Council committee hears $20.2M Adams School accessibility loan order and $1.1M for three ARP designs
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Summary
City officials briefed the Boston City Council Ways and Means Committee on two loan orders: $20.2 million to replace windows/doors and make the Adams School fully accessible, and $1.1 million to begin design for three 2025 Accelerated Repair Program schools (Margarita Muniz Academy, Mildred Ave K–6, Orchard Gardens). Councilors pressed staff on timelines, safety and procurement.
Chair Ben Weber convened the Boston City Council Ways and Means virtual hearing on March 26, 2026, to review two loan orders that would fund school building repairs and design work.
Carlton Jones, executive director of the Public Facilities Department, introduced the panel and turned the presentation over to Brian McLaughlin, senior project manager with PFD. McLaughlin said the first loan order (docket 0570) would appropriate $20,200,000 for the Adams School to replace windows and exterior doors and, because project costs exceeded 30% of the building’s assessed value, to add accessibility upgrades including an elevator, accessible restrooms on each floor and accessible entrances. “This will result in upwards of $10,400,000 in reimbursement on this project,” McLaughlin said, referring to expected MSBA participation.
McLaughlin said the appropriation would support completing design and preparing for a 2027 construction start and that the loan order requires two affirmative council votes before funds are expended. The presentation noted this is the first year the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has reimbursed costs when Americans with Disabilities Act–triggered upgrades are required.
The second loan order (docket 0571) requests $1,100,000 to start design for three 2025 Accelerated Repair Program projects: Margarita Muniz Academy (heat-pump work), Mildred Ave K–6 (roof work) and Orchard Gardens (roof, heat pump). McLaughlin said MSBA will assign an owners’ project manager (OPM) and architect in the coming months and that design work is expected to begin in 2026 with construction anticipated in 2028 for those three projects.
Councilors used timed rounds to press officials for details. Councilor Culpepper asked whether auditorium seats at Orchard Gardens were part of the ARP request; Brian Ford, chief of operations for Boston Public Schools, replied that seating repairs fall outside the MSBA ARP categories and would be handled via BPS capital or maintenance work orders, and he agreed to inspect submitted photos and prioritize any immediate safety fixes. “I did receive the photos, and I do see that there’s some additional work we need to do to make sure those are not adversely affecting the students’ safety,” Ford said.
Councilor Braden asked about timelines for Mary Lyon and Gardiner Pilot Academy windows and was told procurement lead times make summer 2027 likely for Gardiner and summer 2028 likely for Mary Lyon. Braden also asked about supplier diversity; Carlton Jones and McLaughlin said state public procurement and Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance requirements require competitive bids, but PFD is working on supplier-diversity strategies within those constraints.
McLaughlin summarized funding mechanics: the city typically appropriates funds twice in an MSBA project — first to bring on an OPM and architect, and later at schematic design when a Project Funding Agreement (PFA) sets final scope, cost and reimbursement. He said final reimbursement amounts for larger projects are generally known after schematic design and PFA formation.
Chair Weber closed the hearing by thanking panelists and saying he would bring the loan orders forward for a council vote at the next City Council meeting; no final vote was taken at the Ways and Means hearing.
The committee accepted questions, asked for a future MSBA-process briefing for councilors, and agreed BPS would follow up quickly on any immediate safety repairs reported at schools.
