The MSBA Helps Break Ground for the New Briggs Elementary School

April 27, 2012

Jack McCarthy, Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), joined state and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new John R. Briggs Elementary School in the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District.

“As a result of the successful collaboration between the MSBA and the District, students at Briggs Elementary will get a completely up-to-date learning environment,” said Executive Director McCarthy. “This is a down payment on the academic excellence of the students at Briggs.”

State Senator Stephen Brewer cited the groundbreaking as proof of the District’s commitment to the Briggs project. Senator Brewer said, “When we cut that ribbon, the teachers will be reinvigorated. The students will be reinvigorated. Everyone will be a believer.”

School Committee Chairman David Christianson described the new school as “the right building at the right price, [one] that we think will serve the town for 50, 60, 80 or 100 years to come.”

The $30 million project will replace the existing Briggs Elementary School with a new facility built on the same site. More than $15 million of the total project budget is eligible to be reimbursed by the MSBA. The new school is expected to open in September 2013.

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 inception, the Authority has made $8.6 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects. These timely payments have saved municipalities over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs and have provided much needed cash flow to communities.

posted by Jeff Bennett