MSBA Board Votes Holyoke's H.B. Lawrence School into Schematic Design

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 the H.B. Lawrence School, located in the City of Holyoke, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to replace the existing school. 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 facilities that will provide Holyoke students with a topnotch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.

The proposed project would consist of constructing a new facility serving grades 6-8 on the Chestnut Street site and a new facility serving grades 6-8 to replace the William R. Peck School on the existing site, contingent upon the District gaining full ownership, control and exclusive use of each site. The District and MSBA have mutually agreed upon a design enrollment of 550 students.

"The proposed new schools 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 $13.2 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.