Subcommittee backs $5 million MassCEC grant to add air conditioning at Glickman Elementary

The Springfield Public Schools’ budget and finance subcommittee voted to recommend a $5 million expenditure from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Green Schools Works grant to fund HVAC upgrades at Glickman Elementary.

District staff said Glickman currently has a steam heating system and is not eligible for MSBA HVAC funding. The district applied for the MassCEC grant to install a modern, energy‑efficient system and has partnered with Siemens on the project. Facilities staff said the plan targets a VRF (variable refrigerant flow) heat‑pump system to improve ventilation, air quality, and cooling; the district also reported installing air conditioning in 10 schools with ESSER funds and adding AC in gym and common areas elsewhere.

A motion to recommend the $5,000,000 expenditure was made and seconded; the roll call recorded affirmative votes and one absence, and the chair declared sufficient votes. District staff said they will provide an updated list of schools that have received AC to inform family inquiries and future planning.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the full school committee for final approval, and staff said they will continue to pursue additional grant opportunities to extend air conditioning across the district.