The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has accepted North Attleborough’s application to conduct a feasibility study for rebuilding or renovating its high school.
The authority voted on April 26 to invite the school district to begin the study. In a press release, MSBA Executive Director and Deputy CEO John K McCarthy said the authority will work with the district to establish a plan for the 50-year-old North Attleborough High School building, whether it be a new structure or a renovation project.
“We are committed to working with the Districts to help address the deficiencies in their schools,” said McCarthy. “Our partnership with local officials will ensure the best solutions for the students in each of these districts.”
Town Council President Justin Pare lauded the announcement and said he is ready to move onto the next phase.
“Now the hard work will begin to determine what is the best path forward for our students and our community across many vectors,” he said. “I can’t wait to be able to be a part of a team alongside Council Vice President John Simmons as the council representative on the Building Committee.”
The feasibility study is the third part of the eight-part MSBA process, according to the agency’s web site. In this phase, the district will collaborate with the MSBA to document the educational program, create a space summary, document existing conditions, establish design parameters and recommend the most cost-effective and educationally appropriate preferred solution to the MSBA Board of Directors for their consideration.
During this phase, the Owner’s Project Manager will submit, on behalf of the District and its Designer, a Preliminary Design Program and a Preferred Schematic Report. Approval by the MSBA Board of Directors is required for all projects to proceed into schematic design.
The fourth phase will include a review of the schematic design and the fifth will cover project funding.
The cost of the feasibility study has yet to be determined, but the town set aside $2 million in February based on estimates from past projects. If North Attleborough does not go forward with the study, it will not receive funding from the MSBA to renovate or rebuild the high school.
