Medford High Wins Grant for Science Labs Overhaul

Medford schools have won a partial grant to overhaul its science labs, and the improvements will be drastic, according to Superintendent Roy Belson.

"This could be the most significant improvement to Medford High School since its construction in 1970," Belson said to the City Council Tuesday.

The grant, called the Science Lab Initiative, was awarded to 10 schools in Massachusetts and will fund up to $60 million worth of projects.

The plans in Medford weren't outlined in detail Tuesday, but the improvements would be complete by the start of 2013 school year, Belson said. Medford High School will be reviewed for accreditation in 2013.

"I guarantee you if we don’t get new science labs, we’ll be cited," Belson said.

The grant, which is funded through Federal stimulus money and handed out through the Massachusetts School Buildings Authority, calls for a 60 percent of the cost of the project to be reimbursed by the state, Belson said.

The School Department will come forward with a proposed bond to finance the project, he said.