Candidates back school investment but debate cost and vocational opportunities for new Salem High School

Candidates addressed an upcoming decision on a bond order and a debt-exclusion ballot initiative to fund a new Salem High School.

Caitlin Halapa said she would vote yes on both the bond and the debt-exclusion ballot question, characterizing the investment as critical for students and noting the state would pay roughly half of the cost under current plans. "It is a temporary tax increase... This is something that will be a bit of a burden on some folks in the city, but I think it's an investment that we need to make," Halapa said.

Marlene Warner also supported the investment but stressed concern about burdening future generations and suggested vocational-education expansion could make the project more broadly useful. Warner described the current building as having been heavily modified over decades but argued caution on long-term tax impacts.

Robert K. Meyer emphasized restoring vocational programs at the local high school as a way to increase opportunity and suggested Salem should use existing space and programs more efficiently rather than permanently saddling residents with a high cost.

Halapa and Warner criticized the current high school building's condition; Halapa called it "a disaster" and said the learning environment is inadequate. Candidates agreed the school committee and designers are weighing options and the state's reimbursement makes the bond route the typical municipal approach.

Ending: Candidates expressed general support for replacing or significantly rehabilitating the current high school, while urging attention to cost containment, vocational programming and communication with voters ahead of any debt-exclusion vote.