Central Elementary School Building Project Update
East Bridgewater Public Schools Invited Into MSBA’s Feasibility Study Phase for Central Elementary School Building Project
EAST BRIDGEWATER — Superintendent Liz Legault and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Gina Williams are pleased to announce that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has invited East Bridgewater Public Schools into the Feasibility Study Phase for the Central Elementary School building project.
At its Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 28, the MSBA granted East Bridgewater Public Schools approval to move into the Feasibility Study Phase of the ongoing Central Elementary School building project.
Over the past several months, East Bridgewater Public Schools participated in the MSBA’s Eligibility Period. The district completed several preliminary requirements, including submitting forms and data on current and proposed educational facilities, maintenance practices, teaching methodology, grade configurations and program offerings.
As the project moves into the Feasibility Phase, the district and the Central School Building Committee will collaborate with the MSBA to select an Owner’s Project Manager and a Design Firm to document the educational programming, generate an initial space summary, document existing conditions, establish design parameters, develop and evaluate alternatives, and recommend to the MSBA the most cost effective and educationally appropriate solution to the issues identified at the Central Elementary School.
The Feasibility Phase typically takes up to 24 months to complete. The Town of East Bridgewater appropriated $1.5 million for a feasibility study in October 2023.
"Today's approval is a great step forward in our partnership with the MSBA and toward our ultimate goal of ensuring the Central Elementary School is the learning space that our current and future students, teachers and staff deserve," Superintendent Legault said."We look forward to adding an Owner’s Project Manager and Design Firm to our team, and we are grateful for the continued support from the MSBA, town officials and our community."
If the MSBA gives final approval to the overall project, the Town of East Bridgewater would receive a 57.74% funding reimbursement rate. The invitation to partner with the MSBA on a Feasibility Study is not approval of a project but allows the Town to work with the MSBA to explore potential solutions to the problems identified at the school. To qualify for any funding from the MSBA, local communities must follow the MSBA’s statute, regulations and policies, which require MSBA collaboration and approval at each step of the process.
For more information about the MSBA process, visit https://www.massschoolbuildings.org/building/modules_overview