It's a busy time of the summer for school district leaders across the state who, over the next few weeks, are mapping out the best strategies for returning to school this fall.

In Saratoga County, officials are working on a plan to make COVID-19 tests available in schools.

On Tuesday, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution approving a $3.5 million contract with the company Quadrant Biometicals, Inc.

County Public Health Services will hire staff to help facilitate the testing, which is a self-administered, non-invasive saliva swab for COVID.

It is funded by a federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Board Chairman Theodore Kusnierz said it's up to individual school districts to opt-in for the testing.

"There's no question that there's some trepidation with parents out there in relation to their students getting vaccinated, but that's a family decision," he said. "Saratoga County is not going to be involved in any kind of mandates that require either testing or vaccination...We see this as the next step in providing protection for students in our schools as they go back to school this fall.”

Right now, COVID transmission in Saratoga County is considered to be rated "high," according to CDC guidelines.

Public health officials are meeting weekly with school districts to provide guidance and ensure schools will be able to safely bring students back into classrooms full-time.