Salem district outlines $3.5M-plus capital work and school moves for summer

Salem School Committee members heard a facilities and operations update June 22 detailing a slate of summer projects funded in part by more than $3.5 million in city capital appropriations.

The presentation said the district hopes to replace the Bates roof through an accelerated repair application process and has budgeted funds for ADA work (curb cuts and access ramps), playground replacements (including Horseman Early Childhood), and a portable gym floor purchased for long-term use in the district’s future new high school building. The district also plans HVAC and mechanical repairs, new fire panels and PA systems in some buildings, LED lighting upgrades at Bentley and repaving and signage work connected to the Sarah Parker Raymond conversion.

Officials described detailed logistics for several school moves. New Liberty and Salem Prep will move into Carlton for the summer; technology equipment will be moved on June 24 and major moves on June 25–26 with professional movers hired for large transfers. The move from Carlton to the new Sarah Parker Raymond site is scheduled for the first week of August, with July used to ready the receiving building.

Committee members asked about greener HVAC options such as heat pumps; staff said major greening efforts would be pursued through the MSBA accelerated repair program in a later funding cycle, while short-term cooling approaches will be used this year so buildings remain usable in the near term.

The committee was invited to tour projects in progress and the administration said it will continue to report on completed work.