Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Tom Ashe, and Facilities Director Jon Carignan joined this morning with Schools Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall, School Department Chief Financial Officer Patrick Roach, and Springfield School Committee member Barbara Gresham for a tour of Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSR) funded projects and other additional facilities upgrades taking place in our Springfield Public Schools.
The tour took take place Monday at the Sumner Avenue Campus located at the former site of Friendly’s Ice Cream. Information about upgrades to other schools throughout the district was also shared.
Mayor Sarno states, “Continued investments in our public schools will ensure our Springfield Public Schools students and families have the best opportunities to learn, grow and succeed. I am proud of the fact that my administration, in partnership with SPS, PBRM, our Department Capital Asset Management, and the Massachusetts School Building Administration (MSBA) have invested over $1 billion into building new schools and renovating existing schools. The most in the Commonwealth!”
“We are also proud to join with our state and federal partners to make these critical investments from HVAC systems, boilers, kitchens and major facilities upgrades to playgrounds, shade structures, planters, meeting space, intercoms, storage, new recreational spaces, and more. I want thank our city team PBRM Director Tom Ashe, Director of Capital Asset Management Peter Garvey, Deputy Director of Facilities Jon Carignan, our School Department team, and our School Committee for their working to obtain this ESSR funding and their continued dedication to enhancing the quality of our school system.”
Mayor Sarno explained, “Unlike a number of other school districts who utilized ESSR funds for personnel type aspects, which now has caused them to needs to lay off staff and/or cut services and programs, we in Springfield concentrated on one-time enhancements that would benefit our students, their families, teachers, staff, administration now and in the future.”
“Something that was very important to us was soliciting community input and input from our schools staff and administrations for ESSR funding priorities. A key priority has been to enhance HVAC systems across all schools and we are thrilled that $60 million in ESSR funds have been approved to begin these upgrades. Nine schools that previously did not have Air Conditioning will now have it. Another priority that emerged was enhanced play and recreation, as we know recreational opportunities have benefits in the classroom like improved memory, concentration, and improved social and emotional development.”
PBRM Director Ashe states, “We our proud to support the continued investments in our schools and our Springfield students. These major facilities upgrades across numerous schools underscores Mayor Sarno’s unwavering commitment to providing the best possible learning environments for students. I am proud of our team and the work their continue to do to make our school facilities a safe and positive place to learn and work.”
Director of Facilities Jon Carignan stated, “We worked closely with the Springfield Public Schools team to put this project together and we are proud that every neighborhood in Springfield will have tangible results with upgrade work being done across the entire city. It is a tremendous benefit to be able to address so many facilities simultaneously and we are already hard at work implementing many of these upgrades intime for the new school year.”
Superintendent Dr. Sonia E. Dinnall praised the comprehensive approach of the new construction projects. “The architectural design centers on instruction, featuring spaces for multi-tiered system of supports, small-group activities, and quality, research-based instruction aligned with student success,” she said. Dinnall also highlighted the commitment to addressing the needs of the whole child, from new playgrounds and music facilities to auditorium upgrades. “I applaud the vision that ensures our students have not only a safe place to learn but also a safe place to play. These projects will help nurture healthy, happy children who come to the classroom ready to learn and safe places to play bring our city closer together.”
The following projects are being completed:
Alfred Glickman – 120 Ashland Ave
DCAC Windows and Doors
FAC- New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $687,237.20
Alice Beal – 285 Tiffany St
Storage room conversion to breakroom, Stage renovation, Kitchen upgrade
Anticipated Cost: $ 1,736,000.00
Balliet Pre-K – 111 Seymour St
New Playground
Anticipated cost: $326,617.73
Balliet Elementary – 52 Rosewell St
Basement Renovation to Classroom space
ESCO- HVAC System Replacement: Boilers, Unit Ventilators, Air Handlers, Controls.
Anticipated Cost: $5,600,000.00
Brightwood-Lincoln – 255 Plainfield St.
New shade structure with footings placed in planter areas
Anticipated Cost:
Dorman Elementary School – 20 Lydia St
New Playground, Dorman Annex Upgrade
Anticipated Cost: $989,376.84
Dryden Elementary School – 190 Surrey Rd
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $613,514.80
Daniel Brunton School – 1801 Parker St
ESCO- HVAC System Replacement: Boilers, Unit Ventilators, Air Handlers, Controls, New Playground, New Intercom (complete), Quad Partitions (complete), Paving/ Site Work Improvements
Anticipated Cost: $5,821,234.81
Central High School – 1840 Roosevelt Ave
ESSR- auditorium/ Gym Upgrades
New Bleachers, DCAC Boiler Project
Anticipated Cost: $2,800,000.00
Early Childhood Education Center – 15 Catharine St
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $255,250
Elias Brookings Elementary School – 433 Walnut St
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $343,250.00
Glenwood Elementary – 50 Morrison Ter
New Playground, Multipurpose Room Modification
Anticipated Cost: $661,173.16
High School of Science and Technology
Phase 1 electrical service upgrade- 3.5M
ESSR- Renovation to racquetball courts Early Start-928k
ESSR- Band Shell
Anticipated Cost:$4,428,000
Indian Orchard Elementary – 95 Milton St
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $949,713.16
Kensington Elementary School – 31 Kensington Ave
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $306,810.96
Liberty Elementary – 962 Carew St
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $419,282.56
Mary Walsh Elementary School – 50 Empress Ct
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $409,013.40
Pottenger Elementary – 1435 Carew St
ESSR stage renovation conversion, Classroom floors, Painting
Anticipated cost: $624,700.00
Putnam High School – 1300 State St
New Turf Field
Anticipated Cost:
Springfield Public Day High School (SPDH) – 90 Berkshire St
New Switchgear
Anticipated cost:
South End Middle School – 36 Margret St
Basement Renovation: Classroom Space
Anticipated Cost: $1,248,208.00
Samuel Bowles Elementary – 24 Bowles Park
ESCO- HVAC System Replacement: Boilers, Unit Ventilators, Air Handlers, Controls, New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $6,692,688.78
Stem Middle School – 60 Alton St
New Outdoor Pavilion
Anticipated Cost: $978,500.00
Sumner Campus – 45-65 Sumner Ave
Renovation to former Friendly's to convert into pre-k classrooms, Tie site into existing Sumner campus, Finish upgrades to existing pre-k annex, New Playground at Main Building
Anticipated cost: $3,600,000
Warner Elementary – 493 Parker St
New Playground
Anticipated Cost: $432,993.76
White Elementary School – 300 White St
New Playground, Basement Classroom Renovation
Anticipated Cost: $981,531.88
Washington Elementary School – 141 Washington St
New Playground, Repair of basement plaster ceiling's
Anticipated Cost: $820,000
Empowerment Zone Sites – Various
Kiley Chair Lift replacement- 250k
Commerce: Intercom replacement 450k
SC-Holy Name- Intercom- 300k
Rebecca Johnson Elementary – 55 Catharine St
DCAC Boiler Project, Chiller and remaining rtu installs spring 2024, New Playground, Gym Upgrades: Floor, Bleachers, Rigging
Anticipated Cost: 7M (previous summer cost)
New Ant. Costs: $860,000
