MSBA Statement of Interest (“SOI”) Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an SOI?
A: An SOI is an electronic form accessed by cities, towns, and regional school districts ("districts") who are seeking funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (the "MSBA") for a proposed school building project. Submitting an SOI is the first critical step in the process to notify the MSBA of the district’s interest in the grant program.
The Core Program is intended for new construction, addition, and/or renovation projects. The SOI asks the district to select the most appropriate program and state the deficiencies in the school building and how they fit within one or more of the Statutory Priorities as articulated within the “SOI Main” tab of the template form.
Q: Who from the district files an SOI?
A: School superintendents lead in the completion of the SOI and seek authorization to submit the SOI to the MSBA from municipal and school officials (typically city council/aldermen/board of selectmen/school committee). In the case of regional school districts, school superintendents seek authorization from regional officials (typically school committees). School superintendents are responsible for submitting the SOI and often work with local staff and local officials to complete the process.
Q: How does the district file an SOI?
A: School superintendents obtain access to the MSBA's online SOI System, lead in the preparation of the SOI, and seek the signatures of certain local officials before submitting the SOI to the MSBA. Detailed instructions are embedded within the SOI template, within the SOI User Guide, and in the opening email communication issued to school superintendents. For 2026, the instructions email is dated Monday, January 12, 2026.
- The deadline for submitting an SOI for the Core Program for consideration in 2026 is Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Q: Can someone other than the superintendent gain access to the system? How is the superintendent involved in approving access for others?
A: Yes, when the SOI system is open, individuals will coordinate with the school superintendent to gain access to the system. School superintendents operate within the “user system” application to allow access for all users.
Q: How does the pre-population option within the template SOI form work?
A: Information from a previous year’s SOI (2025) can be imported to the current year’s template SOI form (2026). School superintendents, once in the current year’s SOI, will access the previous year’s information by selecting the “pre-populate” button located within the “SOI Main” tab of the SOI template form. School superintendents can then further edit and update information throughout the template to reflect current conditions before submitting the current year’s SOI for consideration. Further instruction is provided in the SOI User Guide.
- Please note there have been changes to the MSBA’s SOI template that are in effect for the 2026 SOI filing period:
- If the district submitted a Core Program SOI in 2025 and intends to pre-populate its SOI(s) in 2026, changes to the SOI template may impact responses to certain questions.
- Any supporting materials required for the selection of Statutory Priority 1, and Priority 3, and/or any supplemental material a district elects to submit with the SOI must be uploaded in the SOI system in order to submit an SOI. Hard copies will no longer be accepted.
Q: Should the district propose a solution to the deficiencies cited in the SOI?
A. When selecting the Core Program the school superintendent will, from the Program Type drop-down menu within the “SOI Main” tab, be prompted to select the Potential Project Scope from the following options: a potential new school, addition/renovation, or repair project (extensive repair to a school facility). The school superintendent is also prompted to indicate if school consolidation is being considered. If the answer is “yes,” the other school(s) subject to the proposed consolidation will require an SOI to be filed with the MSBA. If the district is considering grade reconfiguration rather than consolidation, a description of the grade reconfiguration plan and school(s) involved should be noted within the response to the consolidation question. The district is not required to file additional SOIs for the other subject schools when proposing grade reconfiguration.
Q: If the district is interested in consolidating the Priority SOI school with another school in the district, should this information be included within the Priority SOI?
A: Yes, if the district is submitting an SOI for the Core Program, a response of “yes” should be selected when answering the consolidation question and a description of the proposed consolidation and/or grade reconfiguration should be provided where prompted. The district will also need to file an SOI(s) for the school facility(ies) proposed to be associated with a proposed consolidation project. The district is not required to file additional SOIs for the other subject schools when proposing grade reconfiguration.
Q: How many SOIs can the district submit?
A: The MSBA does not limit the number of SOIs a district can submit. However, an SOI should only be filed for a facility where the district has the financial ability to proceed with a construction project at the time of submission. The district should only submit one SOI per school facility and should detail all the facility deficiencies within the single SOI. If the district submits an SOI for more than one facility under the Core Program, it will be required to select the SOI from all submitted that represents the “District’s Priority SOI” for MSBA consideration. If the district has an active Core Program SOI in the MSBA’s Capital Pipeline, the active SOI is considered the district's Priority SOI for 2026 and will continue to be considered the Priority SOI until construction of the building reaches substantial completion and the district takes ownership of the building.
Q: Does the district need to use the MSBA online tool to submit student enrollment information along with its SOI?
A: No, districts are not required to provide enrollment information as part of the SOI submission. However, districts will engage in enrollment discussions with the MSBA should an invitation to the Core Program occur.
Q: Why is it necessary to have votes authorizing the submission of an SOI?
A: To demonstrate community support for the submission of an SOI(s), certain local officials will review the proposed SOI submission, sign the document, and vote to authorize the school superintendent to submit the material to the MSBA. The “Vote” tab within the SOI template form provides specific instructions related to the MSBA’s vote requirements.
Q: Is there specific vote language to be used by the district when submitting an SOI?
A: Yes. The votes of the local governing body and the school committee must use substantially the same wording outlined in the Form of Vote detailed within the “Vote” tab.
Please note:
- The deficiencies should be listed in the text of the language reflecting the numerical Statutory Priority and include descriptions of the deficiencies by the district.
- For the vote of the city council/aldermen/board of selectmen, the text of the vote taken must be submitted electronically on letterhead with a certification of the city/town clerk demonstrating the vote was duly taken and recorded on the date to be noted.
- For the vote of the school committee, the text of the vote must be submitted electronically on letterhead with the signature of the school committee chairperson. All voting material as noted above must be uploaded into the “Vote” tab prior to submitting the SOI for consideration.
Q: If the district is ready to take the required local votes to submit an SOI but the date of the SOI is not yet known (to be included in the vote language), what date should be used?
A: If the district does not know the exact date the SOI will be submitted online (the SOI date) but is ready to take the required local votes to submit the SOI, the district should reference the month and year in which the SOI will be submitted.
Please note: The district must have current votes to submit an SOI for consideration in 2026 and should not submit vote material from a prior year.
Q: Who signs the SOI prior to submitting the document to the MSBA?
A: The school superintendent, the local chief executive officer, and the school committee chairperson will sign the SOI (electronically) before it is submitted. There are detailed instructions in the SOI “Signature” tab and the SOI User Guide regarding this process. In some instances, the same local official may be a signatory for up to two roles. For example, a mayor may also be a school committee chairperson.
Q: Who is the Local Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?
A: MSBA advises school superintendents to confirm the name and title of their CEO including in the case of regional school districts.
Q: Should the district seek professional assistance to complete an SOI?
A: No. Districts should not seek professional assistance to complete an SOI. The SOI allows the district to articulate its thoughts about deficiencies that may exist in a local school facility. The MSBA expects that the SOI can be completed at no cost to the district. Districts will NOT be reimbursed for any expenses that may be incurred in connection with the completion and submission of an SOI. The process of completing and submitting an SOI will require dedicated time from the district. The MSBA recommends that the district plan ahead and allocate sufficient time to answer the questions posed in the SOI, secure the appropriate signatures, and take the required local votes.
Q: Does the district need to submit supplemental documentation to support the SOI submission?
A: The Core Program SOI template form includes the ability for a district to select Statutory Priority 1 and/or Statutory Priority 3. The following supporting documentation will be required as a result:
- If the district selects Statutory Priority 1, an electronic version of the engineering or other report detailing the nature and severity of the problem and a written professional opinion of how imminent the system failure is likely to manifest itself must be uploaded into the SOI system. The district must also upload to the SOI system photographs of the problematic building area or facility system. Hard copies will no longer be accepted.
- If the district selects Statutory Priority 3, an electronic submission of the accreditation report (summary) focusing on the deficiencies as stated in the SOI must be uploaded into the SOI system. Hard copies will no longer be accepted.
- Any supplemental material the district elects to provide to the MSBA in support of its SOI should be uploaded into the SOI system. Hard copies will no longer be accepted.
Q: What happens after the MSBA receives the district’s SOI?
A: The information provided in the SOI will play an important role in helping the MSBA understand the needs at a particular school facility and decide whether to move forward with the district for further assessment of a facility. Once an SOI has been submitted and reviewed, the MSBA will work with districts to validate the deficiencies identified in the SOI and, if appropriate, collaborate on potential solutions. The MSBA will notify districts of any actions necessary during the due diligence period after all SOIs are on file and the SOI system’s filing period has closed.
Q: How long will it take to reach project completion upon invitation to the MSBA grant program?
A: The length of time depends on several factors, including but not limited to: the extent and urgency of the problems described in the SOI; the number of potential solutions that may need to be explored with the district; the amount of time required for the MSBA and the district to agree upon an educationally appropriate and financially sound solution; and, the ability of the district to appropriate funds for the agreed-upon solution. The MSBA remains committed to working as diligently as possible to review all SOI submissions and to collaborating with districts that are invited to move forward in the process through all phases of project approval, design, and construction.
Q: Does the MSBA work with districts on a "first come, first served" basis?
A: No. The MSBA grant program is based on an annual due diligence process that considers the urgency and need of all SOIs received in a given year. If a district does not receive an invitation to the Core Program, it is encouraged to file in a future year should the district remain interested in MSBA support. The Core Program Overview provides more detailed information about the due diligence and selection process. Consult this link for more detailed information about the Core Program.
Q: Where can the district find out more about filing an SOI?
A: For more information about the MSBA’s 2026 SOI process, please click here.
