William R. Peck School

The decision about whether Holyoke can proceed with building a new middle school now rests with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which is scheduled to vote on June 21 whether to reimburse Holyoke for a portion of the costs.

If the MSBA agrees to cover $46 million of the total $85,504,592 project, the city can proceed with construction of a new school to replace the aging Peck Middle School building. The new building would serve approximately 550 students in grades 6-8. Demolition of the current Peck school would begin as early as late summer. Construction would begin in February 2024, with the school ready to occupy by fall or winter 2025.

On June 6, the Holyoke City Council voiced their full support for the project, which has been in the planning stages for several years. “On behalf of the students, families, and staff of Holyoke Public Schools, I am absolutely thrilled that the City Council unanimously voted to support funding for a new middle school building,” Superintendent Anthony Soto said. “This vote is an inspiring investment in our children and the future of our city. I want to thank and acknowledge the members of the School Building Committee and everyone else who helped make this outcome possible, and I am cautiously optimistic that we will receive the support from MSBA next week.”