When students and staff return to Salisbury Elementary School in August they will see notable improvements from floor to ceiling and wall-to-wall in almost every corner of the building.

Significant change has also taken place behind the walls and ceilings to improve the safety and security of the building.

A shift from an analogue to a digital system paved the way for a new intercom system from Raptor Technologies to be installed in all three school buildings. The system is designed to expedite an emergency response by allowing teachers and staff the capability to initiate a lockdown through the intercom system, directly alert the 911 call center and provide critical information to first responders.

Classrooms on the upper floors of the building will notice jaunty pops of colored tiles hopscotching a path down hallways and into classrooms as easier to maintain luxury vinyl flooring tiles matching those on the lower floors have recently been installed.

The cafeteria as well as the PTO/meeting room area received a fresh coat of navy and white paint and tables in the art room have been sanded and refinished to save the district from having to purchase new furniture.

Looking up, the ceiling tiles, grids and new lighting in the hallways surrounding the library area have been installed, providing a clean splash of white to add a polished look to an area of the building that has seen dramatic changes.

The library and the reading steps across the hall have received a complete makeover that not only refreshes the area but adds a layer of security as both rooms will be enclosed by locked doors.

The library has been reconfigured to house three additional rooms; one for student use, an IT office and a teacher’s work room as well as an updated book selection and reading space in the main library area. New bookshelves and furniture will soon be installed, which will create a welcoming environment to foster discovery and learning.

When asked her thoughts on the new library configuration Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten remarked, “Our new library area is going to be amazing — a bright, cozy place right at the center of our school, where stories will come to life and big ideas will grow. It’ll be the go-to spot for curious minds, quiet reading, creative projects and a little bit of everyday magic.

“Whether you’re looking for adventure in a book, a makerspace for creating or a comfortable place to learn, the library will be the heart of it all.”