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Date: 3/15/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Projects for the German Gerena Community School, Washington School and White Street School will be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) after final approval from the City Council during its March 6 meeting.
The trio of schools received initial MSBA statement of interest approval from the School Committee during their Feb. 9 meeting. Superintendent Daniel Warwick explained details behind each schools’ needs, sharing that the district plans to install a new HVAC system and review the buildout of all pod classrooms for Gerena Community School. The School Committee voted to make Gerena their priority request to the MSBA.
With Washington School and White Street School, Warwick envisions combining both schools into a new facility. Springfield Public Schools is embracing a similar concept with the developing DeBerry-Swan School, which will merge DeBerry School and the formerly named Homer Street Elementary School into one building. That project is expected to be completed ahead of the 2023-2024 school year.
Washington School and White Street School are both located in the Forest Park area. Their facilities are over a century old, with White Street being built in 1904 and Washington constructed in 1918. Warwick deemed both schools existing facilities as “obsolete.”
To date, Warwick noted the city so far has received $750 million in state funding for renovations to schools.
Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management Patrick Sullivan presented the MSBA statements of interest to the City Council. Sullivan explained that the MSBA is only accepting applications for their core school improvement program after previously awarding funding support from their Green Repair Program.
In discussing Gerena’s needs, Sullivan envisions the HVAC system overhaul costing over $10 million for the four-decade old school. The MSBA would ultimately decide whether to fund the HVAC improvements or prioritize building a new school in its place.
“They would study our proposal, whether they want to invest that amount of money or do they want to replace that building. It’s always up to the MSBA,” said Sullivan.
Previously, Springfield Public Schools submitted renovation requests for DeBerry School before the MSBA instead decided to help fund the development of a new school building.
“Instead of repairing DeBerry, they wanted to build a new facility,” said Sullivan.
Gerena was voted as the school district’s top priority due to concerns that the HVAC could decay in the next five years. Sullivan stressed that the facility is currently safe, but the Springfield Public Schools is trying to proactively address maintenance problems that could develop within the next few years.
Sullivan also highlighted the facility needs for Washington and White Street Schools.
“Those are early 1900s vintage schools. Its time for new facilities on those,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan said most projects accepted in the MSBA receive a funding reimbursement of 65 percent. He stressed that the state organization continues to be vital in aiding improvements to Springfield Public Schools.
“It’s gone a long way in improving the quality of our facilities,” said Sullivan.
The City Council approved the MSBA statements of interest in unanimous votes.