Jack McCarthy, Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), today took part in a topping out ceremony to celebrate placing of the last steel beam at the new General John R. Galvin Middle School. The MSBA is contributing a maximum total facilities grant of over $32 million of eligible expenses towards the $73.9 million project.
“In Wakefield’s case, the most educationally and fiscally appropriate solution was a new school to replace a facility with extensive deficiencies,” Executive Director McCarthy said. “This is the type of collaboration and innovative thinking that will benefit not only Wakefield’s students, but also its taxpayers.”
The new Galvin Middle School will be a 187,775 square foot building to replace the existing school, which was built in 1954. The current school suffers from deficiencies in major building systems, including mechanical, electrical and building envelope. The new Galvin Middle School will serve 1,070 students in grades 5 through 8.
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 $10.3 billion in reimbursements for education capital improvement projects. These timely payments have saved districts over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs and have provided much needed cash flow to communities.