BOSTON, MA – State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director, today announced that the MSBA Board approved funding for a new Douglas Elementary School and repairs and upgrades to Douglas Intermediate School, which will sit on the same site. The next step in the process is for the Town of Douglas and the MSBA to enter into a Project Funding Agreement which will detail the projects’ scope and budget and set forth the terms and conditions under which the town will receive its grant from the MSBA.
To reduce overcrowding, Douglas Intermediate School will be renovated to accommodate 448 students grades six through eight. The MBSA will contribute $9.3 million towards the renovation. The new Douglas Elementary School – which is being built through the MSBA’s Model School Program – will accommodate 552 students from grades two through five. The MSBA is contributing $17.6 towards the new school.
The MSBA’s Model Schools 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 construction costs for the project. At least a year of design work can be saved by using a Model School.
“Our Model School Program has saved communities across the Commonwealth valuable time and money. I am pleased that Douglas’ needs are a good fit for this program and that they can take advantage of this potential savings while providing the children of Douglas with a modern learning environment that fully supports the district’s educational plan,” said State Treasurer Steven Grossman.
“This two-school solution will reduce Douglas’ overcrowding issues and will create two safe and modern learning facilities while saving both state and local taxpayers,” said Katherine Craven, Executive Director of the MSBA.
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 $7.5 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.
