State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director, announced today that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to move the Nelson Place School into the Schematic Design phase. In this phase, the MSBA will continue to work in collaboration with the City of Worcester to produce detailed designs for a proposed new facility on the existing site. Upon completion and approval of the schematic design by the MSBA Board, the District and the Authority will collaborate to determine the scope and budget of the proposed project.
“Listening to the needs of a community and developing projects accordingly are priorities at the MSBA, and the Nelson Place School project is a case study in that sentiment,” said Treasurer Grossman. “Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a safe and modern educational facility that will provide students with a top-notch learning environment.”
"Having Nelson Place move through the School Building Authority process so efficiently is a testament to the local and state commitment to public education and a wonderful example of good government at work,” said State Senator Harriette L. Chandler. “This is a partnership the residents of Worcester can take great pride in."
The proposed project would create a new facility of approximately 110,000 square-feet, which would serve 600 students in Kindergarten through grade 6. The current Nelson Place School suffers from deficiencies in major building systems including mechanical, electrical and building envelope. Nelson Place School was built in 1927.
“The new Nelson Place School will mean a better learning and teaching environment for area students and teachers,” stated Executive Director McCarthy. “We are delighted to be partnering in this proposed project.”
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 1,350 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $10.7 billion in reimbursements for education capital improvement projects.
