Salem Public Schools ‘Design Day’ Offers Student and Public Input on the Next Decade
Slated for Saturday, Feb. 7, students, families, staff and community members are encouraged to attend
SALEM (Jan. 23, 2026) – What will K-12 education look like in 2036?
Salem Public Schools wants the opinion of its families, students, staff, civic groups and its community.
The District will host Design Day Saturday, Feb. 7 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the Collins Middle School cafeteria at which SPS leadership and stakeholders will begin mapping out not only the 2026-29 Strategic Plan, but the next 10 years of K-12 Salem education.
“Design Day is an opportunity for anyone who has a stake in Salem Public Schools – our students in any grade, their families and caregivers, community leaders and partners – to share suggestions, opinions and any input to help us rethink what school can be for children over the next 10 years,” said Superintendent Dr. Stephen Zrike.
Childcare will be provided along with food and prizes for those attending.
Design Day will consist of several stations at which families can share their priorities in different ways:
- Flip charts with key questions
- Activities to rank future priorities
- Quick, interactive options for providing input on specific topics using 2×2 grids, spectrum bars, and stickers.
Several table discussions will be facilitated where families and students can share their perspectives on relevant topics such as Artificial Intelligence in the classroom, plans for a new high school, community engagement, pre-Kindergarten and early education, and other areas of interest.
“We want our families and guests to help us rethink what school can be,” Dr. Zrike added. “We want this event to be exciting, motivating and to speak to the individual needs of our students. We want this strategic plan to be aligned not for today, but to 21st century goals, the workforce and the next 10 years.”
To participate, stakeholders are encouraged to complete a quick registration form.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.
