Brockton officials outline MSBA-backed Brockton High School feasibility plan and push CTE expansion

Brockton officials onstage at a community forum said the city is pursuing a major, MSBA-partnered feasibility study to replace or renovate Brockton High School and expand career and technical education.

Superintendent Priya Tahilani opened the meeting and framed the project as a multiyear effort; Mayor Rodriguez said the school — originally built in 1968 — is "old and tired" and that securing a state partnership was essential to building at the necessary scale. "We can't do it without the Commonwealth," he said.

Kevin Sullivan, the owner's project manager with Left Field, explained that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) helps fund large school construction projects and that communities access its funds through a multi-module feasibility process. Sullivan told the audience that MSBA's capital comes in part from the state sales tax, adding, "One penny of the sales tax on every purchase that has a sales tax goes into the MSBA's fund and pays for schools throughout the Commonwealth." He said the project team is in the preferred-schematic phase of the feasibility study and expects to submit materials to the MSBA on April 30; schematic design work would follow with a hope of MSBA approval in December.

Architects and engineers presented an existing-conditions analysis that characterized the 1968 building (with a 1974 addition) as well maintained but functionally outdated: original mechanical systems, incomplete accessibility, and energy- and code-related deficiencies. Craig Olsen of KBA Architects said those conditions informed the team's programmatic work to produce options ranging from major renovation with additions to an all-new building.

Principal Priscilla McCascal emphasized an educational vision that prioritizes flexibility, career-readiness and equity. He said Brockton now operates five certified CTE programs (health assistant, carpentry, auto tech, graphics and culinary), is adding electrical and multimedia broadcasting next year, and plans to expand further into HVAC, facilities management, robotics and animation. "We have talent in that building," McCascal said, arguing that certified Chapter 74 programs bring per-pupil funding and help retain students in-district.

On site options the team described a five-step screening process (25- or 44-acre thresholds and a strong preference for city-owned land to maximize MSBA reimbursement). After evaluating multiple parcels, the presentation concluded the existing high school site is the most advantageous because it is centrally located, adjacent to Campanelli and Marciano athletic facilities, and already city-owned, which reduces acquisition costs and timeline risk.

Project leaders stressed ongoing community engagement: working-group meetings every other week, a public school building committee that meets monthly (posted publicly), a multilingual project website with Q&A, and additional community forums. The team also described outreach plans to meet stakeholders across neighborhoods and encouraged residents to use posted meetings and the web portal to submit questions.

Next steps include finishing the preferred schematic submission to the MSBA on April 30, advancing through schematic design between May and October, and seeking MSBA approval later in the year; project staff emphasized that specific cost estimates and the city's local share will be clearer after the budget analysis is completed.

The project team invited continued public input at school building committee meetings and future community forums.