CLINTON — To satisfy the state mandate that all teachers and staff be vaccinated against Covid-19 or undergo weekly testing, Clinton school administrators will be trained on the Shield coronavirus testing program. 

Superintendent Curt Nettles told the board at the Sept. 21 meeting that Richland Community College has been using this test since last spring.

“I want to make this as convenient as possible,” said Nettles, who is working with Richland to bring the testing to their Clinton location, adjacent to school property. Clinton school personnel would run the testing at the local Richland building. 

“The testing would be free,” said Nettles. “The main thing is to get some of us trained to do (the testing).

While the Shield testing would be free to the district, the Covid testing for students will not be.

A  rapid Covid test offered by Reditus Laboratories, tests students on days one, three, five and seven following a close contact with an infected Covid patient. Any student with symptoms will go home, said Nettles. Students with negative test results may remain in school. 

• See the complete story in the Friday, Oct. 1 print edition of the Clinton Journal or now in the Journal E-Edition for subscribers.