8-29-2020 4:02pm

Kings Teacher And Her Dad Create Handwashing Stations For Students

Rick Amburgey Neighbor

Photo contributed.

South Lebanon Elementary teacher Rachel Manley has been working to get ready to welcome students for the new school year. One problem she faced was figuring out how all her students could wash their hands in a timely manner. "When I was thinking through the logistics of my schedule with some of my coworkers, I could not figure out how we were going to get almost 60 kids back into the school from recess, wash their hands, and up to the cafeteria for lunch in just 15 min with only 1 sink in our classrooms. We simply didn’t have enough time," she said.

Manley, who had a prior career as a Research and Development Engineer, said she presented the problem to her dad, Rick Merritt, who was a civil engineer . She had safety, efficiency and cost in mind. "We found some fence posts in his garage and connected PVC pipe using zip ties. Through trial and error, we ended up with a design that puts out just the right amount of water and drains it so the kids won’t get wet," she said, adding that the design reduced the time of having students wash their hands from a 15-minute task to just a few minutes. Manley calls her dad an amazing engineer and credits him for making this design possible.

"I am committed to making this school year as safe as possible for our students and this is one example of finding innovative ways to enable us to stay in school as long as we can," she said. "In this time of uncertainty, I am committed to rising up and taking on the challenges that COVID-19 is presenting to us this school year."