Meg Hibbert
Contributing writer
Salem City Schools gave City Council an overview of proposed 2026-27 projects at a Nov. 24 work session.
Superintendent Dr. Curtis Hicks gave details of $1.962 million anticipated projects, including ongoing major maintenance projects such as roofing, heating and air conditioning work, building renovations and classroom upgrades.
Those include $250,000 to fix the roof at Carver Elementary School, $280,000 to replace pumps, boiler and chiller pumps at West Salem Elementary School; $215,000 to replace makeup air units at Andrew Lewis Middle School, $290,000 to repave tennis courts at Salem High School, and $250,000 to replace bleachers on one side of the SHS gym.
Hicks said the schools have received a $300,000 grant that requires a $60,000 local match for an extended school year (summer school), and $250,000 with a $37,666 match for school security projects.
In the regular session that followed the work session, Council voted unanimously to amend the School General Fund to reflect those changes.
Council adopted a resolution honoring Salem High School Golfer Ashnoor Kaur for her 2025 State Championship. She accepted the resolution and posed for photographs with Mayor Renee Turk and Councilmembers and Coach Blaine Hancock.
Kaur captured the Virginia High School League’s Class 4 State Title. At a tourneymen at Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg, she defeated the top 60 male and female golfers in the state with a 1-over par round of 71. She is a SHS junior.
In other actions at the Nov. 24 meeting, Council voted unanimously to adopt:
* Plat review changes, zoning industrial park overlay, the Transient Occupancy Tax, and a section on Nuisances.
Council also voted, on second reading, to rezone proposery at 522 S. Market St. From Residential Single Family District to Highway Business District, at the request of Pillis Enterprises Inc. to allow additional parking for the garage on Fourth Street.
Council authorized City Manager Chris Dorsey to finalize and execute a local performance agreement between the city, the city’s Economic Development Authority and owners of Wings Etc., reimbursing the owners with $30,000 from meals tax for extensive renovations made to the former Bonanza steak house and more recently El Rodeo.
Economic Development Director Tommy Miller pointed out the “owners took on significant debt to bring the building up to code.”
Council also authorized City Manager Dorsey to finalize and execute a local performance agreement between the city, the EDA and McClung Lumber Co. Inc., awarding the new owners $10,000 in lieu of personal property tax for “renovations and acquiring a new building next door.”
Council adjourned at 6:58 p.m. for a closed session for consultation with legal counsel about probable litigation. The major said no action in open session was expected.
At the Dec. 8 meeting, Counsel is expected to take action on the proposed Comprehensive Plan. On Nov. 10, after hearing concerns from citizens about errors in the proposed plan Council delayed the vote. The vote to delay was 4-1, with Mayor Renee Turk dissenting.
The Dec. 8 meeting is the only Council meeting scheduled before the new year.