As another school year begins at CMHS, many have noticed a different look around the building. That's because while the students and staff were enjoying summer vacation, others remained hard at work installing new carpet and replacing the old boilers in the high school. Thanks to the dedication of our custodial staff, volunteer students, Colebrook Carpet Center, and Broom's Plumbing and Heating, the building received a much needed upgrade and facelift.

The project was spearheaded this past summer due to a surplus of funds within the school budget. Principal Chris Masson pointed towards a special meeting last fall to pass a vote allowing the school to spend the excess funds. The entire process was paid for with this fund, meaning no additional money had to be borrowed. This, coupled with the displeasing aesthetics of the carpet and inefficiency of the boiler system, led to the summer of renovation.

Replacing the boiler system has been an ongoing saga that dates back to June of the previous school year. According to Masson, "Two functional boilers minimum are needed to keep the school running." The three boiler system took a hit last winter when one boiler failed entirely and another began showing signs of aging, leaving the high school to be heated by one and another "half-functional" boiler throughout the winter. "Those two boilers could just barely keep up with heating the school," lamented high-school custodian Jim Reynolds. "They ran constantly all winter, which made them very inefficient."

Reynolds described the tribulations faced by the repairmen with the faulty boiler system. First, the boilers had to be broken down with sledge hammers piece by piece and hauled out of the school's basement. The flooring had to then be replaced, leading to countless trips up and down stairs with heavy buckets of cement mix. This process alone accounted for roughly an entire day's work. When the floor was finished, the new boilers were transported through the hallways and stairwells in pieces. Each boiler was broken up into seven hefty sections that had to be bolted together in the tight corners of the basement. After the tedious assembly was completed, the pipes were cut, threaded, and insulated. The new system was then started and tested to ensure it would survive the harsh winters.

Meanwhile, the hallways and carpeted classrooms were being prepped for change. For two weeks, furniture from each room was being removed and relocated in the gymnasium. Bookshelves from the library, stoves from the Home Economics room, and lockers from the hallways were all picked up and placed on the gym floor. During this time, the custodial staff and volunteer students took advantage of the opportunity to repaint a few classrooms and the basement hallway. However, beneath the hallway carpet were asbestos tiles that were subsequently removed. The entire removal and relocation took nearly three weeks, and then the new carpet could finally be installed. Afterwards, an additional two weeks were spent replacing furniture to every newly carpeted room.

But what does this all mean for the students and staff at CMHS? The new boiler system will provide a more reliable heat source during the frigid winter months, and decrease the amount of oil used in the building. The carpet adds a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing look to the hallways. Masson was so optimistic about the fresh look that he hopes it will lead to an "increase in the school community's pride". Both Masson and Reynolds, though thrilled the improvements made over the summer, say that there will be further renovations in the near future. The elementary school's boiler is over fifteen years old, but is still in steady shape for the time being.

The building has received warm reviews from many students and teachers upon viewing the finished product. Business teacher Stephanie Lyons praised the "fresh" carpet and said it "creates a better, more pleasant environment for both the students and the staff". CMHS senior Angel Dion added, "The carpet makes you feel better about being in the school. It puts you in a better mood." No matter where you turn in the high-school, everyone seems to have an added bounce in their step. This can be attributed to well-heated people stepping on softer carpet throughout CMHS.