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DAVID COUNTY — Davis School District has embraced a new health program, but it's not for students — it's for teachers and employees.
The wellness program, called Davis Moves, incentivized employees to take a biometric screening and complete an online health risk assessment.
Tracy Leavitt has taught second grade for 15 years and rarely picked up a cold or the flu. But her idea of perfect health changed when the Davis School District implemented a new wellness program.
"At my screening, I was totally shocked to find out that I had really high blood pressure," Leavitt said. "When I got to my doctor, they said I could be a candidate for a stroke or a heart attack pretty much anytime."
Davis Moves incentivized employees to take a biometric screening and complete an online health risk assessment.
"We wanted to do two things," said John Robinson of the Davis School District. "Number one, we wanted to help our insured employees become more aware of their level of health. And secondly, try to help control our insurance costs, medical costs and get those in check."
Leavitt said she didn't realize how tired she was before, and thanks to the program she is sleeping better and feeling better.
Janna Zigich and her husband Scott both work for the school district. Since the launch of Davis Moves, they've joined a walking program, cut out junk food and started exercising at home.
"He lost over 40 pounds. I lost a little less than that," Janna said.
The couple said their has been a trickle-down benefit for their students.
"We talk about health and taking care of our bodies in the classroom a little bit more because I'm aware of it and I'm drinking more water where they're used to seeing me drinking diet cokes all the time," Janna said.
The wellness program adds $6 a month to teacher's insurance premiums, but if school district employees complete the biometric screening and online health risk assessment, they get 97 percent of that increase back.
