Swampscott School Committee unanimously authorizes superintendent to submit MSBA statement of interest for middle school

The Swampscott School Committee voted unanimously on March 26 to authorize the superintendent to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for Swampscott Middle School.

The resolution, read into the record by committee members, said the SOI would describe building deficiencies in priority categories that the MSBA considers for future applications, specifically priority five (replacement, renovation or modernization of facility systems such as roofs, windows and HVAC to increase energy conservation) and priority seven (replacement of or addition to obsolete buildings to provide a full range of programs). The motion to authorize the submission passed without opposition.

Max Casper, who presented the SOI process to the committee, said the authorization is an early procedural step: "We are hoping that you will vote on the statement of interest tonight," and reiterated that an SOI neither guarantees MSBA acceptance nor obligates the town to file a grant application.

Why it matters: staff and committee members said the middle school building, originally built in 1958 with a 1977 addition, has aging systems and functional limitations that justify asking the MSBA to consider Swampscott for future funding. Committee members noted the SOI is the first step in a multi-year process that, even if accepted, could take several years before a project is under construction.

What the vote does and does not do: the authorization permits the superintendent to submit the SOI before the April 17 deadline; it does not commit the town to apply for or accept MSBA funding nor does it appropriate local funds for construction. The resolution includes explicit language acknowledging that submission of the SOI does not guarantee acceptance, an application, a grant award or any other funding commitment by the MSBA.

Next steps: staff said the SOI will be submitted before the stated deadline, the Select Board will also consider the matter (the presentation to the Select Board was scheduled for April 8), and the district will continue to refine its description of deficiencies and its statutory priorities as part of the eligibility process.