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By Cole Wimberly

The Salem Community High School Board Monday night approve an amendment to its performance contract agreement with Ameresco to oversee an additional $1,772,749 in building improvements this summer.

Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says masonry repairs will be made to all brick buildings for better temperature control. All the windows will be replaced in the business wing.  Detering says the glass cubes on the south end of the second and third floor of the high school will be replaced.

“There’s mortar between all of them and the mortar is deteriorating, so when it rains and blows coming out of the south, those windows leak,” Detering said.

The school is still working on plans to repair one or two of the five science labs in the summer of 2025. The final decision will be made on cost which is expected to be around $500,000 to $600,000 per lab.   Four of the labs have not be renovated since the fire in 1990.   Detering says no additional taxpayer dollars will be required.

“What I equate it to on a much larger level is when you save up for your own home repair and improvement project,” Detering said. “When you get enough saved you go ahead and do the project. That’s what we’re doing here, with just a much larger building.”

The board set high school graduation for Sunday, May 18th at two pm.  Detering says the date will not change even if there are additional snow days used.

In other action, the board approved their support for the State Board of Education’s Vision 2030 and the new objectives included in the program. Just like Vision 2020, the program aims to improve education, and motivate students to pursue their individual goals and career paths. Vision 2030’s goals are future focused learning, shared accountability, and predictable funding.

In personnel action, the board employed Sherry Hargis as boys’ head track coach.  She resigned earlier in the meeting as assistant girls track coach.  The board all employed Rase Collins, Trevor Greene and Rylan Quinn as assistant track coach and Mindy Veach as a volunteer track coach.  The board accepted the retirement resignation of Mike Wooldridge as bus driver.