Core Program Statement of Interest Process Overview
A vote of the MSBA Board of Directors to invite a District into the Eligibility Period is based on a review of the District’s Statement of Interest ("SOI"), staff due diligence, and a final recommendation. MSBA staff compiles the data necessary to assess which SOIs filed in that calendar year may be categorized as the most urgent and needy. MSBA staff use over 50 data points that include the SOI, the MSBA project management system, the MSBA’s enrollment tool, the MSBA’s 2016 School Survey, and information from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE”). There are many factors that can impact the assessment of urgency and need in an SOI, such as increasing enrollment, overcrowding, building condition, general environment, and program deficiencies. More information about the Core Program Statement of Interest Process Overview can be found here.
Invitation into Eligibility Period
An invitation to the Eligibility Period is not an invitation to Feasibility Study and it does not guarantee an invitation to the MSBA’s Capital Pipeline.
The Invitation into Eligibility Period vote initiates a 270-day period for the District to complete certain preliminary requirements. Districts that do not successfully complete the preliminary requirements of the Eligibility Period within the 270-day period will have to re-file an SOI during the next open SOI filing period.
The Eligibility Period assists the MSBA with managing its financial resources by identifying early in the process whether a District is ready to manage and fund a capital project. It will help to determine a District’s financial and community readiness to enter the capital pipeline. It will also assist Districts locally by providing a definitive schedule and identifying needs for planning and budgeting.
District Eligibility Period commencement dates (when the 270-day period begins) are staggered across several months following the Board’s annual Invitation into Eligibility Period vote in order to ensure District readiness and MSBA staff availability. Districts are not able to submit Eligibility Period deliverables in advance of their commencement date; however, districts are able to complete their Feasibility Study appropriation vote in advance of their commencement date should the district need to meet local deadlines.
The requirements of Eligibility Period are as follows.
|
Requirement |
Description |
Due Date |
|
A certification of the district’s understanding of the grant program rules. |
30 Days |
|
|
A certification describing the District’s School Building Committee and member qualifications. |
60 Days |
|
|
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Viability Documentation |
This document informs the MSBA which programs the school plans to continue offering, expand, close, or add to the Statement of Interest School.
*This requirement is only applicable to Statement of Interest Schools that contain Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education programming. |
90 Days |
|
A form that further informs the MSBA’s understanding of the district’s current and proposed educational facilities, teaching methodology, grade configurations, and program offerings. |
90 Days |
|
|
An online application that informs the MSBA’s understanding of the District’s current and proposed enrollment. |
90 Days |
|
|
A certification of a Study or Design Enrollment that confirms an agreed upon enrollment between the MSBA and the District. |
180 Days |
|
|
An online application that provides a summary of the district’s existing maintenance practices (Determines eligibility for incentive points when a project reaches full project funding). |
180 Days |
|
|
Confirmation that the District has received community authorization to appropriate funding for Feasibility Study and Schematic Design. |
270 Days |
|
|
An Agreement between the District and the MSBA, which establishes a process for the district to be reimbursed for eligible expenses for Feasibility Study and Schematic Design. |
270 Days |
Next steps
Districts that successfully complete the preliminary requirements to the satisfaction of the MSBA within the 270-day Eligibility Period are eligible to receive an invitation from the MSBA Board of Directors to the Feasibility Study phase.
Board Meetings
Districts must complete Eligibility Period requirements at least three weeks in advance of the next MSBA Board of Directors Meeting to be considered eligible. Districts that are able to successfully complete the preliminary requirements in less than 270 days may receive an invitation earlier than 270 days, as determined by the MSBA.
Feasibility Study
Following the completion of Eligibility Period (including a local vote appropriating funds for a Feasibility Study and Schematic Design) and attendance at a Board Meeting for an Invitation into Feasibility Study, the District will proceed into Module 2. In Module 2 of the MSBA’s Grant Program process, the District will utilize MSBA-specific procurement processes and standard Request for Services ("RFS") templates and contracts to procure a team of professionals to work with the District as a proposed project advances through the MSBA grant process as defined in Module 2.
The MSBA’s program for school building construction and renovation grants is a non-entitlement competitive grant program. Grants are distributed by the MSBA’s Board of Directors based on need and urgency, as expressed by the District and validated by the MSBA. Submitting an SOI is the critical first step in the MSBA’s program for school building construction and renovation grants.
