BOSTON - State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"), and MSBA Executive Director/Deputy CEO John K. McCarthy announced today that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to move the South High Community School in Worcester into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to replace the existing school. The next step is for the MSBA to work in collaboration with the District to produce detailed designs for a potential project.
"Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a 21st century educational facility that will provide Worcester students with a top-notch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.
The proposed project would create a new 347,000 square foot facility to replace the current building, which suffers from deficiencies in major building systems including mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems. The District also reported in their Statement of Interest, deficiencies with regards to the structures envelope, including windows and roof. The District reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program. The existing South High Community School is a 246,000 square foot facility located on a 41 acre site, which currently serves students in grades 9 - 12. The original school building was constructed in 1978.
"The new South High Community School will mean a better learning and teaching location for students and teachers," stated Executive Director/Deputy CEO McCarthy.
The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally appropriate, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,750 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $12.7 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
