Jack McCarthy, Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), today joined state and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for the North Reading Middle/High School. Student representatives of North Reading’s middle, high, and elementary schools also took part in the event. The MSBA is contributing a maximum total facilities grant of approximately $47 million of eligible expenses towards the $107.7 million project.
“I am delighted to help break ground on this important project,” Executive Director McCarthy said. “Thanks to the MSBA’s successful partnership with North Reading, students and staff will benefit from a 21st century learning and teaching environment for many years to come.”
The project consists of major additions and renovations at the existing North Reading Middle School, to create a new, integrated Middle/High School serving grades 6-12. When completed, the school will replace North Reading’s current high school, which was built in 1955 and which suffers from deficiencies in plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems. Improvements will also be made to the roof, doors, and building envelope. North Reading Middle/High School will serve 1,370 students.
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 over $9 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.
