A new elementary school Neck River Elementary in Madison CT will open its doors this fall 2025. This school on Neck Road must follow the CT state regulations which will help with the longevity of the school and create new improvements to the students' learning environment.
A brand new solution has solved the problems Ryerson and Jeffery face. Neck River Elementary is packed with new technology, bigger classrooms, innovative heating and cooling systems and an overall positive environment.
Neck River was built with teachers and students in mind to provide an easy and smooth transition.
“We're borrowing the Earth's temperature,” Peter Anderson, the Director of Facilities of Madison CT Board of Education, said.
Anderson said how the entire school is built using the ground as a source of heat and air conditioning. By using the Geothermal Heating System the school is able to take water from the ground and split it between the hot and cold temperatures. The hot water will heat the school during the winter season and it will be replaced by the cold water during the spring season to cool the school. In order for this process to be efficient, this system must accommodate heating and cooling.
In order to create this complex system 72 wells were drilled 360 feet deep. During this drilling process Anderson said that there were three drills drilling at the same time.
“We have to provide fresh clean air,” Anderson said.
This building contains one air system called DOAS, Direct Outside Air System. This singular filter cleans the CO2 from the entire school. It took grants to pay for this filter system.
The layout of the school was built on CT regulations and the building is split onto two levels. The upper half contains kindergarten through third grade and fourth and fifth graders get the lower half of the building.
“This concrete is crucial,” Anderson said.
Many designs were mocked up until they found the one that meets the right needs.
Anderson said a 14 foot wall of concrete has a super important job of keeping half the building up.
By having the teachers and students in mind there are many innovative features that will help make the lives of teachers and faculties easier.
Anderson said that tile was super important for this reason. It's aesthetic and it's easier for the janitors to clean and maintain.
Each classroom door contains a mechanism at the bottom that allows the room to become sound proof to maintain noise levels. Lockers will be inside each of the classroom k-3 and a metal grate will be placed at the bottom so the snow can melt off snow boots onto the ground. This ensures that it won't soak the children’s clothes and the floor is easy to mop.
“Long term effect is zero cost for utility,” Anderson said.
This helps with the longevity of the school and more up to date system.
Teachers and staff are thrilled by what the new school brings, however they’ve got limited time to transfer and settle into their new environment.
“A nice new pleasant environment” Margret Borden, kindergarten teacher at Jeffery Elementary School, said.
Borden has a couple months left to consolidate her room in order to move to her awaited space. Borden is thrilled about working at the new building and having her kindergarten team with her.
Borden said she started her teaching journey after college and never imagined teaching kindergarteners. Borden started off as a substitute for second graders; however, she had lots of mentors and learned a lot about how 5 year olds function.
“I’ve had so much experience with the age group,” Borden said.
Borden said she has come a long way since her beginning days as a kindergarten teacher. Borden said how times have changed with the Kindergarten curriculum. Borden said how play based learning was more of the focus however nowadays, the new idea of learning was literacy and numeracy.
Borden said it was very challenging to fit the literacy and numeracy curriculum in with only half a day. Borden worked on a committee for 30 years to get all day kindergarten. Legislation understands the importance of play based learning and it has been more incorporated into the current kindergarten curriculum.
“I want them to have a joyful learning experience,” Borden said.
Borden’s overall goal is for the children to be happy about learning and coming to kindergarten. Within the new school she wants the kids to feel like it's their home.
“It's the people obviously that make it (the school environment),” Borden said.
Teachers, staff and students alike are excited to enter their new wave of learning. Even the staff at Hand is thrilled at what their community can accomplish.
“This town values education,” Anthony Salutari, the principal of Daniel Hand High School, said.
Salutari said that he is motivated by the students and staff at Daniel Hand to continue his journey in education. He said it is hard not taking things for granted because of this wonderful community Madison has created.
“This is the only place I want to work,” Salutari said.
Salutari had been a principal for 10 years before becoming the head of Daniel Hand.
Salutari said that he is thrilled about gaining a new updated school for the Madison community.
“I only see positive coming from the new design,” Salutari said. “It all comes down to the quality of the educators in the building”