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Date: 5/9/2023
HOLYOKE — City officials have proposed an $85,504,592 project to replace the aging and energy-inefficient William R. Peck Middle School with a 550-student middle school and currently the City Council is reviewing a proposed vote as the Finance Committee is expected to discuss further at their next meeting.
Of the over $85 million in costs, it’s expected for the state through Massachusetts School Building Authority to reimburse the city $46 million which means the city will be responsible for a total of $40 million of the projected costs. Mayor Joshua Garcia noted these are conservative estimates in his weekly update and through various factors, there could be a decent chance these costs are much less than anticipated.
Garcia further explained the plan to afford this potential bill in his update.
“Since the failed attempt to pass a ballot question for an override to build middle schools, it was very clear to me that this community wants to build new middle schools and take care of the needs of our youth but build what we need at the most feasible option available that the city can afford within our budget limits without a debt exclusion,” Garcia said. “The discourse continued through the school building committee and the committee strongly focused on that goal. Every measure was taken to keep costs low which concluded in the current model school proposal, and I am thrilled to share with you the city can afford it.”
The proposed school building will be based on a successful model used by three other Massachusetts school districts. The price and design of the proposed new school building come from other designs across the state and costs would cover construction, project management, architectural services, furniture, technology and contingencies.
The firm selected by the Holyoke School Building Committee back in January was the Mount Vernon Group who have designed several school building projects in the state including the exact model the new Holyoke proposal would be based on. Attached in the mayor’s update was a YouTube video from the Holyoke Public Schools that toured Goodnow Brothers Elementary School in Marlborough, one of the successful models being utilized for the Holyoke proposal.
The video showcases the school building and what is utilized within it to create a solid and unique foundation for students place of education. Featured in the video is one of the members of the Mount Vernon Group team in Frank Tedesco, who explains that the Goodnow Brothers School was based on a 2005 design used in New Beford.
“The reason we have model schools is because these were built very quickly, proved to be successful, were energy efficient and they were cost effective,” said Tedesco. “This was the reason the MSBA selected this model to be used and adapted for other communities.”
Tedesco toured the school building and credited the building’s air filtration as well as showed off it’s spacious lobby area, two door entry security, courtyard allowing for more natural light for all building classrooms, and operable windows.
“This just gives you an idea of what the general components of the school are. As they did here in Marlborough, they transformed the model into a beautiful elementary school. The same thing will happen in Holyoke where you can take these great components and make them your own,” Tedesco said.
Principal of Goodnow Brothers School Amy Mulkerin appeared in the video and noted their school building opened three years ago amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We were grateful we had a large new clean space with great air quality,” Mulkerin said. “The model school was a great opportunity for us to take an existing shell and put our stamp on it and create it in the way we envisioned for our kids here in Marlborough.”
Also featured in the video were Garcia and Superintendent/Receiver Anthony Soto who both spoke in favor of the project. Soto noted middle school aged students are at a critical point in their progress of their educational career. He feels the proposed building is an opportunity for the district to create a learning environment that will help students prepare for high school and beyond.
“One of the things that our leaders and our teachers are focused on is fostering a sense of belonging. Our students deserve this project, our students deserve to walk in a building they feel proud of, and our students deserve to feel like this community values them and will make an investment in their future,” Soto said.
Garcia credited the School Building Committee for their focused approach and added that Mount Vernon has successfully incorporated the model approach to several other Massachusetts school projects.
The MSBA approved and funds all public school projects in the state and provides up to 80 percent reimbursement costs for construction and renovations. The last refund estimate for Holyoke was under 60% when two middle schools were proposed in 2019.
The MSBA set an April 27 deadline for municipalities to submit project designs which the city has already met. The City Council must also agree on construction bonding before the MSBA board vote in late June. The proposed project is expected to be discussed further at an upcoming Finance Committee meeting. If funding is secured, construction will begin in February 2024 with an anticipated opening in the fall or winter of 2025.