BOSTON, MA – Katherine Craven, Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”) was in Easthampton today. On behalf of State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MSBA, she took part in the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Easthampton High School.
The new 110,400 square-foot Easthampton High School is being constructed on the same site as the existing school. It will serve 510 students from grades nine through twelve. The MSBA will be funding 62.84% of eligible construction costs for the project -- or up to $25,543,860. The new building will alleviate the current high school’s severe overcrowding that has led to the elimination of some educational programs.
“Although we are breaking ground here today, the MSBA has already started making payments to the city for this project,” said Katherine Craven. “To date we have made $1.7 million towards the new Easthampton High School.”
“Upon completion, this new school will not only provide a modern learning environment for the students of Easthampton, but it will also create the space badly needed to deliver the district’s educational commitments to its fullest potential,” said Treasurer Steven Grossman.
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 $7.6 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.