The learning environment at Bow Elementary School is set to change with a renovation project adding classrooms and upgrading safety measures in the building.

For several years, the school has dealt with a space shortage, leading to unconventional classroom arrangements, including the use of former storage closets for special education classes and hallways turned into makeshift learning spaces.

The renovation project would add eight classrooms to the existing building to accommodate the increasing enrollment at the school.

“It’s going to be a game changer,” said Lori Krueger, the school principal. “We are going to have the space to support some children’s learning because right now we just don’t have enough space.”

This project is made possible by a $12.9 million bond approved during this year’s town meeting that will add 12,000 square feet of space to the school’s current building.

The addition of eight classrooms to the school building will result in a net gain of six teaching classrooms. These new classrooms will be situated on the east side of the building. The expansion will allow teachers to have dedicated spaces rather than having to move from one room to another for each class.

Apart from increasing its physical footprint, improving safety is another objective of this renovation project. Unlike newer school buildings in the state, Bow Elementary School lacks a secure double-door entrance.

Visitors are buzzed in after being viewed on camera, granting them immediate access to all classrooms without any waiting area. The school currently lacks sufficient control in this regard.

To address this, the main entrance will be renovated for increased security, and the office will be redesigned to accommodate the assistant principal, three administrators, and two secretaries who will now have separate spaces.

Additionally, the classroom doors will be designed with a safety feature to prevent unauthorized access in the event of broken glass.

The construction, scheduled to start this month, will introduce some noise disruptions to most classrooms. However, Krueger remains optimistic that once the building structure is completed, the noise will become more manageable.

“We learned flexibility when the pandemic hit,” explained Krueger. “Now, this is for something that we will actually have at the end that we can enjoy.”

A sprinkler system will also be installed in the building and the outdated bathrooms will be renovated.

The construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025.