'Huge Step Foward': New Peabody High School Proposal Earns State Visit

PEABODY, MA — Repeated disappointment year after year gave way to qualified declarations of excitement and anticipation for Peabody school officials with the notification that the state School Building Authority will make a senior site visit to the current Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in what Superintendent Josh Vadala called a "huge step forward" in the quest for a new high school.

Vadala told the School Committee on Tuesday night that the visit could pave the way for state matching funds to help the city renovate or replace the current PVMS.

"This is not an invitation into the core program — yet," Vadala told the School Committee Tuesday night. "But it is — and I add my own 'yet' — but I cannot emphasize enough that this is such a big deal for us. It's a huge honor to be considered and to have a senior site visit."

Vadala and School Committee member Beverley Ann Griffin Dunne pledged after last year's SBA denial to begin the proposal process earlier this round in hopes that PVMS would gain the consideration that they said is necessary given the current condition of the school.

The site visit process is similar to that of the Higgins and Welch schools before they were granted state-matching funding in years past. Last year, Salem High School went through the senior site process before officials there found out that the school had been approved for a new building that is now expected to be built within the next five to seven years.

"The SBA is taking a closer look at the high school — which is well-deserved," Vadala said. "This community deserves a new high school and this is a huge step forward along that path. I am so excited about this. I am excited for our teachers, and our students, and our families, and our community as a whole.

"This has been a long-time coming. It's been a lot of work from everyone on this committee and especially from (the mayor's office) to keep persistent about telling everyone that needs to know that Peabody needs a new high school and that the community supports it."

Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt looked to moderate his enthusiasm in making it to the next step in the process on Tuesday but acknowledged its significance.

"Certainly, it's not a full invitation yet but it is a big step when we haven't been welcomed into (the SBA program) the last few times we've submitted an application," Bettencourt said. "To get to this point means they are certainly going to take a real look at it.

"This is a really promising step. I am trying to temper expectations and not get too excited knowing what a new high school, or renovation, could mean for our city, our students, our educators for generations to come."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)