Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Msba Playground topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent reports $75,000 raised for Ticket playground; committee files MSBA statement of interest for school renovation
Summary
Superintendent update: the Ticket School playground community fundraiser reached about $75,000 and a $50,000 fair‑share award was approved for the project pending Senate action; the committee voted to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to MSBA that includes Morse Pond closure once Lawrence renovation is complete.
During the March 24 meeting the superintendent reported strong community support for the Ticket School playground project and progress on MSBA planning for the Lawrence renovation.
The superintendent introduced Heather Rivera as the incoming executive assistant to the superintendent (official start July 1) and thanked community fundraisers for their work on ticket playground fundraising. "I checked in on the school today... they're up to 75,000 now," the superintendent said, adding that Representative David Vieira had secured a $50,000 fair‑share appropriation that must still clear the Senate.
In financial and facilities business, the committee approved submitting a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority that lists Morse Pond School for closure once the Lawrence renovation project proceeds. Paul explained the SOI step is part of the MSBA process and that the select board will also be asked to sign the SOI on April 6.
Budget overview: district business staff provided a year‑to‑date budget update. Paul said the district has incurred higher‑than‑expected building‑maintenance costs (about $159,000 over target) driven by emergency repairs including a recent generator part estimate (~$10,000). He said out‑of‑district tuition is likely to come in slightly below earlier forecasts (roughly in the low $3.2M range) and that administration will present a fuller budget update at the next meeting.
What’s next: the SOI will be filed with MSBA; the select board will also act on it. Committee members and administration said they will continue site visits and planning work while the district and town name school‑building‑committee members for MSBA process milestones.
