School Board: Elementary Schools Must Be First

With five of Salem's eight public schools in poor condition, officials expressed a desire to "stay the course" Tuesday with renovating three elementary schools first.

The Salem School Board and SAU 57 Superintendent Michael Delahanty took an opportunity during Tuesday night's meeting to discuss issues that have arisen regarding Article 2 on the school warrant, the $21.5 million bond to renovate the , and Elementary Schools, to be voted on March 13.

Delahanty addressed concerns he's heard in the community regarding what would happen should this article, which represents Phase II of the district's Facilities Master Plan (Phase I having already been completed with the renovations at , and Elementary Schools).

"I think it's important that people know that our master plan is well-thought out and was well considered, and it is important to be addressed," he said "We need to address our elementary schools."

He cited a proposal for renovations at from several years ago that was defeated by voters which was followed by "other priorities" that became apparent at the elementary schools.

"If Phase II doesn't move forward, it's just going to delay us moving on to the high school," said School Board Vice Chairwoman Pamela Berry. "The board is committed to following our plans, which we've been working on for seven years now. It has been a lot of planning and a lot of work. I think that we should stay the course and proceed in this way."

Under the current plans, Phase II would be followed by renovations at Salem High (Phase III) and then (Phase IV). Woodbury is the oldest public school building in Salem.

"We need to make sure our elementary schools are preparing students the best they can before they go onto middle school and high school," said School Board Chairman Peter Morgan.

He later commented on the spaces at the three elementary schools for specialized services and said, "I can't imagine having three elementary schools that are well-suited to special services students and three that aren't."

Delahanty suggested that should Phase II pass, the district should work to convene a group of people that would outline the needs for renovations at Salem High.

Berry said the board and the district need to work more closely with the community on what work needs to be done.

"As board members and as educators, what we know the needs are is not necessarily what the community thinks the needs are," Berry said. "Somewhere in between we have to come to a balance that everybody can live with and accept."

Berry also addressed an issue she's heard regarding deferred maintenance at the schools.

"We're talking about the renovations of these schools that need new electrical systems, heating systems, ventilation, climate control, safety issues," she said. "These are not deferred maintenance issues. They are major overhauls of buildings."