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Springfield School Committee approves FY2026 amendment and $5 million Clean Energy grant for school HVAC upgrades
Summary
The Springfield School Committee approved an FY2026 budget amendment and accepted a $5 million Mass Clean Energy Center Green School Works grant to upgrade HVAC systems (including Alfred Glickman Elementary), part of a multi-year effort to add air conditioning to district schools.
The Springfield School Committee on Sept. 4 voted to approve an amended FY2026 budget and to accept a $5,000,000 grant from the Mass Clean Energy Center to upgrade heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in district buildings.
Superintendent Doctor Denal and Chief Financial Officer Pat Roach presented the amendment as routine fall housekeeping to align district figures with the city and state budgets. Roach said the amendment results in an overall net decrease of about $1,172,229 to the district budget, citing a $1,000,000 reduction in transportation, an increase of $25,000 to family and community engagement, a net decrease in school operations of about $197,229, a $1,706,099 reduction to the salary reserve and a remaining charter-tuition deficit of $2,465,394 "because we're hoping the expenses come in lower than what's projected by the state."
Roach described the $5 million Clean Energy Center award as part of an "aggressive campaign" to expand air conditioning across the district; the presentation named Alfred Glickman Elementary School as a planned recipient. "This is part of our multi-year plan to get AC in every school," Roach said. The superintendent noted the district recently completed air-conditioning projects in 10 schools using ESSER funds and said eight additional grant applications are pending.
Vice Chair Bruno Naylor asked for an updated list of schools that have received upgrades and for a clear timetable. Roach said staff will provide school-by-school information and that implementation will be phased as additional grants and MSBA applications progress.
The committee moved and seconded both measures; roll-call votes recorded support from present members and the measures passed.
The district said officials expect to return with implementation details and that additional schools will be targeted for AC installations in the coming years.
