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 move Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to replace the existing Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School with a new facility on the existing site. The next step is for the MSBA to work in collaboration with the District to produce detailed designs for a potential project.
“Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a 21st century educational facility that will provide Whittier Regional Vocational High School students with a top-notch learning environment,” said Treasurer Goldberg.
The proposed project would replace the existing Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School with a new facility serving grades 9-12 on the existing site. The District had identified in their Statement of Interest, numerous deficiencies and structural integrity issues including mechanical, electrical, plumbing as well as building envelope and accessibility issues. In addition to the physical plant issues, the District reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program not provides resources of flexibility to appropriately accommodate current educational teachings and concepts.
“The proposed new Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School will mean a better learning and teaching location for students and teachers,” 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 $16.4 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
