Davis School District adds resources to handle COVID-19

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FARMINGTON — The Davis School District is shifting their approach to COVID-19, putting more decisions in the hands of parents while getting more funds to help monitor the virus.

As kids head back to school, there will be less controversy over mandates and masks and more responsibility on individual parents.

"That's not our decision anymore," said Hailey Higgins, spokeswoman for the Davis School District.

Higgins said they'll work with the Davis County Health Department to keep numbers of reported cases updated for each school.

"No mandates, no required testing, things like that. It's really putting all of the decision-making in the hands of the parents and the families," she said.

But at the same time, they're adding more resources in monitoring and handling outbreaks.

County leaders are giving the district close to $1 million to hire a school nurse "and then 10 COVID aides that will be in all of the elementary schools, just to keep an eye on and manage any outbreaks as we see them pop up," Higgins said.

There will be air filtering devices in each classroom, with enough HEPA filters for a two-year supply.

The Davis School District will be placing air filtering devices in each classroom. Many of the decisions on how to handle COVID-19 are in the hands of the parents, the district says. (Photo: Mike Anderson, KSL-TV)

Mass tests will also be available before and after school in the event of an outbreak, but not required.

"COVID has changed so much in the last couple of years, and it seems like right now, we just have to learn to live with it," Higgins said.

And similar to CDC guidelines, they recommend kids who test positive stay home for at least five days, coming back with a mask for five days after.

KSL did reach out to several other school districts along the Wasatch Front Friday, and most say they are leaning on their local health departments and updated CDC recommendations, while not anticipating any significant changes for now.