Mass School Building Authority update

Katherine Craven, outgoing Executive Director (leaving December 1) of the Mass School Building Authority
Jack McCarthy, interm Executive Director
McCarthy comes from Inspector General's office
"no secrets at the School Building Authority"



"We're getting this thing down..."
7 member board; chaired by state Treasurer Steve Grossman
1 penny of state sales tax
423 projects that cost us $5.5 billion that had stalled on wait list
spread school building across the state
MSBA: small staff and overhead; less than 1% of annual budget
of 428 waiting list projects, all but 2 have received payment, been paid off, or removed
inherited almost 800 audits
created "pay-as-you-build" system; cash flow as projects are built

based on need and urgency: places heavy emphasis on planning, study, and design
in collaboration with cities, towns, and regional school districts to confirm problems and identify educationally sound and financially prudent solutions
encourage accountability
standard feasilbility study agreements, project scope and budget
pay 100% of projects in MSBA costs for those in the pipeline
"avoiding problems for you later on"

Statement of Interest: How do you get in?
Opened on October 3
competitive program, grants voted by Board of MSBA based on needs as expressed by community and agreed by MSBA assessment
RE-CERTIFICATION: Deadline is November 30
refiling an SOI that was previously submitted; streamlines
NEW SOI: including science labs and repair: Deadline is Janaury 11
it helps your district if you get them in as soon as possible
"demand vs. inventory"
Science lab initiative: if all you need is a new lab (rather than a new school)
$60M in prototype designs : Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB)
there's a fly-through of a design on their website (I'll work on a link)
MASC/MASS will have members on the decision making board for those who apply
SOI submitted; evaluated by advisory group; district will present before them
Getting into the capital pipeline: review and verify the identified problem
asses relative urgency
"senior study"
invites districts to collaborate on potential solutions within
Local clearance: prerequisities>>forming the project team
Defining scope: feasiblity study>>schematic design>>funding the project
How fast it happens depends on how fast the district moves (getting team together, agreeing on education scope)
Then build
Local clearance chart: which districts are where (I'll link later...typing too fast to look it up now!)
46 in green repairs
$300m in green repair set aside
Roof, windows, boilers to buildings otherwise ok
"difficult for us to do more than one project at a time; difficult for districts to do more than one at a time"
required to follow Stretch Energy Code
a two track operation: major projects vs. green repair
don't wait on the replacement or major repair projects as the Green repair are submitted
"the early bird really does get the worm" passing it in at the last minute (with everyone else) is not as good an idea
Major repair program: materially extend the useful life of the building
accelerated repair program: green repair, science labs
major repair:: one at at time

2010 needs survey: current buidling conditions, maintenance, general environment, education
40% of all current school square footage either built or repaired in last ten years
not widespread overcrowding: "if you have empty classrooms in another elementary school, need to redistrict your space" rather than build
Questions: Jim Daiute (James.Daiute@MassSchoolBuildings.org)


making the votes work well: truth in what people are voting