Salem Assessment Calls For Ventilation Repairs At 2 Schools

SALEM, MA —Those students scheduled to return to in-classroom learning at two Salem schools will have their classes moved after two buildings failed a city ventilation system assessment.

Superintendent of Schools Stephen Zrike said in a letter to parents and guardians that students and staff in priority programs at Bentley Academy Innovation School, the Early Childhood Center and the Horace Mann Laboratory School will be moved while repairs are made.

Zrike the remaining schools all passed their assessment.

"This evaluation has revealed that the majority of schools are able to welcome students and staff back on day one," Zrike wrote. "Unfortunately, the assessment surfaced that two buildings, housing three programs, still require more significant repairs in order to ensure that the systems are running as intended. As a result, we are relocating the priority classrooms in these buildings to other spaces in the district."

Bentley Academy students will share the space at Saltonstall School, Early Childhood Center students will share space at Bates Elementary School and Horace Mann Laboratory School students will use the YMCA Childcare space at Salem High School.

Most students in Salem will begin the school year fully remote with a prioritized students beginning the year in the in-person classes.

"Please note that these are temporary relocations as we anticipate the necessary repairs to be made over the coming weeks," Zrike said. "Also know that these changes to the physical space do not impact the remote learning classes for these schools, and the in-person hubs will take place outdoors at their original school locations. Students at these schools will receive more detailed information from their teachers about their Hub Connects times and locations."

School begins for grades 1 through 12 on Sept. 14. Kindergarten and pre-kindergarten begin on Sept. 16.

Zrike said parents and guardians will be updates as more information emerges, and repairs are completed.