indoor [testing].” Staff schools with Students testing sites inside theStudent building. Athlete While teachers do not earn additional pay The school’s administration was originally for time spent being tested outside of work, Lorem led to believe that testing would take temporary hourly and contracted nonexempt employees are paid for the time they take during or after their work day to be tested. “The overall additional time reported... must include travel time, waiting time and time to test,” FCPS policy states. “These activities related to required testing are compensatable.” Staff members who come to McLean for testing do not check in at the front office. Instead, they are directed to follow signs through the school to the room where the - RITA TENNESSEN tests are administered. MEMBER OF THE LTS TESTING TEAM “We check badges, emails and explain the testing procedure,” said Rita Tennessen, a place outside of the building in a tent, but member of the LTS testing team at McLean. McLean’s campus design made it difficult to FCPS employees have had a wide range establish a drive-through site. of reactions to the recent development. “We didn’t get a drive-through because “It takes a lot of courage for people we have to close the gate on Westmoreland these days to stand up for the rights of Street, so there isn’t a place that you can loop people. Somebody like me can express an around,” Reilly said. “We were going to put opinion. Other people have to take the shot the testing center back by the outside of or be fired,” said an anonymous FCPS staff
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE SCHOOL TO GET A PCR TEST.”
Photos by Nyla Marcott | Graphics & page design by Ariana Elahi
