MSBA approves Salem High School project; committee readies outreach ahead of May 5 vote

The Salem High School building committee was told Feb. 26 that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) board unanimously approved the district’s high school project at its meeting yesterday, and that the committee has 120 days to finalize a local funding commitment. "We have 120 days to finalize the local funding commitment," the mayor (speaker S2) said.

Committee members said the MSBA sent a letter confirming approval and emphasized a short timeline of outreach and planning before the local ballot vote. Margaret (speaker S4) said the group has “the month of March and the month of April” to prepare and highlighted two building-committee meetings on March 19 and April 16 as part of the run-up to the vote.

The group discussed community engagement events meant to inform voters. Rick (speaker S6) described a March 14 “Design Day” at Collins Middle School with 10 topic tables and rotating small-group sessions to collect input on school design and the district’s 10-year strategic plan. "We want a large number of students, staff, and families to attend," Steve (speaker S5) said, describing the session as interactive rather than a typical presentation.

During public comment, Beth Ann Cornell (speaker S8) provided an update for the Yes For Salem campaign, which is supporting a debt-exclusion ballot question tied to the project. Cornell said the campaign’s website is live at yesforsalem.com and solicited endorsements and donations to pay for palm cards, lawn signs and phone banking. "If you'd like to know where those donations go, they pay for palm cards ... the cost of the website, for lawn site signs, for phone banking," Cornell said.

Finance and scheduling details were also discussed: the committee reiterated the short calendar ahead of the vote and asked members to staff outreach events. The meeting included routine procedural votes to approve the Jan. 29 minutes and later to adjourn; both measures passed by voice vote.

Next steps include finalizing the local funding commitment within the 120-day window, continuing public outreach including the March 14 design day, and a local vote scheduled for the first Tuesday in May (committee members referenced May 5).