Salem Switches School Day Schedule For Trooper Trainor Funeral Services

SALEM, MA — What was scheduled as a half-day of school on Wednesday will revert back to a full day of in-classroom learning across Salem Public Schools amid planned road closures, detours and traffic associated with funeral services for State Trooper Keith Trainor.

Trainor, a Salem High and Salem State graduate who was hailed as a "hero" for his efforts to intercept a wrong-way driver on Route 1 last week, will be remembered at services at Saint James Church on Federal Street on Wednesday morning.

• Thousands Expected For State Trooper Trainor's Services On North Shore

The procession to the church and services are expected to draw thousands of family, friends, and law enforcement from throughout the state, prompting road closures and detours at a time that would have directly conflicted with dismissal times for the scheduled half-day of learning.

"We have been advised that sections of these roads will be impassable," Salem Interim Superintendent Katie Carbone said. "(On Monday,) we spent significant time assessing the impact this will have on travel to and from our schools.

"Arrival should be completed before the closures are in place, but due to the half-day planned, dismissal will overlap with the services. In light of this, our choices are to cancel school entirely or to extend from a half to a full day for students.

"We recognize that both options may pose challenges for staff and families."

Carbone said the district opted to shift from a half-day to a full day for all schedules, except for New Liberty Innovation School.

"We do anticipate noticeably slower than normal commute times and share this information for your planning and consideration," Carbone said. "We understand that this last-minute adjustment may have implications for families who were planning for a half day. We deeply appreciate your cooperation and understanding, as there was limited lead time to plan and communicate changes given the circumstances.

"We grieve with the Trainor family and will support them on this difficult day."