Polk County Schools Launch Real-Time Health Dashboard | Des Moines News

Des Moines News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 18, 2026 · 1m

Polk County is launching a smart new dashboard to track illnesses in schools, giving health officials real-time alerts before outbreaks hit — especially critical as flu season looms and vaccination rates dip. This automated system, already embraced by eight of nine districts, will spot trends across classrooms without revealing student identities, replacing slow manual reporting. It’s not just about reacting — it’s about staying ahead to protect kids and the community. Meanwhile, the county’s health department is partnering with Des Moines University to train the next wave of public health…