POLL: How Will You Vote on School Article 2?

that would go before voters in March. Of the 567 votes in that poll as of Monday, 55 percent were in favor, 42 percent were opposed and 2 percent were undecided.

March has arrived and we are one week away from folks going to the polls next Tuesday to cast votes for or against Article 2 on the school warrant.

What follows is the exact wording by which Article 2 will appear on the warrant:

Shall the School District raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-one million five hundred thousand dollars ($21,500,000) for the design, construction and original equipping of additions and renovations (see note below) to the Fisk, Haigh and Soule Schools, and authorize the issuance of not more than Twenty-one million five hundred thousand dollars ($21,500,000) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33), and authorize the School Board to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and determine the rate of interest thereon; and further raise and appropriate the additional sum of $376,250, for the first year payment on the bond, and authorize the School Board to accept any federal, state, or private grant for this project and take any other action necessary to carry out this vote, including the acquisition and/or conveyance of any necessary utility easements to support the project? (The Salem School Board voted this article with recommendation; the Municipal Budget Committee voted this article with recommendation.)

[Note: All three (3) of these schools were built between 1955 and 1963. The work to be done under this Article would include, but not be limited to: creation of classroom space to accommodate kindergarten classrooms (eliminating leased portable units); provide individual instruction spaces for special education instruction; code compliance renovations, including installing fire safety sprinkler systems; enhancing student safety by relocating school offices; removing asbestos; updating heating ventilation and electrical systems; installing/updating data networking systems; and making energy conservation renovations to building envelopes.]

 educational practices at the schools will be brought up to 21st century standards as was the case with the three recently renovated elementary schools (, and ). They argue the renovations will make the schools safer, are economically responsible and will increase property values.

UPDATE: We've added a PDF to the right of a presentation from Lavallee Brensinger Associates on the rationale in favor renovations.

about the potential increase in taxes as a result of the approval of the bond, the need to focus on maintaining the schools and other areas such as teachers and student performance.

While it will not appear on the ballot, some opposed to Article 2 have cited a proposal by School Board member Bernie Campbell that would close Haigh and renovate Fisk and Soule, a proposal Campbell himself later backed away from. Article 2 supporters have said that proposal was based on enrollment projections may not end up being reality.

We ask you to vote in the poll below on whether or not you will vote for Article 2 on the Salem School District warrant March 13.