Reducing noise levels and the number of injuries at elementary schools is a challenge, yet tiny woven fibers can provide solutions to some of these obstacles.

Carpet.

Carpet controls classroom acoustics, and it's harder for little feet to slip and fall on carpet. But carpet shows its wear and tear faster than hard floors, and the wear and tear was showing at Riverside Elementary School. That's why Principal Fran Rodenberg feels like she hit the jackpot.

The elementary school was selected for the Shaw Contract Group No Child Left Behind carpet reward given to Title 1 distinguished schools. Riverside was selected as a distinguished school because it improved its annual yearly progress over a three-year period.

The award is given by the National Association of State Title 1 Directors. Riverside was one of 35 schools in the nation to receive the award and be eligible for the Shaw carpet grant.

"Our school was in dire need for new carpet," Rodenberg said. A portion of the carpet hasn't been replaced since 1991.

Although she had asked the Bismarck School District for new carpet, she knew it would take a few years before the carpet would be replaced. Then she received an e-mail from the Shaw group about the carpet grant. At first she thought it was a joke, until the Department of Public Instruction told her the grant was real.

Rodenberg completed the application and provided interior pictures of the school, taken within the last six months, to be considered for the grant. In the first week of June, she was notified that Riverside won the grant.

The grant provides up to 18,000 square feet of new carpet, and the school needed 17,700 square feet to carpet the entire building.

Darin Scherr, director of faculties and transportation with the Bismarck School District, said the new carpet and installation is valued at $50,000 to the district.

The district wouldn't have replaced the carpet at Riverside this year, but it would have been put in rotation with the other schools that need new carpet. The district usually isn't able to replace all the carpet in a school at one time. This creates problems with trying to match colors.

"This grant will help improve the working environment," Rodenberg said. "There are benefits to having an enhanced learning environment. The students, teachers and staff can take pride in the school and that boosts morale."

The Shaw Group allowed the school to choose the color and quality of the carpet. Rodenberg chose a navy blue carpet with green and burgundy highlights.

"It's bright and not worn and gives a fresh look to our school,"she said.

Magi-Touch began laying the carpet on Monday and is expected to finish sometime next week.

(Reach reporter Kayla Cogdill at 250-8251 or kayla.cogdill@;bismarcktribu-ne.com.)