School Committee Backs Statement of Interest For New South School

STOUGHTON, MA — South Elementary School is next in line to be replaced following a vote from the school committee.

The committee reaffirmed their desire to replace the aging school, voting to submit a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority. A previous statement was submitted at the same time as the high school, but the MSBA chose to go ahead with only with the high school due to it's wider use.

School officials are hoping to replace the building, which was built in 1958. According to a 2010 facilities master plan, the cost to repair the school is high and includes $2 million for the roof, $1.5 million for windows and doors, and $250,000 for a new boiler. The school is not ADA compliant and the ramps in the building are too steep and narrow.

"The South School is definitely our worst school. It needs to be replaced," Superintendent Marguerite Rizzi said at last week's school committee meeting.

The statement of interest needs an endorsement from the selectmen as well. If the state agency decides to partner with the town, it could mean a reimbursement of up to half of the construction costs.

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