26 October, 2023
On October 25, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) voted to approve the Hopkinton Elementary School project to replace the existing Elmwood Elementary School with a new facility serving grades 2 through 4 on an alternative site referred to as the “Hayden Rowe Street site.” This approval ensures that Hopkinton will receive a funding support grant from the MSBA, if the project is approved by the voters of Hopkinton.
Additionally, the MSBA voted to increase the maximum facilities grant that the project is eligible to receive by 31%. The reimbursement that the town will receive from the MSBA, after projected contingency usage, peaks now at a maximum total facilities grant of $61,527,604. In essence, the MSBA increased the maximum grant by $14,742,782. This nearly fifteen million dollar increase changes the financial impact of the project.
“We are incredibly pleased to receive the support from the MSBA for this project that will deliver high quality education to our students and relieve the space constraints in our school buildings. The additional funding also reflects the tremendous partnership that the MSBA provides, recognizing that inflation has increased the costs of construction projects while trying to relieve that increased burden on taxpayers,” said Jon Graziano, Chair of the Elementary School Building Committee.
Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh added, “The Elmwood Replacement Project offers students in grades 2 through 4 a physical plant specifically designed to meet the needs of 21st Century learners, allowing for differentiation by student learning profile; access to multiple literacies; hands-on science, technology and engineering instruction; and more. The additional $14,742,782 helps make high quality teaching and learning more affordable—an amazing benefit of Hopkinton’s partnership with the MSBA.”
The Elmwood Elementary School project will be presented for approval at a Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 13, at 7pm at the Middle School Auditorium followed by a Town Election on November 28.
