Salem Wants Middle Schoolers To Have Their Voices Heard

SALEM, MA — Middle school students have a lot to say.

The Salem Public Schools District is launching a new way for them to be heard.

The district recently sent out applications to families of students at Collins and Saltonstall schools looking for students interested in being part of Superintendent Steve Zrike's new middle school advisory groups.

The district has a high school advisory group, and a high school representative to the School Committee who has the opportunity to provide a report each week, but Zrike said he thinks it's important to give younger students a greater platform as well.

"In a lot of ways I feel our middle school students have struggled the most through the pandemic," Zrike said. "They are sort of in their tweener years where they don't have as much independence and flexibility (as high schoolers). But they certainly want more independence.

"During the pandemic, they weren't able to socialize and engage in ways they typically would. The activities weren't there. I really want to learn from them about how we can design schools that work for middle school students."

Applications for consideration were due Friday and the district will now put together one group for each middle school to meet with Zrike monthly either in-person or via Zoom. Those who participate will have a chance to have their say on school decisions, get a certificate of achievement for having served on the advisory group, and Zrike said "we'll always have good food and snacks."

Zrike told the Salem School Committee Monday night that nearly 50 students applied for spots on the board from Collins School alone, with interest among Saltonstall students expected to be high as well.

"One of the things that's a priority for the district is empowering student voice and giving students more input on what's happening in their schools and their education," Zrike said.

(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.)