Local school district shelves COVID-19 contact tracing program after parent pushback

EATONVILLE, Wash. — The Eatonville School District shelved a COVID-19 contact tracing program that would have helped to accurately trace potential COVID-19 cases. The program was put on hold after some parents spoke up against the monitoring devices, saying the district went too far.

Parents KIRO 7 talked to about the monitors said their concern is less about the monitoring and more about the lack of choice.

The tracking devices were to be used for student-athletes and coaches whether they were vaccinated or unvaccinated, the district told KIRO 7.

The devices are reportedly the same technology that is being used by the National Football League and the Southeastern Conference in hopes that the devices might help to quarantine as few people as possible.

For example, without the monitoring devices, the entire football team would likely need to quarantine for two weeks if any student-athlete were to test positive for COVID-19. But if the team used the monitors, officials could track a small number with COVID-19, allowing competition to continue.

Parents who signed consent forms said they feel like they were cornered into signing the consent form for their children to be fitted with the monitors, and other parents questioned how effective the program would truly be.

Football players KIRO 7 talked with said they share their support for the tracking devices and thanked the coaches for implementing the contact tracing program because it gives them the best chance of having a successful football season.

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