VERSAILIES, Ky. — Schools are working to find safer ways to keep students in the classroom. That's why Woodford County is initiating a Test-To-Stay program.

One of Woodford County Public Schools' biggest priorities, along with safety, has been keeping classes in-person, and one way the district believes will help is a test-to-stay program.

“I think overall it will help our students, just be involved and engaged with any activities or schoolwork, whatever it may be. I think that they'll be a lot better off,” local mother Allison Browning said.

With both of her children in the school district, Browning said she appreciates the county taking action to keep students in schools. On Tuesday, Woodford County Public Schools announced that the district will be participating in a pilot Test-To-Stay program starting with the Middle School.

“And the reason it doesn't concern me is because my kids have been tested, and they know that they're being tested because it's important that we know if they're healthy or not and it's important that we don't get other people sick that we care about and that we love,” Browning said.

Cassie Prather, the Woodford County Public Health Director, said anyone that has been in contact with someone who has tested positive will have the option to take a rapid test at the school before classes start.

The students will continue taking those tests every morning during the duration of the quarantine, and can stay in school if it comes back negative.

“Roughly 5% may actually test positive, as a result of a contact. So we call that the secondary infection rate, and with it being such a low percentage of those kids, we feel like it would be a good way for them to be able to test and be able to stay in the classroom and participate in activities, rather than being at home,” Prather said.

Browning believes that even at a young age, the students will understand the importance of these initiatives, and hopes others in the district will take advantage of the program.

“They've done it in the past and they understood that that is the reason we were doing it, and the value that it had so they love it. No, but do they understand the value that it brings, and the benefit,” Browning said.