Southwick-Tolland's SOI Approved for Reprioritzation

The Massachusetts School Building Authority Votes to Reprioritize Southwick-Tolland's SOI to Support Ongoing Regionalization Efforts
Feasibility study will explore proposed campus-based solution to support regionalization efforts

BOSTON, MA – State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director, announced today that the MSBA Board voted to authorize the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District to conduct a feasibility study for renovation and addition options at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School and repairs at Woodland Elementary School and Powder Mill Middle School as part of a campus-based solution to support the District's ongoing regionalization efforts.

After being invited to collaborate with the MSBA on a Feasibility Study for the Woodland Elementary School in late 2007, the District conducted a separate regionalization study to explore the potential benefits of expanding the District to include the Town of Granville. Based on the results of this study, the District is actively pursuing an expansion of the District to include the Town of Granville. Through a feasibility study, the MSBA will be able to better understand the problems identified in the District’s SOI and explore all options to determine the most economical and educationally-appropriate solution.

“Our commitment to constructing and modernizing schools is changing the landscape of the Commonwealth and creating increased learning opportunities for our students state-wide,” stated Treasurer Grossman. “I look forward to continuing our hard work with Southwick-Tolland to ensure that students receive an education in facilities equipped to serve their academic needs.”

“The MSBA looks forward to continuing its due diligence with Southwick-Tolland to try and better understand the structural conditions of the District’s school facilities and to determine the most fiscally and educationally sound solution to best support delivery of the District’s educational program,” commented Katherine Craven.

The MSBA strives to find the right-sized, most fiscally-responsible, and educationally-appropriate solutions to create safe and sound learning environments. In its six year history, the MSBA has made more than $7.9 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 in these difficult economic times.