BOSTON - State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"), and MSBA Executive Director/Deputy CEO John K. McCarthy announced today that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to approve a grant of up to $27,522,934 million for a project to construct a new Chapin Street Elementary School in the Town of Ludlow. One of the next steps is for the District and the MSBA to enter into a Project Funding Agreement, which will detail the project’s scope and budget, along with the conditions under which the District will receive its MSBA grant.
"Upon completion, this project will provide a new 21st century learning environment for students in Ludlow," Treasurer Goldberg said. "Our goal is to create the best space to deliver the District’s educational commitments and goals."
The proposed project will create a new 106,250 square foot facility to replace the existing Chapin Street Elementary School and the Veterans Park Elementary School with a new grades 2-5 elementary school on the site of the existing Chapin Street Elementary School. The District reported in their Statement of Interest, that the current structure suffers from structural and envelope deficiencies, additional physical plant issues and accessibility issues. The District also reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program as well as existing and projected overcrowding. The District and MSBA have mutually agreed upon a design enrollment of 630 students serving grades 2-5.
"Students will soon have a beautiful new space which will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom," stated Executive Director/Deputy CEO McCarthy.
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 1,750 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $13 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.