Germs, viruses, and different kinds of bacteria face the crowded halls of a typical high school day. Now, there are hand sanitizing stations to maximize the cleanliness in the halls.

Throughout the school there will now be hand sanitizing stations placed for any students or staff members who would like to have a quick, and easy way to help rid the school of germs and prevent any sickness or viruses.

“The sanitizing stations have to be installed consistent with ADA guidelines for accessibility,” principal Thomas Lietz said. “Mr. Kranzo and I walked the building to determine which locations made the most sense for them. Outside of major gatherings spaces and bathrooms were priorities, but also tried to spread them out so they were accessible.”

At the end of the 2019-2020 school year, senior Raeleen Sobetski approached Lietz about placing sanitizing stations throughout the halls. It took until the 2020 school year to make it happen.

“I came up with the idea [of sanitizing stations] because my club volleyball coach didn’t want us getting sick and because I started volunteering at Henry Ford hospital Macomb last spring and they have them literally every five feet,” Sobetski said. “I just realized that there weren’t sanitizer at school especially in the cafeteria and the gym where people need them. I had to do my research on different models and I had to look into scent-free sanitizer because there are several staff members that are sensitive, but a lot of the ordering went through Lietz.”

Utica was also the first school in the district to get the sanitizing stations installed.

“I think it’s really cool that Utica was the first to get [the sanitizing stations],” Sobetski said. “It certainly wasn’t my intention to get them weeks before a global pandemic, but sometimes things kind of just work out like that.”

With the sanitizing stations set in place for the 2020-2021 school year, it is possible that some will feel safer when walking the halls.