Local News – Monday, January 8th, 2024

The Salem R-80 School District will hold an informational meeting in the Rotary Club room at the Salem Community Center@The Armory on Thursday, January 11th, at 4:00 in the afternoon, to share information regarding the Salem R-80 School District initiatives for a bond issue and increase in the property tax operating levy that will be on the April ballot. According to a press release from Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed, with the district having successfully completed most projects in their existing long-term facilities plan, the focus now lies on the replacement of William Lynch Elementary School which is the major reason for a new six million dollar bond issue. The approximate replacement cost for the school stands at $16 million, with an estimated cost of $375 to 400 per square foot for new construction. This would cause the district to reach its maximum bonding capacity of $9.5 million, while still dependent on a FEMA grant. However, a silver lining emerged as the District secured a 90/10 FEMA grant, where FEMA will pay 90% of the cost of a storm shelter shell, enabling the district to save approximately $4 million in construction costs where a wing will be built at the Upper Elementary that will house approximately eight classrooms. Additionally, the future acquisition of the Gott building currently owned by SBU for $750,000, priced at $50 per square foot, is significantly lower than the new construction cost and would further aid the effort to find a cost effective replacement for William Lynch. Once the FEMA addition is complete at the Upper Elementary and the Gott building is remodeled for the change, Salem R-80 would relocate Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes to the Gott building, and first grade to the Upper Elementary, all at a fraction of the expense of constructing an entirely new building. The bond would not only purchase the Gott Building, but provide funding for other capital projects include the District’s portion of the FEMA building, renovations at the Gott building to tailor it for an early childhood center, completion of the interior for the construction trades building, structural repairs to the AG building, and several smaller projects aimed at facility repairs. If passed, the increase in the debt service would be an additional 34 cents per $100 assessed valuation bringing the new total to 79 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The school is looking to also increase the operating tax levy from the state minimum of $2.75 per $100 assessed valuation to $3.65 per $100 assessed valuation. This would allow the district to remain competitive with teacher salaries to other schools in the immediate area. Salem’s base salary is $32,000 which is lower than eight surrounding districts, and the assessed valuation per student for Salem is $75, the lowest among those eight surrounding districts. Salem’s support staff base salaries had a 20% raise in the last three years going from $8.86 to $10.87 per hour, but that is still below the state minimum wage by $1.43. This would allow the district to increase the support staff base as well. In the release, Reed says to provide Salem students with an exceptional education that prepares them for success after graduation, the district must have the best teachers available. With funding from the increased operating levy, the District will offer more competitive pay and benefits, improving our ability to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff. If both issues are passed, the citizens who pay Salem R-80 District taxes would see an increase of $1.24 per $100 assessed valuation to their tax bills going $3.20 to $4.24 per $100 assessed valuation. Any one interested in learning more about the projects or how the funds are to be used is welcome to attend the meeting Thursday afternoon at the Salem Community Center@ The Armory!

An accident happened Friday night in Franklin County on westbound I-44 at the 245.6 mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Kia Optima driven westbound by 29-year-old Kyla Destifanes of Salem, was going too fast for the road conditions. She lost control of the vehicle which then went off the left side of the roadway with the left front of the vehicle striking the median wall. The Kia then re-entered the roadway and crossed I-44 exiting the roadway to the right where the vehicle struck a ditch. Destifanes suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Union Ambulance to the Mercy Hospital in Washington. Destifanes was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Kia was totaled and left at the scene. It was secured by the highway patrol.