KING CITY — King City Union School District’s Del Rey Elementary, Santa Lucia Elementary and King City Arts Magnet School are working to stay ahead of illness during an unprecedented school year.
The schools recently implemented the Kinsa smart thermometer program, the goals of which include helping to stop the spread of contagious illnesses, such as Covid-19, and in turn, keeping more students and families informed of their health on an ongoing basis.
“The health and wellbeing of our students and teachers is our top priority while continuing to support learning and education,” said King City’s District Nurse Sarah Stoddard.
Families and staff members who participate in the Lysol and Kinsa FLUency health program receive a free Kinsa smart thermometer. Participants have the potential to view aggregated, anonymous information on any symptoms and illnesses going around the schools.
“We are thankful to have the opportunity to bring free Kinsa thermometers to the students and families of King City,” said Mike DeRosa, the district’s director of student services.
Jennifer Taylor, assistant superintendent of KCUSD, added, “The thermometers provide our families with the information they need to make informed decisions focused on health-related issues.”
King City Superintendent Rory Livingston agreed.
“There couldn’t have been a better time to provide such an opportunity,” Livingston said. “King City Union School District is here to support the families it serves, and this is a direct example.”
Kinsa’s mission is to help individuals and communities stop the spread of infectious illnesses, including the coronavirus. To achieve this, Kinsa has built a communication network that connects more than a million users.
Kinsa studies the unique features of an illness and incorporates what’s circulating nearby to offer personalized guidance from symptom onset through recovery.
When program participants choose to participate with the free app, email alerts and the first device used when an illness is suspected — a thermometer — the program is very informative, according to Kinsa founder and CEO Inder Singh.
“This school year is unlike any other, as our nation continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic and its widespread impact,” Singh said. “Never has the need for real-time insights been greater, empowering schools to make data-driven decisions to keep their students healthy and learning. We’re excited to work with Lysol again to bring the free FLUency program to thousands of schools to help provide these insights.”
