MSBA Announces Final Audit of Eight School Projects Totaling over $43.1M
March 25, 2015
“We take pride in every project undertaken by the MSBA,” said Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “We are proud to be part of providing the 21st century learning environment so critical to students throughout our Commonwealth."
The Board approved final audits of five Green Repair Program projects, one addition/renovation project, one project for the construction of a new school and one Feasibility Study. The combined grant value of all audited projects was $43,188,038.
“Approval of final audits brings these vitally-needed projects to a successful conclusion, which benefits students all across the Commonwealth,” Executive Director McCarthy said.
The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally-appropriate, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,500 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $11.2 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
Below is the list of new program grants that received final audit approval at today's Board meeting:
| District | School | Scope | Total Project Budget | Total Facilities Grant |
| Berkshire Hills Regional School District | Monument Mountain Regional High School | FSA | $750,000 | $351,194 |
| Fairhaven | Rogers/Leroy Wood Elementary School | New | $23,577,607 | $13,062,017 |
| Marlborough | Marlborough High School | Green Repair | $7,048,596 | $3,092,286 |
| Francis J. Kane Elementary School | Green Repair | $1,048,677 | $348,666 | |
| Narragansett Regional School District | Phillipston Memorial Elementary School | Green Repair | $161,232 | $78,096 |
| Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School District | Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School | Add/Reno | $33,677,475 | $25,120,098 |
| Springfield | Mary M. Walsh Elementary School | Green Repair | $819,836 | $603,617 |
| Milton Bradley Elementary School | Green Repair | $767,533 | $532,064 | |
| Totals | $67,850,956 | $43,188,038 | ||
Narragansett Regional School District Phillipston Memorial Elementary School Green Repair $161,232 $78,096
ReplyDeleteI for one wonder about the cost to run the MSBA and the 11+ billion of tax dollars spent to reimburse the schools renovation and constructions. If they truely are working for the cities and towns are we the ones to be made examples of with the deadline of now or never. .01 of all sales tax is where the MSBA get the money they consume and dole out.Was the green repair the boiler Phillipston needed and was allowed to fast track through the MSBA?
Now let’s look at education:
ReplyDeleteThere is much evidence that, to a substantial degree, foundations have become the directors of education in the United States. [19]
. . . everything from the budget to the choice of ad hoc appointed professors or researchers is controlled and decided by foundation officials. [20]
The foundation’s direct power is the power of money. Privately financed educational institutions have had a bad time during the period of rapidly increasing costs. Foundation grants have become so important a source of support that college and university presidents cannot often afford to ignore the opinions and wishes of the executives who distribute foundation largess. Such administrators will freely admit that they do not like to receive restricted or earmarked grants and would far prefer to be unfettered in their disposition of money given to their institutions. But they will also admit that they usually dare not turn down a grant, however inconsistent with their policy, priority of goals, or urgent needs it may be, for fear they might earn the displeasure of the granting foundation. [21]
Professor [David N.] Rowe, testifying regarding the influence of foundations in educational institutions, said:
* * * you have to realize * * * that advancement and promotion and survival in the academic field depend upon research and the results and the publication thereof. Here you have, you see, outside organizations influencing the course of the careers of personnel in universities through their control of funds which can liberate these people from teaching duties, for example, and making it possible for them to publish more than their competitors.
You can read the rest here. Foundations