Area school districts scrambled Monday to distribute COVID-19 tests to families after the holiday break.

On New Year’s Eve, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced her new Winter Surge Plan 2.0, which included providing millions of tests for school districts across the state, which districts across the area attempted to provide to parents on Sunday and Monday after the New Year.

“We can get through this surge through targeted actions, partnerships with local leaders, and by taking common-sense steps to keep us all safe: get vaccinated, get boosted, and wear a mask indoors,” Hochul said.

Joseph Reyda, Bemus Point Central School district superintendent, said the testing kits arrived on Monday afternoon. He said the district was attempting to provide them to families.

“The testing kits will be provided to families so that they can help identify positive COVID-19 cases before their students go to school,” Reyda said. “We’re encouraging our families to pick up the kits this week and use them with their children. We’re also reminding families to keep their children home if they have any signs of illness. The testing kits won’t necessarily change our back-to-school procedures, but they may help to keep sick kids home.”

The district provided guidance to parents regarding the tests, asking that families send notes into school no later than Tuesday, Jan. 4, to authorize their child to bring home a testing kit.

“Additionally, we anticipate information regarding the new Test to Stay Program to be announced to all school districts from the Chautauqua County Health Department this week,” Reyda added in the letter. “This new program will allow students who were exposed to a positive COVID-19 case in school to participate in daily testing and, if asymptomatic, to remain in school. Once we have received guidance from the health department, we will share the information with the entire Bemus Point community of parents, students and staff.”

Fredonia Central School District organized a drive-through event to hand out the testing kits on Sunday, Jan. 2, from 4:30 p.m. Superintendent Brad Zilliox addressed the situation in a message that was shared on the district’s Facebook page.

“We recently became aware that Gov. Hochul and State Health Commissioner Bassett have identified a statewide goal of having as many students as possible tested for COVID-19 as they return to school following our winter break,” Zilliox said. “To accomplish this, the state has provided enough rapid testing kits to give to every student in our district … the hope is that this will allow us to continue with in-person instruction while offering an additional layer of safety as we return to our school buildings this coming week.”

Zilliox pointed out that the tests are “not mandatory” for children to return to school, but they are “strongly encouraged” before students returned to school. On Monday, the district posted another message on Facebook, asking parents and guardians to complete a survey if they were not able to pick up the testing kits on Sunday.

“Test kits will be distributed to your child at school as soon as possible,” the message read. “Please complete a survey for each of your children.”

Falconer Central School District organized a drive-through event as well. On Monday, Jan. 3, the district handed out testing kits from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bus garage on East Avenue. Parents received a message from Superintendent Stephen Penhollow announcing the event.

“The governor has asked school districts, with the assistance of BOCES, to be responsible for distributing these test kids to families,” he said. “This is completely voluntary, but they are strongly encouraged to be used prior to sending your child to school the day after receipt of the test. I wish you a happy, healthy and safe 2022. As always, thank you for partnering with us as we navigate the requests and requirements that accompany this unusual time.”

Southwestern Central School District also hosted a test kit distribution event, held in the middle school cafeteria from 3 to 5 p.m. The notice to parents noted that the testing is not mandatory, but rather voluntary.

“We continue to monitor our students and staff to provide the safest school environment as possible,” the notice read. “Thank you for your assistance in getting the tests to our families that choose to test their child.”