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 Leicester Middle School, located in the Town of Leicester, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options 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.
"Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a 21st century educational facility that will provide Leicester students with a top-notch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.
The proposed project would create a new 143,458 square foot three-story facility, on the existing Leicester Middle School site with an agreed upon enrollment of 930. The District identified in their Statement of Interest, numerous deficiencies including mechanical, and electrical systems; interior and exterior issues and accessibility issues. In addition to the physical plant issues, the District reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of the Districts educational program and identified existing and projected overcrowding.
"The new Leicester Middle 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 $13.8 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
