The Massachusetts School Building Authority Announces $25.9 Million Grant Approval for a New "Model" Hingham Middle School
MSBA Board votes to contribute up to $25,909,580 towards the new school
State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director, today announced that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to approve funding to build a new Hingham Middle School as part of the MSBA’s Model School Program.
The agreed upon design enrollment for the new model middle school will be for 1,020 students in grades 6-8. The MSBA will be contributing up to 43.87% of eligible costs for a total grant of up to $25,909,580 towards the new school.
“I am pleased that Hingham identified the Model School Program as a good fit and is able to take advantage of these potential savings,” said Treasurer Grossman. “This design will provide the town’s middle school students with a modern learning environment that fully supports the district’s educational plan.”
“The new Hingham Middle School will address current facility deficiencies,” stated Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director. “Students will soon have a beautiful new school which will enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom.”
“I’m grateful to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, Treasurer Steven Grossman and Executive Director Katherine Craven for their approval of the Hingham Middle School Model School Project Grant” said Representative Garrett Bradley. “I believe the project will be beneficial to the Town, and am thankful for the hard work of the Hingham School Building Committee and the support of the Hingham Board of Selectmen and School Committee.”
The MSBA’s Model School Program effectively adapts and re-uses design elements from successful, recently-constructed schools, simplifying the design process, reducing the amount of time projects are in the design phase, and lowering design fees. Using elements of a previously designed Model School allows projects to begin construction faster and reduces overall costs for the project. At least a year of design work can be saved by using a Model School.
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 $8 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.
