The Holyoke City Council recently approved appropriating funds to fully replace windows and doors at Lawrence and McMahon Schools, and partially replace doors and windows at Donahue School. Funding has also been approved to replace the boilers at Holyoke High School Dean Campus.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will cover 80% of the costs, which leaves Holyoke responsible for $3.2 million. The city has received $2 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (also known as ESSER funds), leaving the city’s share of the cost to replace doors, windows and boilers at $1.2 million.
The MSBA also recently notified Holyoke officials that they will provide additional reimbursement for the new middle school construction project, reducing the City of Holyoke’s share of the total construction costs to an estimated $27 million—or 32% of the total $85.5 million cost to build a new middle school. When completed, the new 107,475-square-foot school will serve 550 students in grades 6-8. It will be built on the site of the former Peck Middle School that is now being demolished. Construction of the new school is expected to begin in early 2024.