GRANBY — The School Committee discussed during its Feb. 27 meeting the best way to approach getting assistance from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, following the state body notifying them there will not be an accelerated repair program this year.
The committee had reached out regarding the replacement of old boilers inside the school and were notified the program was not offering a boiler option this year. Superintendent Stephen Sullivan did say through his conversations with the MSBA it was communicated to him that they are aware Granby’s school district needs that could get assistance from the MSBA were beyond just boilers.
Sullivan explained he had met with Town Administrator Chris Martin and Selectboard Chair Glenn Sexton in January to discus the boilers at Granby Junior-Senior High School and the impact of maintaining and upkeeping those on the budget. Coming out of the discussion, they were going to pursue the Accelerated Repair Program from the MBSA as the program commonly assists in boilers, windows and roofs.
Sullivan reached out to the MSBA about the program and was notified it would not be happening this year as they are doing a study. According to the MSBA’s website, to facilitate schools moving toward Massachusetts’ goal for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the MSBA plans to develop a study for public school facilities that could offer heat pump conversion for existing buildings. This study will be done in lieu of offering boiler replacement as part of the Accelerated Repair Program.
“They said we’ve also submitted statements of interests the past three years and they’re well aware that our needs are beyond that of a boiler,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan then opened the discussion on if they should pursue a statement of interest on a core project like they have the past three years. He added the MSBA has confirmed to him it does not work against them if they get invited and they are not yet ready to commit to the project as a town.
“As long as we’re upfront with them and let them know, its certainly not a knock against us. I think they’re concerned when a school district says we’re ready and everything’s in order, and then it gets to a vote and gets voted down and doesn’t go anywhere,” Sullivan said.
By discussions end, the committee decided to go through with beginning a new statement of interest in order to keep their intentions clear on the projects they are looking to do in order to improve the district. The submission date is April 12 and Sullivan is planning to come back in a future meeting with the statement to go over with the committee before submitting.
“MSBA did say they appreciate that we’ve been candid with them, we’ve been honest. We’ve been open the past couple of years saying we don’t feel — based on our conversations with town leadership — that we’re in a position to move forward and I think they’ve appreciated that and said those things don’t count against us,” Sullivan said.
School Committee chair Jennifer Bartosz said she was still for going through with a statement of interest on a project that could address more needs for the district.
“I would hate to not have a statement of interest in if something were to happen where we could do it,” Bartosz said.
Sullivan said some of the heavy lifting in getting something done with the MSBA has been done in the last few years as a relationship has been established as the town looks at its options.
“I think when providing transparency to town officials and to the general public, it’s helpful to have that paper trail of documentation of what the recommendation was and why,” said committee member Jull Pelletier.