MSBA Board Votes the Ivan G. Smith Elementary 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 Ivan G. Smith Elementary School, located in the Town of Danvers, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to replace the existing Elementary 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 facility that will provide Danvers students with a top-notch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.

The proposed project would create a new grade K-5 facility for 465 students on the existing site. The District reported in their Statement of Interest, that the current structure suffers from envelope deficiencies, and additional plant issues. The District also reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program due to the building’s open classroom design.

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