Renovated Schools Set for First Day

After a summer of extensive work and a few weeks to wrap up following "substantial completion," the newly-renovated , and Elementary Schools will be ready when the doors open to parents and students this morning.

Superintendent Michael Delahanty said the three schools held open houses on Monday night to celebrate the renovations and tour the facilities.

"The schools are transformed," Delahanty said at Tuesday night's Salem School Board meeting. "For people first seeing the buildings since they left in June, they came away impressed."

He said work still remains at the schools. The gym floor needs to be completed at Barron, furniture is missing at the libraries, some paintwork remains unfinished, some items need to be stored and storage shelves need to be installed in some places.

"But the bulk of the work has been finished," Delahanty said. "The staff has done an incredible job to prepare the schools."

The overall $22 million project for the three schools was approved by voters in March. Open houses at the schools for the public will be held on Sept. 16 and 17.

Board member Pamela Berry went to the Monday open house at Lancaster and talked about the "wow factor" of how the school looks.

"I can't believe these schools turned out so beautiful," Berry said. "I am so proud that I am a resident of this community...This is something everybody in the community of Salem should be proud of."

"Without the vote of the people, none of this would have happened," board chair Peter Morgan said.

It's expected citizens will be asked to approve another bond for renovations at , and Elementary schools next year.