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Santa Maria-Bonita Unified partners with Heal 360, Pipeline Medical to provide free COVID testing

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Maria-Bonita Unified School District is teaming up with Heal 360 and Pipeline Medical to provide free COVID-19 testing for students and faculty.

Students, teachers and staff across the district will no longer need to make an appointment to get tested for COVID-19.

All they need to do is head over to the right campus.

COVID testing just got easier at the Santa Maria-Bonita Unified School District. 

Administrators said one reason for the new offering is the state vaccine mandate taking effect October 15th.

“There is a health order issued August 11th that requires staff members working directly with students on a school campus be vaccinated, fully vaccinated, or be tested weekly for COVID-19,” said Santa Maria-Bonita School District Deputy Superintendent for Business Services Matt Beecher.

According to Public Information Officer Maggie White, the school district has a total of four testing sites.

•Liberty Elementary School: 1300 Sonya Lane

•El Camino Junior High: 219 W El Camino Street

•Fesler Junior High: 1100 E Fesler Street

•Tommie Kunst Junior High: 930 Hidden Pines Way

“What this means is we can offer very convenient access to testing,” said Matt Beecher. “At no charge to the school district. at no charge to the employee or the student, or their family.”

Upon arrival, students, staff and teachers will be required to get tested twice. One is the rapid testing, which takes 15 minutes to know the results. While the other takes 48 hours to get the results.

Appointments are not required.

Right now, students are required to get tested if they show minor symptoms. 

“They’re sending students even though they have a stomach ache or just a stuffy nose,” said COVID testing site manager Kristy Flanagan. “Because they are not allowed to go back to school until they are tested.”

All four testing sites will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The district said eventually all testing sites will be available to the community. 

But for now, it is strictly for their employees and students.

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Karen Cruz-Orduña

Karen Cruz-Orduña is a reporter for News Channel 3-12. To learn more about Karen, click here.

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