This summer the halls of Salisbury Middle School are as busy as the cafeteria on pizza day.

Workers in every corner of the building have been simultaneously painting, scraping, polishing and refinishing in an effort to complete several capital improvement projects before the school bell rings.

Director of Facilities, Bill Brackett, gave The Press a walking tour of the progress being made throughout the building.

The carpeted floors, original to the building, are being replaced in every classroom in the middle school. Several steps are involved in the process as the carpet needs to be removed as well as the mastic adhesive underneath. Once mastic is removed, concrete leveling occurs and finally vinyl flooring in a calming gray hue with a pop of navy blue is placed.

Last year the gymnasium received a fresh coat of paint and brand-new bleachers with safety features not available when the bleachers were first installed. This year the gym floor has been refinished to its original splendor. Thirty years worth of yellowing floor wax was removed to reveal a light pine finish contrasted with navy lines.

The court was also lined for volleyball play and stanchions will soon be installed to erect nets.

The cafeteria area, which is currently a staging area for flooring supplies, is slated to receive a fresh coat of paint and while not visible in the hallways, offices or classrooms the safety and security systems throughout the building are in the process of being revamped.

The fire alarm system, which will be completed in August, is being rewired and modernized to meet current safety codes.

Additionally, all safety and security systems in all three schools in the school district will switch from analogue to digital systems. In the event of an emergency, teachers and staff will have the capability, through an app, to initiate a lockdown through the intercom system while directly alerting the 911 call center to send emergency services.

Behind the scenes, Brackett’s crew of 20 work tirelessly both inside and on the grounds of each district building. Once contractors have completed projects, Brackett’s team will set to work cleaning the dust which has settled on every surface of the building.

Brackett has high praise for his facilities team, remarking, “I’ve got an amazing staff. You can’t buy the amount of passion they feel for their schools.”

Rest assured, when school buses pull up to the middle school for the start of the 2025-2026 school year each room will be thoroughly cleaned from floor to ceiling, put back in order and each hallway buffed to a high gloss ready to welcome students on the first day.