October 26, 2023 |Education, From the Mayor, Lynn Public Schools, News

Change in MSBA reimbursement formula to save City $30 million on Pickering project

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From Mayor Nicholson’s Office –

As a result of a significant increase in reimbursement that will be provided by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the City’s share of building a new Pickering Middle School is expected to be almost $30 million less than original estimates.

At a Wednesday meeting, the MSBA voted to increase reimbursement from $393 to $550 per square foot. With that change, Lynn’s share of the $168 million project will decrease from approximately $90 million to approximately $61 million.

The news was understandably met with excitement – and relief – at City Hall.

“This is incredibly good news,” Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said. “Without this increase, the project would not have been feasible. We worked hard to have the MSBA understand how critical it was for our district to receive a higher reimbursement. We appreciate the fact that they were responsive.”

Nicholson credited the project team, the Pickering School Building Committee, the School Committee, the City Council, and the state delegation, led by Sen. Brendan Crighton, with helping to make the case with the MSBA.

“This was a team effort all the way,” the mayor said. “Many voices came forward and were willing to advocate for us with the MSBA. We are grateful for their support.”

Crighton said this was a modification that needed to happen in order for districts, especially those with limited resources, to upgrade their school buildings.

“With the costs of construction skyrocketing this past year, the Lynn legislative delegation and Mayor Nicholson came together to tackle this issue with a great sense of urgency,” said Crighton. “I am pleased that through our efforts we were able to make statutory changes through our FY24 budget to make sure that communities like Lynn could keep their school building projects on track despite rising costs. We are extremely grateful for the collaboration and for the efforts of the MSBA and Treasurer Goldberg that led to this crucial vote today.”

The City will submit to the MSBA the schematic design for the project on October 26, as approved by the Pickering School Building Committee last week. The more than 1,000-page packet features detailed information, including cost estimates, floor plans and design renderings.

“We are extremely excited and grateful for the MSBA’s approval to change the funding formula for school construction that will directly impact the new Pickering Middle School project by increasing the City’s reimbursement for construction costs,” said Rep. Dan Cahill.  “Now the City is able to construct the quality of school our students, faculty, and residents deserve, without cutting corners or necessary program space.  We thank the House and Senate leadership for increasing funding for school projects in this year’s budget and Treasurer Goldberg for her continued support and partnership with the City of Lynn.”

At that meeting, Raymond Design Associates Principal Gene Raymond noted that the design will be further developedgoing forward, with the designers making necessary alterations to the final design. Those could include minor changes to the outdoor space and the building itself.

“We are much closer today to a new Pickering than we have been in many years,” Nicholson said. “Our task now is to keep the project moving forward and see it to fruition.”