City of Lawrence

Community update on school facilities

Goals of the community update

Provide a picture of the state of facilities needs district-wide
Share an opportunity to receive significant state funding for new
school buildings & repairs
Review which schools would be most likely to qualify for funding
Discuss next steps including the Citys role and your role in the
coming months and years

City of Lawrence

Agenda
Snapshot on state of facilities in district
Review school facility improvements over the last four years
Outline opportunity for new school buildings funding through
MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority)
Explain the MSBA criteria for funding new school projects
Review targets for LPS MSBA application based on their criteria
Provide a timeline for the process
Explain how these new buildings align with the Citys larger
Capital Improvement Plan
City of Lawrence

We have built new school buildings since 1990 in every

neighborhood except the north central part of the City

Northwest
- Guilmette
(2001)

Northeast
- Parthum
(2002)

Southwest
- Wetherbee
(2003)

Southeast
- South
Lawrence East
(1994)

LPS facilities assessment summary

Increasing enrollment over the next 10 years for:
North central section of the City for grades K-8
Citywide high school enrollment
While there are many buildings that have been constructed in the
last 30 years, there are as many buildings built more than 90 years
ago
Years of deferred maintenance have caused problems in many of
our buildings
The Facilities Department has made considerable repairs to school
buildings over the last four years, but the older buildings can only
be properly addressed by major renovations or new buildings

LPS has made much-needed improvements to our facilities

over the last four years, but significant work remains
By state law, school districts are prohibited from paying for major
facility improvements, including new buildings, renovations and
upgrades, from their operating budgets.
Despite these restrictions, over the last four years, LPS has still
Installed new playgrounds
Replaced floors
Installed computer labs
Painted walls
And more!

City of Lawrence

The City of Lawrence has an opportunity to replace and

renovate school buildings through the MSBA
What is the MSBA?
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is a state
agency that funds major school improvements to cities and towns.
How much could the City of Lawrence receive?
If the MSBA approves our project, the MSBA will pay for 80% of the
cost of new facilities.

Where does the funding come from to pay for MSBA projects?
1% of the state sales tax goes to the MSBA for new school
buildings.
When is the next MSBA application for new schools?
This years deadline is early April, 2016.

City of Lawrence

Because the MSBA receives hundreds of applications, the

agency has strict criteria for selecting projects
What are the MSBAs criteria in selecting projects?
Projected increased student enrollment
Overcrowding
Age and condition of the building

Size of the building and plot of land

Large number of students served

City of Lawrence

Based on the criteria, LPS has two strong target candidates for
MSBA application: Henry K. Oliver Building & Francis M. Leahy
Building
Oliver

Proj. increased student enrollment

Overcrowding
Age and condition of the building
Size of the building and plot of land
Large number of students served

City of Lawrence

Leahy

MSBA application is an initial step, with several years of

community engagement & city approvals ahead before a new
school would open
Estimated timeline

2016

2017

City submits
application

2018

2019

Design new
school with
community
MSBA
approves
application

City of Lawrence

2020

Break ground
on new
building

Final approval
by Lawrence
City Council
and MSBA
*This is a conservative timeline

2021

2022

New school
opens

The Mayors capital improvement plan includes many other

projects that benefit the City of Lawrence
Included in the Mayors capital improvement plan are:

School building projects

Park improvements

Fire engine replacements

Police vehicle replacements

Library building improvements

Airport runway improvements

City of Lawrence

Next steps

Application is due to the state by April 8th, 2016

If approved, we will begin a community visioning process

to design the elementary school(s) in 2018

Questions and answers will be posted on the Mayors

website within two weeks

City of Lawrence

Q&A