Leicester Awarded $41M Grant for Middle School

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 approve a grant of up to $41,022,793for a project to replace the existing Leicester Primary School, Leicester Memorial Elementary School, and Leicester Middle School with a new PK-8 school facility on the existing Leicester Middle School site.One of the next steps is for the District and the MSBA to enter into a Project Funding Agreement, which will detail the project’s scope and budget, along with the conditions under which the District will receive its MSBA grant.

"Upon completion, this project will provide a new 21stcentury learning environment for students in Leicester,” Treasurer Goldberg said. “Our goal is to create the best space to deliver the District’s educational commitments and goals."

The proposed project would create a new 152,464 square foot facility with an enrollment of 930 students in grades K-8, for a project that will serve grades PK-8. The District reported in their Statement of Interest, that the current structure suffers from building envelope issues as well as deficiencies in mechanical, and electrical systems. In addition to physical plant issues, the District reported that the existing facility (and those of Leicester Memorial Elementary School and Leicester Primary School), do not support the delivery of its educational program and identified existing and projected overcrowding.

"Leicester students will soon have a beautiful new space which will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom,” 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 $14.3billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.