The Massachusetts School Building Authority Reauthorizes Arlington to Proceed to Schematic Design Phase
Schematic Design Phase Narrows Project Alternatives to a Clearly Defined Design
BOSTON, MA – The Board of Directors of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”) voted to move Thompson Elementary School into the Schematic Design Phase. State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the MSBA and Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director, made the announcement today. The Schematic Design phase is the next step towards potential funding. The Town of Arlington will continue to work in collaboration with the MSBA to produce detailed renderings of the new Thompson Elementary School. The Town of Arlington had previously been authorized to produce schematic designs, but subsequent adjustments of the potential project’s scope and budget warranted reauthorization.
“Through diligent work on the part of the MSBA and Arlington, we have made the plans for the new Thompson Elementary more efficient and more affordable,” said Treasurer Steven Grossman. “The schematic designs will help us further hone the scope and budget of this project and ensure that the final product is both educationally and economically efficient.”
“During the design process, Arlington trimmed the project budget and as a result, reduced the size of the building. MSBA will work with the Town of Arlington on this redefined Thompson School configuration, and the next steps of schematic design will give us a better idea of the finished product,” stated Katherine Craven, Executive Director of the MSBA.
The MSBA strives to find the right-sized, most fiscally responsible, and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe and sound learning environments. It is committed to protecting taxpayers’ dollars by improving the school building grant process and avoiding the costly mistakes of the past in the funding and construction of schools. The MSBA reformed the Commonwealth’s formerly rampant and unsustainable school building program, which was more than $11 billion in debt.
Since its inception in 2004, the MSBA has made $7.6 billion in reimbursements to cities, towns, and regional school districts for school construction projects. These timely payments have saved municipalities over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs and have provided much needed cash flow to communities.
