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School Committee approves MSBA location submissions for FY25, including Washington/Beal and Kensington projects
Summary
The School Committee approved submissions to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for FY25, including a Kensington core project submission, a Washington submission potentially using the Beal campus, and applications for windows/doors, roofs and a new heat‑pump program to add air conditioning to eligible schools.
The Springfield School Committee voted unanimously to approve the district’s FY25 location submissions to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), naming several schools and project types for MSBA review and future funding consideration.
Superintendent (name not specified), Mr. Roach and Mr. Kerrigan outlined the district’s planned submissions. The district will submit a Kensington core project (the Kensington/White combination was previously approved administratively) and a Washington submission that the district hopes can be executed using the Beal campus. Mr. Kerrigan said Washington’s building age and site logistics fit the model the MSBA has supported in recent years.
Staff explained supporting project streams in the FY25 submission cycle: windows and doors (projects the district expects to submit in 2026 as eligibility changes), four roof projects eligible in 2025, and five heat‑pump projects for which the new MSBA program would permit adding air conditioning to eligible schools. "Air conditioning is one of the priorities," Mr. Roach said, noting the MSBA opened a heat‑pump program allowing geothermal or air‑source heat pumps in eligible buildings.
Discussion included site-selection logistics and enrollment impacts. Staff said the Beal campus has sufficient land to consider placing two schools on one campus (a Washington/Beal model), and that redistricting and enrollment projections will follow MSBA feasibility work. Committee members raised concerns about long-term enrollment declines and asked that right‑sizing and boundary planning be part of feasibility and schematic design phases; staff said construction for these projects would be years away and that projects are sized to current and projected neighborhood needs.
Attorney Murphy moved approval of the MSBA location submissions for FY25; Miss Hurst seconded. The secretary called roll: Mr. Gonzales — yes; Miss Hurst — yes; Attorney Murphy — yes. "Votes are sufficient. This matter passes," Chair Gonzales said.
Staff said they will return with more detailed proposals and community engagement plans as feasibility and schematic design proceed with MSBA timelines.
