TPS Planning For Systematic Rapid Testing Within District

Tulsa Public Schools is making plans to bring rapid testing to the district to better track specific data within the district.

Right now TPS is still operating under an all-virtual learning model, but over the next two weeks pre-k, kindergarten and elementary school students will go back to in-person learning. Then in January, junior high, middle school and high school students will return to the classroom.

In preparation, Tulsa Public Schools superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist said the district is planning to test staff, and possibly even some students.

Gist said TPS is one of the only Oklahoma districts she's aware of that will do systematic rapid testing within the district.

"It's completely voluntary for everyone, actually. Right now we're focusing on staff and it will be random. We do have some grant requests out that we're feeling very good about that with approval would give us enough tests to do much more regular testing and rather than do it randomly would be able to do all staff, potentially, and even some students, but we would be focusing on our secondary students, our high school students," said Gist.

District leaders and school board members will track data closely.

Gist said she has the authority at any time, based on safety, to shut down a school. Although Gist said if that situation comes up, she has every intention of working with the board of education to make a decision through an emergency special meeting.

For teachers or staff who aren't comfortable returning to the classroom, Gist said there are leave opportunities available.