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 Ernest F. Upham Elementary School, located in the Town of Wellesley, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to consolidate and replace the existing Upham Elementary School and the existing Hardy 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 Wellesley students with a top-notch learning environment,” said Treasurer Goldberg.
The proposed project would replace the existing Upham Elementary School and the existing Hardy Elementary School with a new facility serving 365 students in grades K-5 on the existing Hardy Elementary School site. The District identified in their Statement of Interest, numerous deficiencies and structural integrity issues including, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as envelope issues including windows and roof deficiencies. In addition to physical plant issues, the District reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program.
“The new Ernest F. Upham Elementary 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 $14.8 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.