School Building Authority accepting Statements of Interest for 2018

The Massachusetts School Building Authority is now accepting Statements of Interest for consideration in calendar 2018.
 
Submitting an SOI is the first step in the MSBA’s program for school building construction, addition/renovation, and repair grants. It allows districts to inform the authority about deficiencies that may exist in a local school facility and how those deficiencies inhibit the delivery of the district’s educational program.
 
Feb. 16 is the SOI closing date for districts submitting for consideration under the Accelerated Repair Program, primarily for the repair and/or replacement of roofs, windows/doors, and/or boilers in an otherwise structurally sound facility.
 
April 6 is the SOI closing date for districts submitting for consideration under the CORE Program, which is primarily for projects beyond the scope of the ARP, including extensive repairs, renovations, addition/renovations, and new school construction.
 
Districts assign their own district user access to the MSBA’s SOI System. Superintendents should complete a District Access Form available on the MSBA’s website. Once the access form is completed and sent to the MSBA, the superintendent can log into the SOI System and authorize district users to access the system as deemed necessary for submitting an SOI. Instructions for the superintendent to become the district user manager and next steps are included in the District Access Form.
 
Submitting an SOI should not be difficult, according to the MSBA, and districts do not need to seek professional assistance to complete an SOI. The process of submitting an SOI will, however, require dedicated time from the district to comply with the submission requirements, especially the local vote requirements.
 
The MSBA requires votes from the local school committee and, except in the case of a regional school district, the local governing body such as the city council, board of aldermen or board of selectmen authorizing the superintendent of schools to submit an SOI.
 
For more information, visit the MSBA’s SOI website.