LYNN – Lynn Public Schools has received $50K in Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action grants to help protect student health in the face of climate challenges.
One third of the funding will go directly to LPS to address extreme heat and asthma related- environmental conditions. The remaining funds will go toward workshops, trainings, webinars, and cohort meetings organized by an initiative called Building on Healthy Environments Advance Learning (HEAL).
HEAL was a 2023-2024 project that focused on improving asthma management practices within Cobbet Elementary School. This support included installing new air conditioning units and providing guidance for staff and families regarding heat-related illness prevention. Cobbet Elementary School was a focal point of HEAL due to its large population of students with asthma.
The initiative’s subaward, Building on HEAL, was originally selected for $500K of continued funding by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2024. However, this grant was later terminated due to federal funding cuts.
Despite this setback, on Monday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that the Building on HEAL project will receive the MVP funding that will be allocated toward Lynn Public Schools.
“The MVP Program is a statewide initiative that helps cities and towns plan and implement locally-driven strategies to deal with the immediate and long-term impacts of climate change. The program goes beyond funding plans – it helps communities turn those plans into action,” a press release wrote.
Destiny Gonzalez, Program Associate at Building on HEAL’s parent organization Healthy Resources in Action (HRiA), explained the importance of the funds for the Lynn community.
“The Lynn School District can choose to focus these funds based on current need and community input, while building momentum from the foundation of the initial Building on HEAL project. The 2025 funds could allow Lynn to continue their efforts on asthma management and heat resilience and expand into other areas of need,” Gonzalez said.
She added, “Building on HEAL was selected for continued funding due to its proven success and strong foundation in climate resiliency and environmental health. It is uniquely positioned to address immediate health inequities while laying the groundwork for long-term climate resiliency in schools. Its focus on asthma, heat-related conditions, and equity in public education makes it a vital investment for Massachusetts communities.”
