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 $12,279,466 for a project to construct a new Manchester Memorial Elementary School. The school is a member of the Manchester Essex Regional School District. 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 21st century learning environment for students in the Manchester Essex Regional School District," 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 77,102 square foot facility to replace the existing Manchester Memorial Elementary School facility with a new 335 student PK-5 facility on the existing site. The District reported in their Statement of Interest that the current structure suffers from deficiencies in major building systems including mechanical and electrical. The District also reported, that the current structure suffers from physical plant issues as well as structural issues, resulting in the District being unable to support the delivery of its educational program as well as existing overcrowding.
"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 $13.2 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
