project funding

What are the financial benefits for consolidating the two middle schools?

What is the Massachusetts School Building Authority? What is their connection to this project?

How much will a new school cost?

How much will this cost me as a tax payer?

How much reimbursement do we expect to receive from the MSBA?

What were all the proposed options discussed dring feasibility study phase?

What happens if the Town vote for this project fails?

What is the MSBA'S Policy Statement regarding the impact on a failed vote?

How does the reimbursement rates for MSBA work?

What are the financial benefits for consolidating the two middle schools?

The MSBA core project program only allows Longmeadow to consider a consolidation through an addition/renovation or new construction project at a single site. The enrollment options agreed to with the MSBA would not fund two renovations or two new construction projects as a part of this project. It would only allow for a renovation or new construction of a 345-student school at Glenbrook, a renovation or new construction of a 345 at Williams, construction of a new consolidated middle school at either site, or construction of a new 345 or new 665 school at a new location.

If consolidation was not pursued, the needs of one middle school could be addressed, but the other would remain in its current state until another application to the MSBA was made and accepted, a process that could take many years. With the constant increase in construction cost facing Longmeadow, and two schools in need of investment, the School Building Committee has favored the consolidation option as the faster and less costly way to improve conditions for all middle school students. With this project, the town has a great opportunity to provide 21st century learning in a brand-new facility for all middle schoolers, rather than in only one of the schools.

A consolidated approach provides the following fiscal benefits:

Relieves the town of having to maintain two middle school buildings and campuses.
Offers the opportunity to put one site to a highest and best use in way that could broaden the town’s tax base
Preliminary cost estimates indicate that a consolidated addition/renovation or consolidated new construction will be cheaper and more reimbursable by the MSBA than the cost of two separate school projects.
In a combined setting, Longmeadow anticipates operational, maintenance and personnel-related savings and efficiencies.
The following pricing table, submitted to the MSBA in August 2024, illustrates the advantages of consolidation at the Williams Site

What is the Massachusetts School Building Authority? What is their connection to this project?

The Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA") is a quasi-independent government authority created to reform the process of funding capital improvement projects in the Commonwealth’s public schools. The MSBA works with local communities to create affordable, sustainable, and energy efficient schools across Massachusetts.

The MSBA, which has a dedicated revenue stream of one penny of the state’s 6.25-percent sales tax, collaborates with municipalities to find the right-sized, most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe, sound, and sustainable learning environments.

Longmeadow was accepted into the MSBA’s eligibility period in March of 2022. In July 2023, Longmeadow entered an agreement with the MSBA to conduct a Feasibility Study aimed at studying existing conditions, evaluating needed educational space, and identifying the most educationally appropriate and cost effective solution to meet the needs of our middle school students. The MSBA is reimbursing the Town for eligible, approved costs incurred in connection with the Feasibility Study process at a reimbursement rate / percentage of 50.57% with the total MSBA reimbursement on this portion of the project not to exceed $809,120.

How much will a new school cost?

During the MSBA Board of Directors Meeting on 6/18/2025 the board voted and approved a total project budget of $151,594,774 for a consolidated 665-student middle school at the current Williams Street site.

The cost is reflective of a 134,735 square foot building. It includes demolition, hazardous material removal, design costs along with site and athletic field cost and the costs of escalation. A table showing the costs of all previously discussed and reviewed options is included below.

How much will this cost me as a tax payer?

The Town of Longmeadow has developed a tax impact calculator that allows each resident to see how their taxes will be impacted by the funding of the new middle school. Please click the link below and follow the instructions:

Middle School Building Project Tax Impact Calculator| Longmeadow, MA

How much reimbursement do we expect to receive from the MSBA?

Reimbursement rates for MSBA approved eligible school construction and renovation projects are calculated pursuant to a formula that is established in Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 70B section 10 (M.G.L. c. 70B § 10).

The MSBA has approved Longmeadow for a maximum reimbursement rate of 56.37% of eligible costs for this Project. Certain project costs, such as the cost of a full auditorium, are not reimbursable.

The MSBA has awarded the Town of Longmeadow with a maximum total facilities grant of $54,860,777

What were all the proposed options discussed dring feasibility study phase?

What happens if the Town vote for this project fails?

The appropriate next steps a Town takes if that project vote fails is very much dependent on the actual vote outcome. If a project’s failed vote is by a minimal amount, the MSBA may allow a minor extension to accommodate another Town vote on the project. In other communities, this scenario has happened, and the project passed its local vote the second time around.

If the project’s failed vote is by a large margin, that project team is probably going to see that the project, as currently designed, is not receiving the required local support, and the most appropriate next step is to ask to remove the project from the MSBA program. That project would then need to re-start the MSBA capital program process from the beginning by submitting a new Statement of Interest (SOI) to the MSBA and be up for consideration for acceptance into their grant program amongst many other MA school districts.

What is the MSBA'S Policy Statement regarding the impact on a failed vote?

The Project Scope and Budget Agreement, as approved by the MSBA’s Board of Directors, defines the scope, cost and schedule of the agreed upon proposed project, and any variances from this Agreement require the written approval of the MSBA and may require an additional Board vote. Pursuant to the MSBA’s regulations, a city, town or regional school district that has been approved by the Board for a proposed project has 120 days from the date of the Board’s approval to obtain and certify local approval of an appropriation to fully fund the proposed project and all other local votes or approvals showing acceptance of the cost, site, type, scope and timeline for the proposed project.

The MSBA appreciates the challenges that school districts face, but the MSBA’s regulations specifically include this 120-day deadline for a local appropriation to ensure that the MSBA’s capital program funds are targeted toward projects and school districts that are ready and able to make the financial commitment and move forward in a timely manner. Given the overwhelming capital needs of school districts across the Commonwealth and the MSBA’s limited capital program funds, the MSBA cannot indefinitely tie up funds allocated for a project that lacks local support.

In the event that a school district fails to approve funding for a proposed project within the 120-day deadline, by no later than 10 business days following the failed vote, the school district must submit to the MSBA a plan that: (1) presents the vote results, (2) explains the school district’s understanding of the reason(s) for the failed vote, and (3) sets forth the school district’s plan to remedy the failed vote and a suggested timeline for such a remedy. The MSBA will review the plan and determine whether it can continue to set aside MSBA funds for the proposed project. However, a failed local vote likely will result in the school district being required to submit a new Statement of Interest to the MSBA and await an invitation from the MSBA to enter the Eligibility Period phase of the MSBA’s process.

How does the reimbursement rates for MSBA work?

Approved eligible school construction and renovation projects are calculated pursuant to a formula that is established in Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 70B section 10 (M.G.L. c. 70B § 10). The statutory formula starts all districts at a Base Rate of 31 percentage reimbursement points.

The Base Rate of 31 percentage reimbursement points may be adjusted based on three socioeconomic factors:

Community Income Factor: The district’s per capita income as a percent of statewide average per capita income. This data is provided by the Department of Revenue. Pursuant to statute, there is a sliding scale for the allocation of percentage points for this category based on community’s relationship to the statewide average.

Community Property Wealth Factor: The district’s per capita equalized property valuations as a percent of statewide average per capita valuations. This data is provided by the Department of Revenue. Pursuant to statute, there is a sliding scale for the allocation of percentage points for this category based on the community’s relationship to the statewide average.

Community Poverty Factor: Measured by the district’s proportion of low-income students, as defined by federal eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, as a percent of the statewide average proportion of low-income students. This data is provided by the Department of Education. Pursuant to statute, there is a sliding scale for the allocation of percentage points for this category based on community’s relationship to the statewide average.

The last step in the reimbursement rate calculation process is for the MSBA, in its sole discretion, to review if a district is eligible for Incentive Points. Statute dictates that no district shall be eligible for more than 18 Incentive Points in total, and that no one category of Incentive Points can be more than 6 points. Current categories of Incentive Points are:

Model School Program (up to 5 points)

Newly Formed Regional School District (up to 6 points)

High Efficiency Green School Program (up to 2 points)

Best Practices for Routine and Capital Maintenance (up to 2 points)

Overlay Zoning (MGL 40R or 40S) (up to 2 points)

Use of CM-at-Risk (up to 1 point)

Renovation/Re-use of Existing Facilities (up to 5 points)

Establishing a Maintenance Trust (up to 1 point with district match)

The sum of the Base Rate, plus additional points, if any, from the three socioeconomic factors, plus Incentive Points, if any, results in the MSBA’s reimbursement rate for a project.

Base Rate (31 points)

+ Community Income Factor (if any)

+ Community Property Wealth Factor (if any)

+ Community Poverty Factor (if any)

+ Incentive Points (if any, in the sole discretion of MSBA)

= MSBA Reimbursement Rate

It should be noted that regional school district reimbursement rates are calculated using the same data and factors, but each socioeconomic factor is weighted to reflect each municipality’s representation of the total regional district enrollment.

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