Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

The Bell County School District is currently in discussions with Union Springs about piloting a new hand sanitizer program within a school in the district. The hand sanitizer is a non-alcohol based product.

In fact, the mission of the product is “to remove all alcohol from schools.” The product is named MyClyns Pro.

Page school may be the school which pilots the program. Union Springs representatives stated they would pick up the cost for the pilot program.

The pilot process, if implemented, would take place during January and February.

Bell County Superintendent Yvonne Gilliam stated if attendance increases during those months, as well as some other criteria that will be worked out at a later date, then the district may look at implementing the program full-time.

The cost for full implementation of the product is $3,000 ($5 per student).

Representatives from Union Springs stated there is a grant for the product available for schools.

MyClyns Pro is supposed to create a 10 percent reduction in absenteeism, which would increase the number of students in school on a daily basis by about 18.

During the school board meeting, representatives from the company warned against the use of alcohol-based sanitizers in schools.

According to the representatives, the alcohol, gel-based sanitizers can easily be ingested by young children and older students.

The company claims efficacy is finished in alcohol-based sanitizers after the product dries, while MyClyns Pro can last between two to three hours.

Currently, MyClyns Pro is only being used in Florence Elementary, but the company has approached several districts in Kentucky. The product has been in production and used in the public for seven years, but it has only been used in schools since August.

During the seven years in the public, there have been no reports of allergy or skin irritation while using the product, according to Union Springs.

Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 208.