Dedham Awarded $10.7M Grant for New Early Childhood Center

State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), and MSBA Chief Executive Officer Maureen Valente today announced that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to approve a grant of up to $10,774,386 million for a project to construct a new Early Childhood Education Center in Dedham. One of the next steps is for the District and the MSBA to enter into a Project Funding Agreement, which will detail the project’s scope and budget, along with the conditions under which the District will receive its MSBA grant.
 
“Upon completion, this project will provide a new 21st century learning environment for the Pre-K and Kindergarten students in Dedham,” Treasurer Goldberg said. “Our goal is to create the best space to deliver the District’s educational commitments and goals.”
 
The project will create a new, 50,988 square-foot Early Childhood Education Center on the Dexter School site.  The new Early Childhood Education Center will serve the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten student population currently attending the Early Childhood Education Center. The existing facility, which suffers from deficiencies in major building systems including mechanical, electrical, envelope and windows, was built in 1931.
 
“Students will soon have a beautiful new space which will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom.” stated Chief Executive Officer Valente.
 
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 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,700 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $11.9 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.