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Date: 11/14/2023
CHICOPEE — The Chicopee City Council unanimously approved $1.2 million for a feasibility study of Anna E. Barry Elementary School.
During the Nov. 9 meeting, Mayor John Vieau’s first order was for the city of Chicopee to appropriate this funding for the purpose of paying the cost of a feasibility study to investigate potential options and solutions including cost estimates, deficiencies and issues, studies, plans, drawings, designs, specifications or any other information or materials regarding and including Anna E. Barry Elementary School.
Vieau noted that the city of Chicopee may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
He added that the amount is to be expended under the direction of the Anna E. Barry Elementary School Building Committee.
Vieau said this is a transfer of funds from the stabilization account, which is the final step in the eligibility phase.
Vice Chair Robert Zygarowski asked how long it would take to start the process of reconstruction or renovation after all the “preliminary stuff” is complete.
Vieau said the entire project should take about five to seven years on average.
Carissa Lisee, chair of the Anna E. Barry Elementary School Building Committee, shared that the committee met on Oct. 25 and unanimously voted to send these appropriations requests to the mayor to meet the requirements of the MSBA.
She went on to say that this item needs to be completed by Dec. 29.
To remain eligible for the construction costs, reimbursement for reconstruction or repair of the aging Anna E. Barry School, the city needs to show the MSBA that they are committed to this project, she shared.
If the city did not meet the requirements of the MSBA, they could potentially lose any reimbursement from the MSBA and delay the project even more.
“With the rising costs of construction, it is imperative that we meet this deadline to avoid delaying this project, which will only increase the cost of the overall project as time goes on,” Lisee said.
If approved by the City Council and the MSBA, she explained that the city will be able to move forward with the feasibility study which will include multiple possibilities for the future of the school such as possible renovation or reconstruction. These possibilities will then be submitted to the building committee for review and will provide a more “detailed scope” to the project, allowing the city to enter the next phase of the MSBA process.
School Committee members Samuel Shumsky and Timothy Wagner went before the council during public input to ask for the approval of the $1.2 million as they are on a tight deadline.
Ward 9 City Councilor Mary Beth Pniak-Costello described this school as a “troubled” one.
She added that this is a “priority” to keep Chicopee improving, as well as the educational system.
Zygarowski noted that although this will be a long project, it is one that the children, community and teachers deserve.