Green Hope is a school that builds tradition with every step, and under every step is carpet, part of the structural integrity of not only Green Hope but its legacy. As the carpet is overlooked, some of it gets damaged. The same principle applies to ceilings and other areas of the building, but should everyday structures be important enough to care about? Staff on Green Hope’s third floor report aging carpets and ceiling leaks that may create health, safety and cleanliness concerns.
What’s the deal with Green Hope’s structural integrity?
- The carpet is built to last, but how does the natural wear and tear affect the quality of life in classrooms?
- Green Hope’s carpets are walked on every day, thousands of footsteps taken by students across the floor.
- Many classrooms undergo carpet replacement; what does this mean for students?
- Alongside the carpets, how will leaks in the ceiling affect classes?
As the building approaches 28 years old, some rooms’ carpets have become well-worn. The beginning of the 2025 school year marked Green Hope’s largest body of students ever, amassing a staggering 2,473 students with that number set to increase throughout the year. With thousands of students walking through classes every day, that’s a lot of footsteps for the carpet to take.
What’s become of the Green Hope carpet that has yet to be replaced after these continuous years of use? The GH Falcon sat down with Green Hope English teacher, Ms. Caroline Moakley, who has recently been struggling with the side effects of her classroom carpet, saying, “The AC is not run during the summer… and coming back I found large stains growing in the carpet with Janitorial claiming it was detergent.” Ms. Moakley said, “I have grave concerns about carpet that is this old and has been through so much traffic.” Highlighting the cleanliness of her room needed to allow students to eat in her room, Ms. Moakley also stated that her carpet was original, not having been replaced since the school’s construction, adding to concerns over the carpet’s age. Straying away from the negatives though, Ms. Moakley made sure to state that the issues with the carpet did not affect her teaching, only her concerns of cleanliness.
As Ms. Moakley is currently dealing with this issue, in the classroom next door Ms. Alison Woodard has recently had her carpet replaced due to a similar issue, and shared, “My classroom was definitely a priority for them.” Although Woodard never saw the mold herself, her class had more issues than just mold, for example, “There were a lot of tears. Tears of carpet and bubbles. That could be a safety hazard for students walking through.” Also calling the bubbles “easy to trip on,” Woodard later talked about her class’ displacement as her carpet was replaced. “They started late September of last year, we were displaced for about 3 days.” Although she said it did not directly affect her teaching, the tripping hazards in the carpet ultimately hindered her classroom experience.
Teachers have raised concerns about possible mold due to leaks and aging materials. The GH Falcon went to English teacher, Ms. Melanie Diorio, to take a look at her ceiling. Just outside of her classroom, she pointed out an area where the ceiling had been leaking, on the floor were stains of a puddle formed by the leak. Areas like this echo what the carpet experiences too.
Taking care of our ceilings is important too, as stopping leaks from happening prevents not only dilapidation in the ceiling, but also stains on the floor, or potentially, the carpet too.
The carpet in Green Hope may get walked on everyday, but it’s still a big issue. Taking care of the carpet and ceiling helps save learning spaces and keeps Green Hope clean. As the school ages, many classrooms will face these issues, but how the school chooses to deal with them will affect students’ classroom environments for years to come.
