LYNN — Nearly $5.8 million worth of repair work is underway at Hood Elementary School, which includes replacing the roof, bay windows and making the building handicap accessible.
Window work has started on the site, but most of the repairs had to be limited to July and August when students are not in school, according to Michael Donovan, the city’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) chief.
“We’ve been working closely with the school department and the principal,” Donovan said. “Our intent is to get in and out of there as quick and as unnoticeably as possible.”
The City Council authorized the bond for the project last summer, which was accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program. The MSBA will reimburse the city $4.2 million, or 72 percent for this summer’s repairs, according to its website.
City officials have said in the past the school is in “desperate” need of repairs, but Donovan said Hood, which was built in 1961, is one of the newer schools in the city and in fairly good condition.
A new heating system was put into Hood about five years ago, and next summer, the city will spend another $1.4 million to update its lighting, fire alarm system and flooring “to try to renew the school,” Donovan said.
“(These) capital improvements will last well over 25 years,” Donovan said. “It’s a school that because of its age and condition, it’s going to be here a long time.”
