Lexington Awarded $16.5M Grant for New Maria Hastings Elementary School

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 $16,535,197 million for a project to construct a new Maria Hastings Elementary School in the Town of Lexington. 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 Elementary School students in Lexington," 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 110,000 square foot facility to replace the current building, which currently suffers from overcrowding and doesn’t support the delivery of its educational program. The existing Maria Hastings Elementary School is a 64,980 square foot facility located on a 14.3 acre site, which currently serves students in grades K - 5. The original school building was constructed in 1955.

"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 $12.7 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.