Parents of Great Bend USD 428 students may be offered free oral smart thermometers, if a district grant application is approved.

The company Kinsa Health, which produces internet-connected thermometers, offers grants for its Kinsa FLUency program, Assistant Superintendent John Popp said. At the request of the district’s school nurses, the school board on Monday approved the grant application. If Great Bend is awarded the grant, Kinsa will provide the thermometers to each elementary family and staff member that requests one for use at home. 

Families can then download the free Kinsa App to monitor and track their child’s temperatures and symptoms.

Due to the anonymity of information collection, the program is HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) compliant, Popp said. “Your data is not personally identified.”

Other school districts that have used the smart thermometers have seen fewer students coming to school with a fever, he said. They’ve also used aggregate data to be more aware of flu outbreaks or other trends.

It is unknown how soon the district may learn whether or not it qualifies for the grant. 

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The school board also approved an application for a Greenbush “Feeding Kansas Kids during COVID-19” grant for $6,000. The grant money is for operations, equipment and more fresh fruits and vegetable options for students.

The board routinely approves grant application requests and contributions. Also approved Monday was a $242.26 contribution to Riley Elementary School from the Kroger Reward Incentives program.