SALEM High school boosters rework complex funding

Project organizers originally had wanted to break ground on the job this fall.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- An effort to gather nearly $1.5 million to build an athletic complex at Salem High School is still alive, although boosters are reorganizing the fund-raising strategy to make it more effective.
"It's quiet right now," schools Superintendent Dr. David Brobeck said recently of the fund-raising activity.
Salem Athletic Booster Club has not given up on its desire to fund the project, however, Brobeck added.
Supporters had hoped to break ground this fall on the 27,000-square-foot project. That apparently isn't going to happen.
As of earlier this year, about $300,000 had been raised through collections that began in December.
Brobeck said he was uncertain how much money has been gathered. He noted that the school district is not directly involved in the fund raising.
What's planned
Plans call for the booster club to raise money for the complex and oversee its construction, after which it will be donated to the school district. The district will pay for maintenance and upkeep.
The facility is being called the SAM center. SAM is an acronym for Student Activity Multiplex and is a play on the Salem sports mascot, Quaker Sam.
Boosters have split the project into two phases, with the first expected to cost about $730,000.
The initial phase will entail constructing a weight room, locker room, coaches' office and a multipurpose room that can serve as a practice area for wrestlers, baseball players and other athletic pursuits, including physical education classes.
The space also could be used for nonathletic school events.
The project's second stage would cost about $770,000 and consist of building an auxiliary gymnasium to accommodate the numerous team practice schedules that are constantly juggled.
More locker rooms and equipment storage space also would be included.
leigh@vindy.com