INITIAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION
The Initial Compliance Certification (“ICC”) must be completed by a city, town or regional school district (“District”) that would like to apply for a grant through the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (the “MSBA’s”) new program for school construction and renovation grants. In the ICC, the district should certify current and future compliance with the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the MSBA. The MSBA will not consider a grant application if an ICC has not been properly submitted to the MSBA by the District in the format developed by the MSBA.
If you have questions about the ICC or would like to request an ICC for your District, please contact Diane Sullivan at Diane.Sullivan@MassSchoolBuildings.org or 617-720-4466.
Please click here to view a sample ICC.
SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
When a local determination is made that a school project is needed, a city, town, or regional school district (“District’) shall appoint a School Building Committee for the purpose of generally monitoring the MSBA application process and to advise the District during the course of a project.
School Building Committee Composition
The School Building Committee shall be formed in accordance with the provisions of the District’s local charter and/or by-laws and it is recommended that the District make a reasonable effort to include one or more of the following individuals:
- The local chief executive officer of the District, or, in the case of a town whose local chief executive officer is a multi-party body, said body may elect one of its members to serve on the school building committee;
- The town administrator, town manager, or city manager, where applicable;
- At least one member of the school committee to provide an overview of the general desires of the school committee and to ensure direct involvement of the school committee (Required by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71 Section 68);
- The superintendent of schools or his/her designee to provide a historical overview of what has worked and what hasn’t worked for the school department;
- The local official responsible for building maintenance or his/her designee to examine building design and construction in terms of longevity and maintenance concerns;
- A representative of the office or body authorized by law to construct school buildings in that city, town or regional school district, or for that independent agricultural and technical school;
- The school principal from the subject school to provide guidance on how the building must function to meet overall educational needs;
- A member who has knowledge of the educational mission and function of the facility;
- A local budget official or member of the local finance committee who understands construction finance and cost-benefit analysis in order to provide guidance relative to scope decisions and their effect on both short- and long-term costs; and
- Members of the community with architecture, engineering and/or construction experience to not only provide input relative to the effect of the project on the community but also to examine building design and construction in terms of its constructability.
*Please note that at least one member of the School Building Committee must be designated as a Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official for Design and Construction Contracting in the Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official Program as administered by the Inspector General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
School Building Committee Responsibilities
The School Building Committee responsibilities will include: selecting the project manager, selecting the architect, completing the needs assessment/feasibility study, making recommendations or decisions as to project scope, making recommendations or decisions on site selection, monitoring the project design, monitoring construction progress and payment requisitions, monitoring furniture and equipment procurement, monitoring the project’s schedule and budget, preparing proposals for presentation to the town meeting or city council for approval for the necessary funding, making recommendations or decisions for approving changes, and communicating with the local governmental unit, the school committee, and other municipal entities through the chair.
MSBA Approval of the School Building Committee
The District shall submit the School Building Committee information to the MSBA for approval before the District can move forward in the MSBA’s application process. MSBA approval will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to:
1. past performance of the school building committee, the building committee, whether temporary or permanent, or any other committee responsible for the oversight, management, or administration of the construction of public buildings, and its individual members; and
2. the extent to which there is representation of the municipal government, school district personnel with management, educational and maintenance expertise, and representation of members of the local community with design and construction experience.
If the District receives MSBA approval of the School Building Committee, the District must notify the MSBA in writing within 20 calendar days of any changes to the membership or the duties of said committee.
Contact Information for School Building Committee Questions
If you have questions about the MSBA’s School Building Committee requirements or would like to request a School Building Committee Composition form, please contact Diane Sullivan at Diane.Sullivan@MassSchoolBuildings.org or 617-720-4466.