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 Waterford Street Elementary School, located in the City of Gardner, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to replace the existing Waterford Street Elementary School and the existing Elm Street Elementary School with a new PK-4 facility to be located at the Pearl Street site. 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 Gardner students with a top-notch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.
The proposed project would create a new 145,757 square foot facility, allowing the District to consolidate grades PK-4 and grades 2-4 student population into a single PK-4 facility and replaces two aging facilities. The District reported in their Statement of Interest, numerous deficiencies including outdated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as structural deficiencies hindering accessibility.
"The new Waterford 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 $13.6 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
