A Groton Elementary School Comes Together

Groton’s Mary Morrisson Elementary School, where workers emptied all of the furniture to remove and replaces asbestos floor tile from 19 classrooms, seven storage areas, three offices and the gymnasium, is nearly completed.

The job was finished on Aug. 15, and staff were back putting together classrooms Aug. 20.

Groton hired HazPros, Inc., an environmental and construction firm from West Hartford to remove the asbestos tile at the end of the last school year, then replace it over the summer, Groton School Facilities Director Wes Greenleaf said.

The and came in about $30,000 over budget, because concrete floors had to be leveled after tile and glue was removed, Greenleaf said.

The school department is expected to seek a supplemental appropriation from the Town Council and Representative Town Meeting to cover the additional cost.

Staff began moving furniture back in the classrooms last week, and teachers were busy setting up for the school year Monday.

“It’s all going to come out fine at the end,” said fifth grade teacher Christiana Donnel. “It always does.”