Salem’s 99-year-old school reopens with major renovations

School Board Chair Michael Carney Jr. speaks during a grand opening celebration at Woodbury School in Salem, N.H. (Photo by Tim Jean, Eagle Tribune staff)

After a century of being a home to education, Woodbury Middle School’s renovation will ensure the building continues doing the job.

Students, parents, teachers, local officials and Salem community members gathered Saturday morning to celebrate the completion of renovations to the school at 206 Main St. 

“Today is a significant milestone in the school district’s multiyear effort to create safe facilities for our students and families,” said Superintendent Maura Palmer. “Just like a middle child, this school patiently waited for its turn while all the others got the attention, and the irony is that it really isn’t the middle child, it’s the oldest child, but God was it worth the wait.”

The renovation project was approved in 2021 and began shortly after to modernize the 99-year-old building.

The project has brought the school up to date on safety regulations, improved heating and electrical systems and boosted security measures. The school’s 780 students now have a fully-operational gymnasium, and new cafeteria and classroom wing among the completed renovations.

The building was erected in 1925 and served as the town’s high school.

It has shifted in its uses over the years. There have been a series of renovations and additions since it was first constructed.

Over the last two years, sixth grade social studies and science teachers Colin Croteau and Heather Bell said it’s been a struggle having to always be moving throughout the building. But the renovation was worth it, they agreed.

“I think the whole push to renovate has instilled with a lot of kids the importance of this and education,” Croteau said. “I think kids are kind of rising to that and they see what the town has put into them and I think that they feel proud and grateful that they have this awesome space.”

Bell said she started at Woodbury after renovations began, but is just as excited as teachers who were in the old school.

A major improvement in both teacher’s perspectives is the change in layout. Instead of just having a hallway to work with, the teachers now have “pod” areas, little sitting sections for students and breakout study rooms.

“Even if they are in that space, it’s not a punishment and it’s not an isolated space,” said Bell. “The flexibility is there. We have the structure of the building and the structure of the classrooms, but it’s what we make of it. It’s what the students make of it.”

Students are excited about the transition as well. Eighth-grade students Dylan Linehan and Lily Gross said the changes have been helpful not only for education, but also for socializing with peers.

“The classrooms are really different because before, when we were in sixth grade, it was like all these crowded hallways,” said Dylan.

“Now we have team areas where you can go out and you can sit, which is really nice.”

Lily said, in her opinion, the biggest change was the front part of the building, and it was also the most exciting.

“The old building you would walk in like straight to the cafeteria,” said Lily. “It’s nice how you have a little seating area before you get to classes.”

In addition to the updated space, now called the Open Commons, the cafeteria, library, gymnasium, art, and music classrooms were all renovated.

Before the ceremonial scissors came out, band director Anders Benson had three students play the winds section from Copeland’s famous symphony opening, “Simple Gifts.”

As he announced the piece, Benson thanked all who came, and said it was a fitting tune for such an occasion.

“It’s your simple gifts as a community that allows us to be here today,” Benson said.

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