Selectmen, School Committee Unanimously Vote To Re-Submit $48 Million School Project To State

Framingham Selectmen and Framingham School Committee, in a joint meeting at the Memorial Building on Tuesday night, both unanimously agreed to re-submit the town’s application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for financial aid to fix the Fuller Middle School and deal with overcrowding in the public school district.

The state authority received 108 projects last year and only funded 15. Framingham’s project - in essence - was rejected by the state for the second year in a row. Framingham Patch was the first media outlet to break the news of the state not approving the project.

Framingham can resubmit its project annually until the state green lights it.
Recently, the chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, met with Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin, Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott, Selectmen Chair Charlie Sisitsky, Framingham Public School’s COO Ed Gotgart at Sen. Karen Spilka’s office at the Massachusetts State House.

The Selectmen Chair described the meeting as “encouraging.”

“I’m hopeful the third time will be the charm,” said Sisitsky, last night.

Gotgart said the price tag for the project is still at $48 million. The town is hoping, when the state’s authority approved the project, it will fund about 50 percent of the costs. Taxpayers would be responsible for the other $24 million.

Gotgart told Selectmen the school district was “disappointed, but not discouraged” by the state, when they did not approve the project for the second time.

He said the Framingham Public School district has a “very compelling story to tell.”

It basically came down to numbers and funding, and the state did not have enough money to fund our request, explained Gotgart.

The deadline for Framingham to submit an application to the state for the next round of funding is April 10.

Fuller Middle School, built in 1958, is the former Framingham South High School. It is located on Flagg Drive across the street from McCarthy Elementary School and adjacent to the former Farley school, currently the Framingham campus of Mass Bay Community College. The Town of Framingham is leasing the former Farley school to the college for a fee.

****************************************************************************************

Love Framingham Patch? Sign up for our daily newsletter, by clicking here.

*****************************************************************************************

The Framingham Public School administration has stated the Fuller-Farley proposed project is needed to alleviate overcrowding in the schools. School administration said Fuller is home to about 500 students, but the population is “expected to increase to 650 over the next 5 to 10 years.”

Fuller Middle School was created in 1995. Repairs made since then include:

• Roof replacement in 1995
  
• Heating system converted from oil to natural gas and boilers replaced in 2005
  
• Auditorium renovated in 2007
  
• North masonry wall replaced in 2009
  
• ADA accessible ramp and railings installed at the main front entrance in 2010