Salem High School New Building Approval Expected: Superintendent Zrike

SALEM, MA — A new Salem High School could open within the next five to seven years with the state's expected approval of a plan to reimburse the city for many of the costs associated with the new building.

Superintendent Steve Zrike said on Tuesday that the beginning of the building process represents "a critically important, exciting day for the future of Salem Public Schools."

Zrike said the Massachusetts School Building Authority is scheduled to approve Salem's bid for a new high school during its meeting between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesday.

"Salem has long advocated for this critical capital project," Zrike said. "It's been 16 years of advocacy from School Committees, City Councils, Mayor (Kim Driscoll) and now, as we look to look to advance our current school facility master plan, which we conducted last year, it is imperative that this project takes place and very important for the future success as a school system."

Zrike has advocated for the need for a new high school since he came to the district in March 20202. He credited retired Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mary DeLai for writing the application that led to the anticipated approval.

"The Salem High School community, including our teachers, staff, students and their families, have long contended with a building that has neither met their needs nor offered the best possible learning environment," Zrike said. "Certainly for the past few decades that has been the case. A significant part of that building is outdated."

Zrike said the process of planning the new facility "presents a tremendous opportunity for us to unite as a community to design learning spaces that match our educational goals" and that there will be citywide conversations over the next weeks, months and years about grade configurations, structural philosophy and 21st-century learning."

"We want your voice," he said. "We want you to be involved in this incredibly important and significant process for Salem Public Schools."

He said more information about those opportunities to become involved in the new school planning will be announced after the return from the holiday break.

"This represents a critically important, exciting day for the future of the Salem Public Schools," Zrike said. "This is a good present during this holiday season for us all to receive."

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