MSBA Announces $15M Approval for New Plains Elementary School

MSBA Announces $15M Approval for Plains Elementary School in South Hadley

The MSBA Board approved the schematic design

State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director, announced today that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to approve the schematic design for a new Plains Elementary School in South Hadley. 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 and set forth the terms and conditions under which the District will receive its grant from the MSBA. The District is eligible to receive potential reimbursement from the MSBA for up to 62.69% of eligible expenses, with a Maximum Total Facilities Grant for the project of $15,294,099.

“The plans for the new Plains Elementary School are a direct result of a collaborative partnership forged by South Hadley officials and the MSBA,” said Treasurer Grossman.  “We look forward to helping deliver an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective facility that will meet the community’s educational demands and save local and state taxpayer resources.”

The project will replace the existing school with a new 63,400 square-foot facility on the existing site. The current structure, which was built in 1932, suffers from aging systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and building envelope. The new Plains Elementary School will serve 270 students from pre-Kindergarten through first grade.

“The new Plains Elementary School will mean a better learning and teaching environment for students and teachers in the District,” said Executive Director McCarthy. “We are delighted to be collaborating with South Hadley on this project.”

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 inception, the Authority has made over $9 billion in reimbursements 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.