BOSTON—State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and MSBA Executive Director/Deputy CEO Mary Pichetti announced today that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to move the South Elementary School, located in the Town of Stoughton, into the Schematic Design phase. In the Schematic Design phase, the MSBA and the District will look at possible options to consolidate the existing Stoughton Elementary School and the Richard L. Wilkins Elementary School.
“Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a 21st century educational facility that will provide Stoughton students with a top-notch learning environment,” said Treasurer Goldberg.
The proposed project would consolidate the student population of the existing Stoughton Elementary School and the Richard L. Wilkins Elementary School and construct a new facility serving grades K-5 on an alternative site referred to as the “Line Lumber” site. The District had identified in their Statement of Interest, numerous deficiencies and structural integrity issues including mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems as well as problems with the windows, roof, building envelope and accessibility. In addition to the physical plant issues, the District reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program.
“The new South Elementary School will mean a better learning and teaching location for students and teachers,” stated Executive Director/Deputy CEO Mary Pichetti.
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 $16.7 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
