In the Spring of
2016, MERSD established the Memorial School Building Committee (MSBC) and
received support from our communities to enter into a Feasibility Study with
the Massachusetts School Building authority (MSBA). The MSBA provides state matching funds for
construction, and an oversight process to promote efficiency and effectiveness
of local building projects. As one of
its first tasks, the MSBC was charged with identifying an Owner’s Project
Manager (OPM) for the upcoming building project. The OPM, who will be with us for the
duration of the project, works to oversee the building process and helps to
safeguard the District’s interests. Last
March the MSBA approved the Memorial School Building Committee’s recommendation
of Dore & Whittier to serve as MERSD’s OPM for the Memorial project. With the assistance of the OPM, and in
adherence to the MSBA process, the MSBC then identified and contracted with JCJ
Architecture to act as the design team for the Memorial Building Project –
Feasibility Study. Together the MSBC,
Dore & Whittier, and JCJ will work to find fiscally responsible,
forward-thinking solutions for the Manchester elementary school building that
meet the needs of the District’s current and future curriculum program, are
mindful of future maintenance and the impact on the environment, serve the
school community, and are supported by voters in Manchester and Essex, as well
as the MSBA. In the end, the Feasibility
Study will determine whether to renovate or replace the Memorial School. There will be several opportunities for
public input throughout the process, with the first Community Meeting scheduled for October 4, 2017.
Knowing that facility needs of Memorial Elementary School
have been prioritized by the MSBA process, MERSD has turned its attention
toward developing a multi-year capital plan for extending the useful life of
Essex Elementary, which is more than fifty years old, but in better condition
than Memorial. MERSD is currently working
with the Town of Essex to leverage Green Community grant funding for energy
saving improvements that can minimize the annual cost of operations. To learn more about the Memorial Building
Project Background & Process please visit the MSBC-Memorial Building
Project
For More Information on the MSBA & Feasibility Study process
please visit www.mersd.org
Quick Link – Memorial Building Project
