Salem kids deserve a school as excellent as they are. They deserve a safe, healthy, and welcoming building that supports their educational growth and success. And Salem residents and taxpayers deserve to have that achieved in the most financially responsible manner. A Yes vote is the only way to accomplish both. As Salem Public School parents we’re so excited to support their new Salem High School project and to vote Yes for Salem on May 5th!

Salem Mayor and School Committee chair
Former Salem School Committee member

My senior class was the first to graduate from what was then known as the new high school. Some 50 years later it is clear that Salem needs to invest in a new building, which is an investment in our students' futures.

I urge voters and residents to compare the cost and benefit of a new building over renovations to an outdated and failing structure. I support the building of a modern and efficient new Salem High School.

Essex County District Attorney
SHS class of '76

I'm a Yes for Salem! This is an incredible opportunity to provide high quality education for students in a new, state-of-the-art facility utilizing sustainable practices, creating a safe and inclusive environment for learning.

President of the Salem City Council

I support voting YES on the debt exclusion to rebuild Salem High School. Without MSBA support, Salem would face far greater expenses to bring the current building up to code. We must invest in our schools now while continuing to push for state level reforms that address affordability and municipal funding.

School Committee Member
Salem Public School Parent, SHS 2035

I am strongly supporting the plan for the new SHS for several reasons:

1 - It HAS to be done. We CANNOT do nothing. The state is requiring that we either build or renovate.

2. The choice of both the Building Committee and City Council is the least expensive option because the state will pick up a large chunk of the cost.

3. Far from the least important reason, this building will allow Salem to prepare ALL of our students for the rapidly and constantly changing world in which they will be living and working.

4. Our decisions may affect us temporarily. They will affect our students permanently.

Former Salem School Committee Member, 12 years
Former Salem High School Teacher, 17 years
Former Principal of Carlton School, 1 year
Former Federal Program Director, 20 years

As both a proud Salem High alumnus (’83) and former state representative, I am an enthusiastic “yes” to build a new facility worthy of our students, teachers and staff.  Nothing speaks more to the values of a community than an investment in its youth and education system.  I’m extremely grateful for the outstanding education I received growing up in Salem and all that it has enabled me to achieve.  I believe supporting this project is part of paying it forward and making sure our community continues to thrive.

Salem High School (’83)
Former State Representative (2005-2014)

The building of a new state-of-the-art high school will not only enhance the teaching and learning of our faculty, staff, and students; it will also be a community asset that Salem residents can utilize. Whether it’s attending a creative and performing arts event, an athletic competition, or hosting/ attending meetings important to Salem residents, a new Salem High School  will make a significant positive impact on our students, their families, and the greater Salem community. Further, with a new high school and the marked improvement of our elementary and middle schools, Salem will not only be a tourist destination, but also a permanent destination for young families.

I am proud to support the campaign for a new Salem High School.

Former School Committee Member
Salem High School Parent, 2011, 2014

A city’s public schools are a reflection of its values. In Salem, we value community. A yes vote for the new high school is a vote for environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and the short- and long-term financial health of our city. And it's a yes vote for the children of Salem, who will learn in a hands-on, future-facing environment for generations to come. 

This is how we support and grow community. Please join me in voting yes on May 5th.

Vice Chair, Salem School Committee
Salem High School Parent, 2028

I enthusiastically and emphatically support the Salem High School project.

The current building is in bad shape and needs to be replaced. The new facility will provide better spaces for learning, offer opportunities for community use, and will keep our city moving forward. Please join me in voting YES for the new high school. Our city needs this resource for everyone, for our future.

Salem citizen, parent, and educator
School Committee member, 1996-2003

The new Salem High School project is an exciting opportunity to further enhance the ongoing hard work that has been done in the past several years by the City, namely the School Committee, regarding the public school system.

After attending meetings to lay out the plan for the new facility, I knew this was the right thing to do. Using a “band-aid” approach to the current building is not the answer. Students deserve a place to be excited about attending, and not question whether they should look elsewhere for high school.

Resident and local real estate agent
Volunteer at North Shore CDC

I’m voting YES. I strongly support the proposed new Salem High School. It’s the more cost-effective option that delivers greater value for the community. It’s a responsible investment in our community’s future.

Providing a high-quality education in a new state-of-the-art facility will position students for success whether they are pursuing higher education or developing specialized skills through technical education. It will also foster the development of creative expression across many art forms, strengthening and sustaining our local creative arts economy.

Salem has been my home my entire life - I was born here, raised here, and educated here. Salem High School provided me with the foundation for my future, and now I'm watching my own daughters benefit from the Salem Public Schools. With one daughter currently attending Salem High School and another in middle school preparing to follow in her sister's footsteps, I have a deep personal investment in ensuring our students have the facilities they deserve.

The current high school building no longer meets the needs of our students and educators. The proposed new facility represents more than just new construction - it represents our community's commitment to providing 21st-century learning environments for our children. This investment in our future will ensure that generations of Salem students have access to modern, safe, and inspiring spaces where they can learn, grow, and thrive.

I’m a yes. Let’s create the High School that Salem students and teachers deserve and save taxpayer money in the process!

Salem Councillor At-Large

A new Salem High School will create tremendous opportunities for our city and its residents. From local job creation to maximizing the potential of Salem's students in a state-of-the art facility, the high school override is the fiscally responsible and most beneficial way that we can keep Salem strong now and for generations to come.

SHS graduate
Proud parent of two SHS graduates

I am a lifelong resident of Salem, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Salem High School. I strongly support the building because it is an investment in our students, educators, and the future of our city. As a union member of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Local 339, I believe in investing in strong infrastructure, good jobs, and safe, high-quality public schools. I have seen firsthand how important modern, well-maintained schools are for student success. With one daughter already graduated from Salem High School and three more children currently attending Salem Public Schools, this project is deeply personal to me and essential for generations to come.

Salem High School, 2006
Member North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Local 339
Salem Public Schools Parent,2024, 2031, 2036, 2039

As an architect working in education for over 30 years, I recognize facilities that are not only failing as buildings, but those that are misaligned with how faculty teach, and how students learn today. The current Salem High suffers from both. Although our two girls will have graduated by the time that the project is complete, I am proud to serve as co-chair of the building committee. This project is critical for Salem's future. Without a new high school, we risk loss of accreditation, flight to neighboring districts or private schools, and declining property values and a hollowing out of our city as a result. A new school will serve our kids for the next 50 years or more and ensure that families seek out Salem as a home.

Jones Architecture
Salem High School Parent, 2027, 2030

As a History educator at Salem High School and a resident of Salem, I endorse a new-construction building for Salem High School. Having worked in the current building since 2006, I have witnessed first-hand the deficiencies that impact and risk a safe and effective learning environment for our student community. The problems with heating, ventilation and air conditioning have led to uncomfortable classroom temperatures, poor air quality and potential health concerns for students and staff. Inadequate and old electrical systems have become an issue because students can't plug in their Chromebook devices without blowing a fuse, which disrupts learning and causes safety concerns. The public address system doesn't work in half of the building, which is also a safety issue. Systems are so old that they no longer make replacement parts to fix them. In order to prepare our students for the 21st century, I urge you to vote yes for a new building.

Salem High School History Teacher