MSBA funds a Lynn target

LYNN – Facing deteriorating buildings and funding issues across the board, the city will have another chance at securing cash for school building repairs this year, provided the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) finds that its buildings are more in need of repair than those in other communities.State Treasurer Timothy Cahill, who is chairman of the MSBA, and MSBA Executive Director Katherine Craven annou-nced this week that the state organization would begin accepting statements of interest from school districts through October, meaning more funding is available for school repairs across the state.Lynn will undoubtedly have a host of projects to chose from when submitting a statement of interest this year, including at Marshall Middle School, where an aging roof has caused leaking and structural problems in recent years.The city had designated Marshall’s roof replacement as its top priority in submitting statements of interest to the MSBA in 2007, but was completely passed over by the agency at the time.As a result, the city’s Inspectional Services Department has made spot repairs to the leaky roof to try and avoid further internal and external damage at the school.The MSBA provides funding – one cent of every nickel raised by the sales tax goes to the agency – to make needed repairs and improvements at schools, as well as fund new projects in local communities.The first step in that process is funding for feasibility studies, released by the agency to those communities in most need of structural repair or who are experiencing overcrowding problems due to a lack of facilities.Communities are asked to submit statements of interest to help determine which projects receive funding, singling out one project as a top priority.Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. said he does not have any direct knowledge of potential projects that will be submitted this time around, but said the city has a good relationship with the agency and is always willing to take advantage of available funding.”Any time there is an opportunity where we have money on the table we are going to try and seize it,” he said. “I don’t know of anything specific that we will be submitting, but I am sure we will look to take advantage of it. We have always had a good relationship with (Craven) and, hopefully, this is something that can help us fund our needed repair projects.”Although the MSBA funding has been missing in recent years, the city has managed to make improvements to the schools, using energy stimulus funding to replace and repair boilers at each school, and working with National Grid to install new, energy efficient lighting in several secondary schools this summer.The news that communities can submit statements of interest is somewhat surprising, given that the MSBA said earlier this year that it was at risk of cutting back funding for some existing projects because of sinking sales tax revenue.The recent sales tax hike and a slight economic boost has given the agency the push it needs to solicit statements of interest this year.The MSBA did not say how much money was put aside for new projects, but the agency is in the midst of a $2.5 billion, 5-year statewide school construction plan.”We are committed to working with local communities and school districts to fund equitable, affordable solutions for school building projects while providing a strong educational foundation for children in the Commonwealth,” Cahill said.Communities have until Oct. 23 to submit statements of interest to the MSBA, at which point the agency will review statements both new and old. There is no timetable on when new project funding will be announced.