State says no to BMR renovations
BLACKSTONE – The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has declined to invite the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District into its MSBA core program project pipeline to fund extensive repairs and renovations to the 46-year-old Blackstone-Millville Regional High School.
School Supt. Allen Himmelberger broke that news to the regional school committee last week after the MSBA’s board meeting on Dec. 13.
The School District submitted statements of interest to the MSBA last January, which was the first step toward potential MSBA funding for major renovations to the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Blackstone, the Augustine F. Maloney School in Blackstone, the Millville Elementary School in Millville,
and the Blackstone-Millville Regional High School. t Only the John F. Kennedy t Elementary School was invited into the funding process by the MSBA for repairs and upgrades under the MSBA’s accelerated repair program. The Maloney School and Millville Elementary School were not invited to move forward due to the large number of applications.
As for the high school project, the district was seeking funds under the MSBA’s core program, which is primarily for extensive repairs, renovations and additions to existing facilities and for the construction of new schools.
Himmelberger last week said the district was “severely disappointed” that the high school project was not ac- cepted.
“Once again, there were too many projects, too many needs and not enough funding,” he said.
Had the high school been accepted into the MSBA’s core program, the projected $25 million project would have received 58 percent reimbursement, leaving the towns of Blackstone and Millville responsible for 42 percent of the cost, which would have roughly been $10 million.
Himmelberger said statements of interest for the high school, Maloney School and Millville Elementary School will be resubmitted for the MSBA’s next round of funding in the spring.
Meanwhile, Blackstone town officials have scheduled a special town meeting on Jan. 24 to ask voters to appropriate $75,000 to develop schematic designs for repairs and upgrades to the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Blackstone.
Developing a final design program and schematic designs is the fourth step in the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s grant program for school building construction and renovation projects. Once a feasibility study is complete, the school district enters module 4 (schematic design). There are a total of eight modules in the building project process.
The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District was established in 1967 and includes one elementary school in Millville (Millville Elementary School, pre-school-Grade 5); two elementary schools in Blackstone (John F. Kennedy, kin- dergarten-Grade 3 and Augustine F. Maloney, Grades 4-5); and a middle school and high school in Blackstone (Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School and Blackstone-Millville Regional High School). The district serves 1,882 students.
A facilities study drafted by the New England School Development Council has identified major deficiencies at the 46-year-old Blackstone-Millville Regional High School and the 51-year-old John F. Kennedy/ Augustine F. Maloney school complex, including old and inefficient HVAC and electrical systems and the need new for energy efficient windows, doors and lighting.
The Kennedy school project is expected to cost $5 million. Approximately 58 percent, or $1.74 million, of that would be picked up by the MSBA leaving the balance for the town of Blackstone to finance. The town’s share of the project would likely be bonded over a 20year note.
The MSBA’s accelerat- ed repair program does not cover plumbing, electrical, flooring and carpet, so the cost of those repairs would be borne by the town as a capital expenditure.