Salem schools outline plan, timeline and committees for Carleton–Saltonstall merger

The Salem School Committee on Jan. 5 received details on the planned merger of Carleton and Saltonstall, including committee appointments, a family transfer window and a timeline for recommendations.

Superintendent (speaking at the meeting) said principals Beth Jellison (Saltonstall) and Lauren Weaver (Carleton) will lead the transition and innovation committees and that community outreach will be broad: “We want families to know that this school is a real thing,” the superintendent said, adding the district will send a letter to families later in the week with details about competency determination and the merger transition.

Key administrative steps and dates: the district opened applications for two committees (transition and innovation) and reported 18 applicants for the transition committee and 10 for the innovation committee to date. The district set a transfer application window for Carleton and Saltonstall families from Jan. 12 to Feb. 6 and said it will notify families of placement results by Feb. 27. Transfers will be for grades 1–5; siblings will receive preference and, if requests exceed available seats, the district will use a lottery and apply socioeconomic balance targets.

Staffing and operations: the superintendent said the combined school will remain on the district’s 8:30/8:35 bell tier and that the district will cap the merged school’s kindergarten at three classrooms for the 2026–27 year. The district emphasized that most current staff will be placed in the merged school where possible, but that some duplicate roles may be eliminated; contractual language with the district’s three bargaining units will govern placements. Confidential conversations with employees will precede any public staffing lists.

Community engagement and oversight: the superintendent said committees are charged with outreach and will report regularly to the district and the school committee. Members asked that success metrics include transfer in/out data, class composition, academic achievement and perception data from families and staff; the superintendent agreed to monthly updates. Naming of the new school remains the school committee’s authority; the district extended the naming application deadline to Jan. 16 and planned a naming discussion for the Jan. 26 meeting.

Budget and next steps: staff said the district will present anticipated one-time capital investments and merger savings as part of the January capital budget process. The district plans to present committee recommendations before April vacation to allow a timely start for implementation. The superintendent closed the presentation by reminding the committee of the transition’s purpose: “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”