Building Authority Supports Framingham School For $39.5 Million

FRAMINGHAM, MA—The final piece of the puzzle locked in the much-anticipated and long-fought plan to build a new Fuller Middle School.

On Wednesday, Oct. 31, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Board of Directors voted to approve the Fuller Middle School Project with a $39.5 million grant to help fund the project. It's the last approval the Framingham Public Schools needed before an election on Dec. 11, when Framingham votes on whether to approve a debt exclusion.

Should voters say yes in December, the Fuller Middle School will be replaced with a bigger, more modern school that advocates say launches education into the 21st century for Framingham.

City Council unanimously passed a request to fund Fuller for total appropriation in its meeting on Oct. 30 of this year.

"I am extremely pleased that the MSBA saw the wisdom to help fund the critically important Fuller School project,” said Dennis Giombetti, chair, Framingham City Council. “The City Council’s unanimous support of the project demonstrates the widespread community support for Fuller Middle School. The Council looks forward to continuing to work on making the new Fuller Middle School a reality for our students."

>>>Did you attend Fuller Middle School, or formerly, the high school? Framingham Patch is putting together a series of stories from former students. Share your stories and photos with us at Charlene.Arsenault@patch.com.

It is estimated that the project will be about $98.3 million, offset by the grant from the MSBA. This leaves the city with a price tag of approximately $58.8 million. What this means for the taxpayer is an average increase of $101 over the life of this 20-year bond.

“The opportunity to partner with the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the construction of a truly 21st century school building, designed to meet the needs of a school district that is advancing its work in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics as integrated learning through real-word projects and problem-solving cannot be overemphasized,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Tremblay in a statement. Tremblay added that without the MSBA money, the project simply wouldn't have been possible.

"In Framingham, we have always taken pride in the excellence of our schools, and we owe it to ourselves to invest in our growth in the most pragmatic way possible,” said Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer in a statement. “I encourage all residents to attend the Community Forums and join the discussion revolving around the Fuller Middle School Building Project for the purpose of staying informed, expressing any opinions or concerns, and understanding the significance that their vote will emanate on the December ballot.”

The three-story Fuller school will include a learning commons/cafeteria in the middle, surrounded by collaboration balconies that face the classrooms, an 8,300-square-foot gymnasium, 420-seat auditorium, and full-building air conditioning.

“Educating our children is the best investment we can ever make,” stated Carmine L. Gentile, state representative, 13th Middlesex District, in a statement.

The School Building Committee, which has met just about every two weeks since the fall of 2017, led an 18-month feasibility study to come up with the best solution to the aging middle school, formerly the Framingham South High School. In 28 meetings over the subject, and community forums, a building plan was concocted. The committee came up with eight design options before settling on a final one.

The Fuller Middle School is more than 60 years old. The push came about to build a new school when officials agreed that it came to the point where it no longer meets today's building codes, has structural deficiencies, and inefficient systems.

The next series of community forums is at the Fuller Middle School from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, and Wednesday, Nov. 28,, 2018 from 6-8pm at the Fuller Middle School. Presentations will also be given on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. in the Main Public Library, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. in the McAuliffe Branch Library, and on Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. at the Callahan Senior Center.

Photo via Framingham public schools