Salem committee votes to submit high-school educational plan to MSBA; several routine items approved

The Salem School Committee unanimously approved submission of the Salem High School educational program to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on June 17, moving the district further into a multi-year planning process for a proposed new high school.

What was approved: Rick Jones, co-chair of the building committee, described the project timeline and site concepts, including a proposed new building footprint adjacent to Highland Avenue, replacement playing fields and plans to pursue net-zero energy design. He told the committee the district’s statement of interest was accepted by the MSBA in December 2022 and that the next formal step was the preferred schematic report and schematic design work. "We were invited, because of our statement of interest was accepted by the Massachusetts School Building Authority," a district official said during the presentation.

Vote and schedule: The committee voted to approve the educational program submission by roll call; the transcript records unanimous yes votes from committee members present. The MSBA comment-and-design schedule presented to the committee anticipates a schematic design phase through late 2025 and a probable debt-exclusion vote in spring 2026 if MSBA approvals proceed.

Other votes at the meeting: The committee also approved several routine items and actions by roll call, including: - Approval of the meeting agenda (motion by Member Campbell; second by Member Cornell). Vote: unanimous yes. - Approval of the consent agenda with item 2 (the ROTC field trip) removed for separate vote (motion by Member Cruz; second by Member Cornell). Vote: unanimous yes. - Approval of the Salem High Marine Corps JROTC field trip to Buzzards Bay, June 30–July 3 (motion by Member Cruz; second by Member Cornell). Vote: unanimous yes. - Two small end-of-year transfers (from stipend accounts to non-personnel) totaling $1,800 to cover school-year expenses (motion by Member Miranda; second by Member Cornell). Vote: unanimous yes. - Approval of Policy 6402 (time and location of school committee meetings) on third reading (motion by Member Cornell; second by Member Miranda). Vote: unanimous yes.

Facility and operations: Facilities staff outlined summer maintenance projects districtwide, including HVAC repairs, playground and gym-floor work and track resurfacing at Bertram. The Bertram track resurfacing and other repairs are scheduled for this summer; district staff said the track had exceeded its expected lifespan and will be resurfaced.

Public comment highlights: Public comment included a student proposal for a college-student apprenticeship/support program to help understaffed classrooms, and a request from Harvard students to support a nonbinding resolution backing statewide CPR instruction bills. Nayan Sabers, a Harvard junior and cofounder of a CPR ambassador program, asked the committee to pass a nonbinding resolution backing five bills at the statehouse to encourage brief hands-only CPR instruction for high-school students. He said the training is inexpensive and could be delivered in a single 30–45 minute lesson. "I'm not asking Salem to buy equipment or change its curriculum immediately. I'm simply asking the school committee to pass a nonbinding resolution of support," Sabers said.

Next steps for the high-school project: If the MSBA approves the preferred schematic and schematic design, the project may advance toward a local debt-exclusion vote in spring 2026 and, if successful, construction beginning in 2028 with an anticipated building completion around 2030. The transcript shows the building committee and design team will continue community meetings and design refinements throughout schematic design.

Ending: The committee adjourned after unanimous votes on consent items and the MSBA educational program submission. Several public-comment items will require follow-up by district staff and the policy subcommittee.