Grossman and McCarthy Visit North Junior High to Celebrate Benchmark
Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), and MSBA Executive Director Jack McCarthy today visited the North Junior High School in Brockton to review a $3.2 million energy efficiency project, work that played a role in elevating the MSBA’s overall investment in statewide school buildings to over $10 billion.
“Brockton -- along with almost every other community across the Commonwealth -- has benefited immensely from this $10 billion investment, and we are delighted to be here today to see the impact of that investment,” said Grossman. “By improving energy efficiency at North Junior High, we not only generate substantial cost savings, but we also create a more comfortable learning environment for schoolchildren.”
“In Brockton, our schools are the centerpiece of our community, and the Massachusetts School Building Authority has helped us make key investments in them to ensure 21st-century learning," said Mayor Linda M. Balzotti. "Our partnership with the MSBA is one of which I'm very proud, because it is a partnership that truly benefits our students."
Created in 2004 to better manage the way in which school building projects are funded, the MSBA reached the $10 billion mark in school infrastructure financing this month. Investment in the North Junior High School project was one of the contributors that helped reach this benchmark, and MSBA officials commended the collaborative effort that led to the project becoming a reality.
“This is an example of government at its best,” stated Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director. “The MSBA’s model of collaboration with local school districts has proven to be both effective and sustainable in the long-term. As we begin our second decade in operation, we remain committed to supporting the design and construction of educationally-appropriate, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public school facilities.”
The $3.2 million project involved the replacement of an outdated boiler and a roof refurbishment, inclusive of the installation of skylights. The MSBA has committed to reimbursing the school district more than $2.5 million for the improvements under its “Green Repair” program, which funds energy efficient projects that help prolong the life of a school.
To date, the MSBA has invested more than $103 million overall in Brockton school projects. The timely payments that the MSBA provides to municipalities have saved cities and towns over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs.
