Mayor Walsh Announces $25.1 Million Investment in Window and Door Replacements at 7 Boston Public Schools

BOSTON - Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston will move forward with a $25.1 million investment for door and window replacement at seven schools, after approval by the Boston City Council on Wednesday. The seven schools that will receive funding are: Young Achievers Science and Math K-8 in Mattapan; Community Academy of Science and Health in Dorchester; TechBoston Academy in Dorchester; Ellis Elementary School in Roxbury; McKay K-8 School in East Boston; Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain and Charles Sumner Elementary School in Roslindale.

"Our top priority is improving our schools, and I am pleased we have been able to successfully work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to make these critical investments that will improve our schools for generations to come," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "We know that modern learning environments best prepare our students for future success, and we will continue to prioritize infrastructure that is environmentally sound, propelling our schools to become even more efficient and cost-effective."

This project emphasizes the City's commitment to ensuring all public schools operate in the safest, most efficient manner possible. This project leverages nearly $16.4 million in Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Accelerated Repair Funds, a program focused on performing energy-efficient and cost-saving upgrades, which will result in direct operational savings for the school district.

"This investment underscores the Boston Public Schools' mission to provide the best facilities and education for our children," said BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang. "As we move forward with our ten-year BuildBPS plan, the City's strategic framework for facilities' investments will continue to be guided by what education -- and more importantly, what the jobs of the future -- will look like over the next ten years."  

The Walsh Administration has put a renewed focus on maximizing the MSBA as a resource for improving facilities, both in their current plan and as a strategy for financing BuildBPS. This investment will allow the City to complete the design process this year and begin construction next spring. Nearly 3,000 windows will be replaced at these seven schools by the fall 2017.

About BuildBPS 
Launched on September 29, 2015 by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Superintendent Tommy Chang, BuildBPS is a 10-Year Educational and Facilities Master Plan for Boston Public Schools (BPS).

BuildBPS will provide a strategic framework for facilities investments, as well as curriculum and instruction reforms that are aligned with the district's educational vision. BPS and the Mayor's Education Cabinet are working with Symmes, Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA) to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations submitted to Mayor Walsh, Superintendent Tommy Chang, and Boston School Committee by the fall of 2016.  The project is guided by five advisory committees that include educators and representatives of parent and community partner organizations.

The work of SMMA is conducted in partnership with BPS, the Mayor's Education Cabinet, and several City agencies, including Property and Construction Management, Environment, Energy and Open Space, Neighborhood Services, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority, in consultation with designer and project manager Margaret Wood of Pinck & Co.

For additional information, please visit BPS' website.