The Haines Borough school board has approved spending $19,000 for removing and replacing “walk-off” carpeting in the lobby of the new school.
The funds also will pay to carpet steps and ramp in a hallway between the cafeteria and elementary wing.
School superintendent Michael Byer said the foyer carpeting, which has an alternating pile, is designed to capture dirt. The problem is getting the dirt back out.
“It just takes so long to clean. We’ve burnt out vacuum cleaners, even using vacuum cleaners recommended by the manufacturer. It’s a nice product in a limited area, but to do the whole foyer with it was not a good idea,” he said.
A low-nap carpet will be used in its place.
Carpet also will be put on stairs and an adjacent ramp leading between the cafeteria and elementary wing.
The area is easily scuffed. “We’re trying to be efficient and be able to clean that area in a reasonable amount of time,” Byer said.
Stair carpeting will be a different color than that on the ramp to increase visibility.
Borough manager Mark Earnest took a fall on the stairs earlier this year, suffering a serious knee injury.