The Massachusetts School Building Authority Invites Newburyport into the Model School Program
Using proven, effective designs to create efficient and affordable educational environments
BOSTON, MA – State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”) and Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director, announced today that Bresnahan Elementary School has been invited into the Model School Program. The next steps are for the City of Newburyport and the MSBA to work in collaboration to study which model best suits the school’s site, enrollment and educational needs to solve the problems identified in the district’s Statement of Interest.
The MSBA’s Model Schools effectively adapt and re-use the design of successful, recently constructed schools; simplifying the design process, reducing the amount of time projects are in the design phase and lowering design fees. Using elements of a previously designed Model School allows projects to begin construction faster and reduces construction costs for the project. At least a year of design work can be saved by using a Model School.
“Our Model School Program has saved communities across the Commonwealth valuable time and money. I am pleased that Newburyport’s needs are a good fit for this program and that they can take advantage of this potential savings while providing the students of Bresnahan Elementary with a modern learning environment that fully supports the District’s educational plan,” said State Treasurer Steven Grossman.
“The Model School approach allows communities, like Newburyport, to move forward in a fiscally responsible manner that benefits taxpayers, administrators, teachers and students,” said Katherine Craven, Executive Director of the MSBA.
“This designation means that Newburyport has moved one step closer to receiving state aid for a project at the Bresnahan Elementary School,” said Senator Steven A. Baddour. “I thank Treasurer Grossman and MSBA Executive Director Katherine Craven for partnering with the City of Newburyport for this important project that will benefit students for many years to come.”
“The Model School Program is the quickest and most fiscally responsible way to build new schools,” said Rep. Michael Costello. “By using designs that have proven successful elsewhere, a community like Newburyport can address its facility needs at the elementary level in a comprehensive way while reducing costs and expediting the construction process. I want to thank Deputy Treasurer Katherine Craven for taking the time to meet with Newburyport officials and for sending an architectural design team to the district to review their options.”
The MSBA strives to find the right-sized, most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe and sound learning environments. The MSBA is committed to protecting the taxpayer’s dollar by improving the school building grant process and avoiding the mistakes of the past in the funding and construction of schools. The MSBA reformed the Commonwealth’s formerly rampant and unsustainable program, which was more than $11 billion in debt. The MSBA has made $7.4 billion in reimbursements to cities, towns and regional school districts for school construction projects. These timely payments have saved municipalities over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs and have provided much needed cash flow to communities.
