Stoughton Approved for MSBA Eligibility Period for New School Project

By Mike Hardman

The Stoughton School District this week was invited into an eligibility period by the Massachusetts School Building Authority to determine its financial and community readiness to enter the MSBA’s capital pipeline for a new school project.

Stoughton High School was on the agenda for the MSBA's meeting Wednesday, Jan. 29 in Boston. The town is looking for funds for the school, which officials told the authority is outdated and inadequate for current use. 

The following is a press release from the Massachusetts School Building Authority on Stoughton getting approval:

State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and MSBA Executive Director Jack McCarthy announced this week that the MSBA Board voted to invite Stoughton High School into the MSBA’s Eligibility Period. During the 270-day Eligibility Period, the MSBA will work with the Stoughton School District to determine its financial and community readiness to enter the MSBA’s capital pipeline.

“I’m delighted that the Board has voted Stoughton High School into the Eligibility Period,” said Treasurer Grossman in a statement. “We look forward to working collaboratively with Stoughton officials to develop the best solution to meet the district’s educational needs in a fiscally responsible manner.”

The next step is for the district to complete preliminary requirements pertaining to local approval and formation of a school building committee. Upon timely and successful completion of the Eligibility Period requirements, the district becomes eligible for an invitation into the Feasibility Study phase of the capital pipeline, subject to a vote of the Board of Directors.

“The Eligibility Period is a critical step in the MSBA’s process of evaluating potential work on the Stoughton High School,” stated Executive Director McCarthy said in a statement. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the district as it enters the Eligibility Period.”

The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally-appropriate, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its inception in 2004, the Authority has made $10.3 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects. These timely payments have saved municipalities over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs and have provided much needed cash flow to communities.