Salem Central School District is moving forward with making critical repairs and renovations to its Salem Washington Academy building, which is rich with history.
“This past school year, Salem celebrated the graduation of its 225th class of high school seniors. We are preparing for many more graduating classes to come,” said Superintendent of Schools Julie A. Collier.
After voters approved a proposed $8.15 million capital project in May 2025, district leadership worked with Mosaic Associates Architects to develop the required design and construction documents. These plans were submitted to the New York State Education Department for permit approval on December 4th. Once approved, the project will be put out to bid for a contractor. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
“The capital project vote secured the necessary funding for our roof replacements. The board chose to pursue this work as a capital project because it qualifies for state aid. This aid from the state will cover about 80% of the total cost and greatly reduce the amount paid by local taxpayers,” said Board of Education President Anne Dunigan. “By addressing these deficiencies now, we will prevent costly structural damage while preserving safe learning environments.”
The project, titled Refurbish Our Roofs, will fund the much-needed replacement of the Salem Washington Academy roof. The decision was guided by the state-mandated Building Condition Survey, which revealed weaknesses in the roofing system. Salem’s most recent survey included a full roof scan that identified areas where moisture had become trapped.
“Some of our major leaks are in hallways, which are high traffic areas. This creates a major slip and fall hazard. In our gym, the leaks were dripping right onto our brand-new bleachers and freshly redone floor,” said Director of Facilities Paul Yakubec.
The district attempted several short-term fixes, such as roof-patching compounds and traps designed to catch roof leaks, before pursuing the project. The results of the full roof scan ultimately confirmed the need for a complete replacement.
“We have spent a lot of time trying to patch every crack, crevasse, and questionable spot on the roof. The problem is the leaks travel so far that you might be 50 feet away from where the leak is actually coming in,” said Yakubec.