BOSTON - State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"), and MSBA Executive Director/Deputy CEO John K. McCarthy announced today that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to move Waltham High School, located in the City of Waltham, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to construct a new high school on a new site. The next step is for the MSBA to work in collaboration with the District to produce detailed designs for a potential project.
"Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a 21st century educational facility that will provide Waltham students with a top-notch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.
The proposed project would create a new 418,007 square foot at the 554 Lexington Street site that would address the educational program and allows the District to re-purpose the existing school and site. The District reported in their Statement of Interest, numerous deficiencies associated with outdated mechanical and electrical systems. The District additionally indicated that the exiting facility suffers from additional physical plant issues, and that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program and wises to expand its Chapter 74 programs.
"The new Waltham High School will mean a better learning and teaching location for students and teachers," stated Executive Director/Deputy CEO McCarthy.
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 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,750 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $13.6 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
