The Vacaville Unified School District is now offering free, rapid COVID-19 tests at a centralized location for its students and staff. The testing site, which was made possible by VUSD's enrollment in the California Department of Public Health’s Antigen Testing Program, lifts a burden on administrators while keeping kids learning in the classroom setting, according to the district. At the beginning of the school year, COVID-19 testing and contact tracing happened on individual campuses. At the district's new testing site, health care workers handle those tasks, freeing up administrators to do what they do best.“That way a principal is not having to step away from working with two students, who maybe had a conflict on the playground, or step away from that instructional leadership that they're offering the teachers in the classrooms,” said Sasha Begall, Vacaville Unified School District’s assistant superintendent of educational options and supports.Rapid testing helps students remain in class with the least amount of interruption to their learning even if they've come in contact with a COVID-19-positive classmate.“Under the modified quarantine, as long as they continue to be asymptomatic, participate in testing and wear that mask, we can continue to keep them in the classroom,” explained Begall.The district said the concept of "modified quarantine" is in line with CDPH guidance.“We're having to quarantine far fewer students at home,” Begall said. “We can give them this test and feel confident that they are not positive for COVID and aren't additionally spreading it on our campuses.”A traditional, 10-day home quarantine isn't necessary, the district said, thanks to the testing and safety measures practiced at schools districtwide.“These policies are working,” said Begall. “Masking and testing our close contacts and allowing them to stay in school is working for our students.”VUSD has an enrollment of nearly 12,500 students.It said in August and September alone, it administered nearly 3,500 tests — detecting only 55 positive cases.The VUSD testing center is located at the Shelley Dally Early Learning Village at 621 S. Orchard Ave. in Vacaville. The free testing is offered to VUSD students and staff Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.