Salem Officials Back New High School Construction Plan

SALEM, MA — Salem officials are backing a plan for a newly constructed high school on the campus of the current building with the funding for the construction likely heading to a citywide vote early next year.

The new construction plan was chosen over renovation plans as part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority process that provides state matching funds for the construction.

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Superintendent Steve Zrike said on Friday that the new construction will take about 30 months from the time the project starts — pending voter approval — while the renovation would have taken closer to 48 months and caused more disruption for students.

"A shorter timeline also means lower costs," Zrike said. "The only option that would have potentially been lower cost than new construction would have been a code upgrade, which is a longer timeline and was not the preferred choice because it would not have met the educational needs identified throughout this process."

The current time frame estimates that construction would begin in 2028 and be completed in 2030, if funding is approved by Salem voters.

Zrike said the new construction will free up more space on campus for athletic fields and facilities. He said there will be two on-campus soccer/lacrosse fields, overlap baseball and softball fields and tennis courts with a pickleball overlay.

There is also a planned fieldhouse with one regulation basketball court and cross courts that accommodate physical education classes, strength and conditioning space, separate cheer and wrestling rooms and an elevated walking track.

Performing arts space will also be prioritized with a "state-of-the-art auditorium" as well as music and art space, theater storage and upgraded career technical education classrooms and workshops that are "integrated strategically throughout the building to respond to the interest in having innovative approaches to teaching and learning in academic and career and technical pathways."

He said the public is invited to a forum on the new construction plans at the Senior Life Center on Bridge Street on June 3.

"We want not just Salem Public Schools families to attend — of course, they are welcome," he said. "But members of the whole community, any resident, to get more information from elected officials, from school officials, from our architect, the designer, as well as our project manager."

A website dedicated to the new school project can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)