Lauderdale County Schools has been awarded $1,018,136 through the U.S. Federal Government’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Grant. This grant extends financial support during the 2021-2022 school year for districts across the state to provide an optional COVID-19 testing site for employees and students that may need to be screened and tested for the COVID-19 virus throughout the school year. Testing will be available as needed and students must have a parental consent form on file to participate. Consent forms will be available at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.
ELC Grant funds may be used for the preparation of testing sites and the sustainability of the program throughout the school year. Lauderdale County Schools has chosen to provide this opportunity on-site at every school in the district and will train all nurses to administer the test for those to opt-in to participate in the program. In conjunction with this grant, LCS will also provide a Telehealth network for students and staff that choose to see a physician virtually while on school campus to provide a more accessible healthcare opportunity to employees and students.