During her visit to Dr. William R. Peck Middle School on Monday, October 26, State Treasurer and Receiver General Deborah B. Goldberg met with students to discuss the importance of financial literacy.
Participants had the opportunity to ask questions about saving money, mortgages, and homeownership. Treasurer Goldberg emphasized her belief that introducing real world concepts at an early age can help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to create a strong foundation for future success.
During her visit, Treasurer Goldberg toured the new middle school—which opened in August 2025—seeing first hand how the state’s investment helped Holyoke build the city’s first new school building since 1989. The 107,475 square foot building was designed to serve 550 students in grades 6-8.
The $85.5-million project was officially approved in June 2023 by the City of Holyoke and the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The MSBA provided $58.5 million in funding, which is 68 percent of the total cost. The City of Holyoke is responsible for paying the remaining $27 million, or 32 percent of the cost.
“Thank you to the Dr. William R. Peck Middle School community for the warm welcome and tour!” said Treasurer Goldberg. “As Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, I am proud of our role in helping fund a new school for Holyoke, creating a modern learning environment that gives students and teachers the space and resources they need to succeed. I also appreciated the opportunity to speak with the middle schoolers about the importance of financial education and building good money habits early. Investing in our schools and the next generation is an investment in their future.”
