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Date: 12/26/2023
SOUTH HADLEY — In what is a pivotal next step in bringing a potential new school building to South Hadley, the Massachusetts School Building Authority voted to invite Mosier Elementary School into its eligibility period.
Announced on Dec. 13 by the MSBA Board of Directors, the unanimous vote of acceptance is the first step in securing state funds for replacement of the school building. Statements of interest, a required vote and a document to apply for MSBA funding, were previously submitted to the MSBA in 2012, 2018 and 2019 for Mosier.
The most recent statement of interest was submitted in April 2023 after a vote of support from the South Hadley School Committee and Selectboard.
“South Hadley will work diligently, flexibly and collaboratively alongside the MSBA to achieve their vision for attaining the best outcomes for students, families, taxpayers and the community with a new building,” said state Sen. Jacob Oliveira (D-Ludlow).
South Hadley was one of 19 municipalities voted into this eligibility period out of 63 submissions.
Constructed in 1969, Mosier Elementary School houses three grade levels in a 62,237 square foot building. Portable classrooms were added in 1998, previously used at the middle and high schools, intended for a few years of use. Those same portable classrooms are still in use today.
“Principal Flynn and her staff have been doing an excellent job at promoting resilience and results at Mosier Elementary for so many years,” said South Hadley School Committee Chair Eric Friesner. “The vote by the Massachusetts School Building Authority is a testament to South Hadley Public Schools commitment to advocating and advancing the needs of students.”
As noted in the 2023 statement of interest, most of the issues facing Mosier Elementary relate to the structural integrity of the building itself with officials noting the portables pose a real threat of catastrophic failure at any time.
“Throughout the school year, hundreds of students from Grade 2 through Grade 4 attend the school and deserve a safe learning environment. I have seen firsthand the issues that exist throughout the building and its portable classrooms,” said State Rep. Dan Carey (D-Easthampton).
The announcement was discussed further during the Selectboard’s Dec. 19 meeting where Town Administrator Lisa Wong broke down where things stand now and what is next in what is expected to be just the beginning of a long process in securing the funds for a potential new school building project.
While exact plans are still uncertain, the minimum request being made by South Hadley is a new elementary school to teach first through fifth grades, while the district’s bigger request involves a new school that houses both elementary and middle school students. Should the new building happen, first graders would move into the school from Plains Elementary, and fifth graders would move to the school from Michael E. Smith Middle School.
The 270-day eligibility period is not an invitation to a feasibility study, and it does not guarantee an invitation to the MSBA’s capital pipeline. However, it will assist the MSBA in identifying early in the process whether a district is ready to manage and fund a capital project.
“Even just getting to this stage has been a pretty lengthy one,” Wong explained during the meeting. “Almost a 10-year period, so this is pretty significant. There’s a lot of work that’s gone into this.”
Wong thanked the School Committee as well as Carey and Oliveira for their commitment and support in reaching this point. She also credited current Mosier school leadership and custodial team for connecting with the MSBA and giving them a tour of the building that really showcased what the town needs from a new school building.
“I think that really sealed the deal in terms of them being able to see what we needed and see that we’re ready to move forward,” Wong said. “They also praised Town Meeting support of this project by their multiple votes over a number of years.”
If the eligibility period requirements are completed, the school district then becomes eligible for a possible invitation into the feasibility study phase of the MSBA capital pipeline. During that phase, which is based on another MSBA vote, the condition of Mosier School will be evaluated and the most cost-effective design will be determined.
“We are very excited about this next chapter and look forward to working with the community to create a new building that our students, staff and parents deserve,” said Mosier Elementary School Principal Cindy Flynn.
The next steps for South Hadley include the formation of a Mosier Elementary School Building Committee, among other requirements. The town has set aside $1.4 million in a stabilization fund for a Mosier feasibility study.
“It’s been a huge undertaking over the course of many many years, so I feel excited to finally be going forward,” said Selectboard Chair Andrea Miles.
Selectboard member Jeff Cyr added he hopes there is a lot of conversation throughout this process centered around actual needs for the students versus the what the want is from the school.
The full 2023 Mosier Elementary School Statement of Interest can be found on the school website at www.southhadleyschools.org.