State Treasurer and Receiver General Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director, announced that the MSBA Board of Directors today invited Chestnut Accelerated Middle School in Springfield into the MSBA’s Accelerated Repair Program. The proposed project will be targeted to repair roof damage incurred by the school, located at 355 Plainfield Street, during a severe hailstorm on August 14, 2013.
“Bringing Chestnut Accelerated Middle School into the Accelerated Repair Program demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the City of Springfield,” said Treasurer Grossman. “By working collaboratively with municipal officials, we will make this school more energy efficient and comfortable for schoolchildren and generate substantial savings for taxpayers.”
The main goals of the Accelerated Repair Program are to improve learning environments for children and teachers, reduce energy use, and generate cost savings for districts. The program will repair or replace roofs, windows, and boilers in schools that are otherwise structurally, functionally, and educationally sound.
“The MSBA continues to stand alongside the people of Springfield in the ongoing work of upgrading their public schools,” Executive Director McCarthy said. “This targeted use of funds greatly increases the overall effectiveness of the Authority.”
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 $9.9 billion in reimbursements for school capital improvement projects. MSBA reimbursements have saved districts over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs and have provided much needed cash flow to communities.
