BOSTON, MA – The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) would like to remind school districts that our process for filing emergency Statements of Interests (SOIs) is an ongoing option for communities in need. This would include districts whose facilities have been compromised by heavy snow. The MSBA is committed to assisting districts in providing safe and educationally appropriate learning environments for all students of the Commonwealth. An emergency SOI allows districts to begin the process of working with the MSBA towards potential funding in certain unexpected situations, such as to repair or replace a roof that has suffered structural damage due to this winter’s snow.
“This emergency SOI is aimed at school districts that are in immediate need of help. Working together with the MSBA, impacted school districts will be able to leverage their ability to find the best solutions to keeping their schools and students safe,” said Treasurer Steven Grossman.
“With the recent headlines regarding roof collapses, the MSBA would like to remind districts that we are ready and able to receive emergency SOIs and assist communities that have suffered structural failures due to the heavy snow,” said Katherine Craven.
Submitting an SOI is the critical first step in the MSBA’s program for school building construction and renovation grants. The grant program is a non-entitlement, competitive program, and grants are distributed by the MSBA Board of Directors based on need and urgency, as expressed by the community and validated by the MSBA.
Once a completed SOI is submitted, the MSBA will work with districts to verify the problem identified by the district for their selected priority SOI submission and to determine the appropriate level of due diligence that may be required by the MSBA. If the district’s identified problem is verified by the MSBA, the district and the MSBA will work collaboratively to determine potential solutions that are educationally sound and fiscally appropriate and that fit within the MSBA’s capital funding pipeline.
Submitting an SOI is not an invitation into the MSBA's capital pipeline, it is the first step in the MSBA's program and moving forward in the MSBA's process requires further collaboration between the district and the MSBA.
The MSBA strives to find the right-sized, most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe and sound learning environments. The MSBA reformed the Commonwealth’s formerly rampant and unsustainable program, which was more than $11 billion in debt. The MSBA has made $7.4 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.