Lane Tech sees confirmed COVID-19 case after SAT tests

Someone who was at Lane Tech College Prep for in-person standardized testing last week has been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to Chicago Public Schools officials.

The school’s principal, Brian Tennison, didn’t say in an email to the Lane Tech community Thursday whether it was a student or staff member who tested positive for the disease, but confirmed “a person who was at our school campus tested positive for COVID-19 during SAT testing last week.”

Almost 500 Lane Tech students went to the North Center neighborhood high school Sept. 23 for the fall administration of the SAT test, the district said Friday. After the test was postponed last spring because of the pandemic, high school seniors in Illinois are required to take the SAT with Essay either this fall or in the spring to graduate. Those test scores can also be used for college and scholarship applications.

Bolton said “a small number” of students took the SAT at schools other than their own, but for the most part only Lane students were at the school.

CPS officials said they implemented health protocols at Lane Tech including sanitization of rooms before and after testing; mandatory online health screeners and temperature checks; mandatory face masks; and required hand washing or hand sanitizing upon entry to the school.

The district planned for students to be seated six feet apart with no more than 25% of any room’s capacity being used. In bigger spaces, however, it was possible there could be up to 50 people in a room, CPS said.

CPS spokeswoman Emily Bolton said all those who were at Lane that day were notified about the confirmed case. One person was identified as having had close contact — within six feet for at least 15 minutes — with the person who tested positive, she said.

“Based on a thorough case investigation and strict health and safety protocols that were put in place, the district does not believe an outbreak stemming from this case would be likely,” Bolton said in a statement.

Although CPS is currently holding all classes remotely, more in-person standardized testing has been scheduled at some schools, including another SAT test and the PSAT later this month.