MSBA Board Votes Acton–Boxborough’s Douglas Elementary into Schematic Design

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 C.T. Douglas Elementary School, located in the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to replace the existing C.T. Douglas Elementary School and the Paul P. Gates Elementary School with a single building on the existing Paul P. Gates Elementary School 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 Acton-Boxborough students with a top-notch learning environment," said Treasurer Goldberg.

The proposed project would create a new 177,645 square foot facility on the current Paul P. Gates Elementary School site. The District identified in their Statement of Interest, numerous deficiencies including mechanical, electrical and pluming systems; issues pertaining to the buildings envelope and accessibility, as well as the building being unequipped with an operable fire protection system. The District also expressed concerns regarding the delivery of its educational program as well as existing and projected overcrowding.

"The new C.T. Douglas Elementary 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 $13.8 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.