nurse wearing PPE

Nacogdoches ISD has an early morning COVID-19 testing site available for staff and students who might begin feeling ill at home before the school day starts.

The testing location is at the back of Margie Chumbley Academy for Success (formerly Malcolm Rector Technical High School) on North Street. Those needing a test can park in designated areas where district nurses will use a BinaxNOW COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test.

Signs will direct drivers to the back of the parking lot at Margie Chumbley where designated parking spots are located. From there, those needing a test will be directed to call a phone number to alert nursing staff inside the building. Nurses will come to the parking lot to conduct the rapid test.

Staff and students will be notified within 15 minutes of a positive test. Anyone with a negative result can proceed on to their school or district facility.

“We needed a way to provide staff and students with an opportunity to test for COVID before showing up at school or work,” said NISD Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo. “Our staff and students are conscientious and don’t want to needlessly expose others to the virus. 

“Now, they can be tested without going inside their school or district facility.”

The district added two school nurses, who are on hand at Margie Chumbley from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. during the week. Later in the day, these nurses are utilized throughout the district for staff, student and campus service, and/or medical support.

The testing site at Margie Chumbley is also available for NISD staff identified as close contact because of exposure to a COVID-19 case, which requires testing every other day for 10 days.

The BinaxNOW COVID-19 tests are provided free of charge to NISD staff and students.