LYNN — Edward A. Sisson Elementary School was accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) Accelerated Repair Program to fund repairs in the school.
The MSBA accepted 70 schools from 37 districts into the program, which provides funding for “the repair or replacement of roofs and windows/doors in schools that are otherwise structurally, functionally and educationally sound,” according to a press release from the MSBA.
The MSBA temporarily closed the Accelerated Repair Program in 2020 due to funding challenges, according to the city of Lynn. Lynn, other municipalities, and the state delegation advocated to increase funding for the MSBA and reinstitute the program in 2023. The legislature also included provisions in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget to increase the MSBA’s overall cap and removed the Accelerated Repair Program from counting towards the cap.
“Many of our schools are very old and need updating or replacing. The city of Lynn and the Lynn School Committee are committed to providing the best learning environment they can for our students. The MSBA program provides cities like Lynn an opportunity to update or replace school facilities so that our students are provided with the best space for learning,” Deputy Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools Deb Ruggiero said.
This repair project is following the new Pickering Middle School, which broke ground on Sept. 20 of this year and is located next to Sisson. The city of Lynn submitted a statement of interest to the MSBA four years ago for the Pickering project, which cost $175 million and officially started in July.
Ruggiero said it is her understating that Sisson Elementary was chosen by the MSBA for the project because Pickering is being built so close. The repairs will allow for Sisson to better serve its current enrollment.
The Sisson project is to replace the windows and doors, which many MSBA Accelerated Repair Programs focus on, Ruggiero said. The timeline for the repairs are not yet determined, but the school department is working with the city’s Inspectional Services Department and the Mayor’s office on it.
“We appreciate the MSBA’s support of this important project. This is the type of project we had in mind when we advocated for increased funding and the reopening of the Accelerated Repair Program in partnership with other Gateway Cities and our state delegation, and we appreciate the MSBA’s decision — with the legislature’s support — to reopen the program. We plan to continue to aggressively pursue and advocate for more funding to modernize our schools,” Mayor Jared Nicholson said.
“I am thrilled that Sisson Elementary has been invited to participate in the Accelerated Repair Program, which prioritizes our children by prioritizing our schools’ infrastructure” State Sen. Brendan Crighton added. “This program presents an incredible opportunity for Sisson to pursue sustainable repairs that will improve the school environment, ensuring that it can foster learning and growth for all students.”
The MSBA has approved more than 1,116 projects and has provided more than $17.8 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects across the Commonwealth since its inception in 2004, according to its website.
“The Accelerated Repair Program allows us to partner with school districts on much-needed repairs that can greatly extend a school’s lifespan,” State Treasurer and Receiver General and Chair of the MSBA Deborah Goldberg said. “Besides making the learning environment more comfortable for our schoolchildren, these repairs also make our schools more energy efficient and generate substantial cost savings. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
