Eftalia Economou is with us tonight

Eftalia is a first grader at Nelson Place School, and she is a winner the statewide "My Ideal School" contest, sponsored by the Massachusetts School Building Authority  and Treasurer Steven Grossman.
She also did an excellent job of reading her essay on why her school is her ideal school.

Accelerated repair projects

Graph of when submissions came in; let's say that there is a big spike at the very end.

Springfield submitted 12. 

Worcester submitted 7. 

(That's the top two.)

A number of districts submitted 5. 

43 of 57 receiving site visits are being considered today. 

(There are a LOT of roofs on here.)

Note that Boston submitted four, which the board is glad to see. 

Pembroke has four schools on; Quincy has three; Springfield has four; Stoughton has three; Westford two; and Worcester has four schools. 

MSBA meeting...

Just began. There are a boatload of districts being considered today for accelerated repair.  Executive Director Jack McCarthy speaks of the "Herculean task" in getting the accelerated repairs on this agenda. He says the rebuild/reconstruct will be on the October agenda (or that's the goal).

Review of past few months. 

Treasurer Grossman speaking of importance of technology but need for support of it, and also for schools that are not doing accelerated repair or major renovation. 

(He's referencing Sherwood Middle School in Shrewsbury, plus Billerica). 

Taunton dropping a boiler replacement. 

Scituate being invited to feasibility for their intermediate school (they're looking at a change in grade arrangements as part of the plan). 

Statements of Interest open

so far 103 districts have requested access to system
as of this morning 84 SoI submitted by 50 districts
"only file SoIs that they can financially support in the next two years"
much talk here of districts not sending in as many as previously
Grossman asks if there is "always a rush at the end"...yes, usually close to half
They're due on April 10

A few other notes from the MSBA board meeting

I stayed until the end, because it's good to know how these things work!

• The MSBA board was assured at the meeting that Governor Patrick's proposal to rework how much the sales tax is and how it is distributed would not change the penny dedicated to MSBA. Good news!
• Medford was charged by a board member with keeping in mind that their new and renovated science labs should mean a renewal of science professional development, so teachers could make the best use of the modern labs.
• The Springfield Central High School project was listed under science labs, but the project is 12 new labs, renovation of 6 labs and a greenhouse, new roof, and a new sprinkler system. Of that, the state is funding $23.9 million of a total $32 million.
• Brookline, which today was approved for feasibility for Edward Devotion (elementary) School, was lauded for having the wisdom to do a full enrollment study before presenting this school before the board. Brookline has grown by 30% over the past decade, and they have several times been before MSBA on varioius projects having to do with enrollment. They had been warned that they should really project full enrollment across the district before coming forward with more, which they did.
• For those curious on how timelines are going, of the two districts that entered the feasibility phase for new or majorly renovated schools, Brookline was invited into eligibility last March, Georgetown last October. There is some chance that Nelson Place will be on the agenda for April's meeting, should all continue to roll forward.

Nelson Place and accelerated repairs before Council

Transfer for MSBA accelerated repairs goes through!

Councilor O'Brien: prosperity of our schools, what the future of the city depends on
"things we've put off for far too long in our schools"
to finally build a new Nelson Place
Thanks City manager, Superintendent, and their teams
City Council, School Committee
Thanks to Steve Grossman
O'Brien has sent around a list of work that has already been done for schools across the city (coming out of F&O)
substantial renovations at 12 schools across the city
repairs that are already being done
five year plan for next schools
"how do we address the needs of our high schools"


Councilor Economou:
all very important items: front line of our education, future in the city of Worcester
sent to the joint committee (Education/F&O)

Questions

I'll catch my notes up later...low battery
This is Maureen Binienda, principal of South High
temporary walls/partitions from UNUM
had to take down the temporary ones from 1978 over the summer, as they were damaged.
ones donated from UNUM; more to come once they move
ideal would be putting up walls
need more than visual barriers; need sound barriers
"ideally we really need walls..."

O'Brien announces that Treasurer Steve Grossman will be coming out to visit and tour some of our schools on February 29th (the Mass School Building Authority is under the Treasurer's department)

come spring, doing a series of public meetings and hearings regarding school buildings and repairs
"would like to do a meeting at Nelson Place, as well as Worcester East Middle"


Foley: "reverse inter-high championship as to who has the worst facility"
"we've heard you and we know the challenges that are there"