MSBA Board Votes Chapin Street Elementary School into Schematic Design

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 Chapin Street Elementary School, located in the Town of Ludlow, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options, including potential model schools, to replace the existing 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 Ludlow students with a top-notch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.

The proposed project would create a new 105,683 square foot facility to replace the existing Chapin Street Elementary School and the Veterans Park Elementary School with a new grades 2-5 elementary school on the site of the existing Chapin Street Elementary School. The District reported in their Statement of Interest, that the current structure suffers from structural and envelope deficiencies, additional physical plant issues and accessibility issues. The District also reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program as well as existing and projected overcrowding. The existing Chapin Street Elementary School is a 42,672 square facility located on a 13.8 acre site, which currently serves students in grades 2-3.

"The new Chapin Street 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 $12.9 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.