This is an interesting item found on the website of MSBA, under projects for Narragansett regional district. It has the appearance that the district paid for repairs to Phillipston elementary school or at least it looks as thought the district received a reimbursement from MSBA. This is something to look into because it raises the question as to why the district did not do the same thing for Templeton elementary schools. Per the regional agreement, any amount over $5,000.00 in costs puts the repair or work solely on the Town.



school name           MSBA ID            project      Phase         total           rate         MSBA         Total    
                                                            type                            cost                            paid             MSBA

Phillipston Memorial

201107200003G

Green Repair

Final Audit Approved

$161,232

59.84 %

$78,095

$81,401

This is worth some phone calls.

posted by Jeff Bennett

from the site of MSBA: for your informational purpose.

MSBA Board Approves $22.9M Grant for New Templeton Center Elementary School

November 18, 2015

State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority  (MSBA), and MSBA Chief Executive Officer Maureen Valente today announced that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to approve a grant of up to $22.9 million for the new Templeton Center Elementary School. One of the next steps is for the District and the MSBA to enter into a Project Funding Agreement, which will detail the project’s scope and budget, along with the conditions under which the District will receive its MSBA grant.

“Upon completion, the new school in Templeton will provide a 21^st century learning environment for area students,” Treasurer Goldberg said. “Our goal is to create the best space to deliver the district’s educational commitments and goals.”
 
The new 92,735 square-foot school will be built based on a design enrollment of 580 students in Kindergarten through grade 5. The MSBA will contribute 63.11% of eligible costs toward the project, for a total grant of up to $22,928,897. The current school was built in 1942 and suffers from deficiencies in major building systems including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and windows.
 
“The new Templeton Center Elementary School will replace an aging building with a modern learning facility,” stated Chief Executive Officer Valente. “Students will soon have a beautiful new space which will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom.”
 
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 1,650 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $11.7 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.

The grant is up to, which means no more than and does not really mean 22.9 million, it means no more than. It is also 63.11% of eligible costs, not 63.11% of the total cost of the project. Big difference there.

posted by Jeff Bennett

On Wednesday evening, September 21, 2016, the Advisory Committee took up a motion for discussion. It was about the school and whether we should recommend or propose to Town meeting to rescind the prior Town meeting vote of November, 9, 2015. Speaking for myself, it was from a financial perspective. You would have to ask the other members about their reason or vote. If this question were to make it to Town meeting floor, there would be two options; vote yes to rescind that vote and that would put into motion things to stop that project. A no vote, if in the majority would effectively be a second yes vote for the project, then we could all watch the school be built at the location of Templeton Center. The Advisory Committee did not start any petition. Any citizen is able and free to make such a move and that is our democratic process. If the information given at the first meeting, on November 9, 2015 was correct, proper and not a used car sales pitch, there should be no worry about a second yes vote happening. There is an opening for one member on the Advisory Committee. All you need do is show up at a meeting and inquire. The committee can appoint it's own members when there is an opening 30 days after Town meeting.

It is up to the selectmen to place or not, items on the warrant for a town meeting. The original school vote happened on a special town meeting so there should be no issue for having a second vote on a special town meeting. So before there is a big uproar on this topic, we should wait to see what the selectmen choose to do. That is the first step in the process.


posted by Jeff Bennett