Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 MSBA awards $140M-plus for Northeast Metro Tech building project W AKEFIELD – Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School (Northeast Metro Tech) Superintendent David DiBarri and the Northeast Metro Tech Building Committee were pleased to share that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has awarded the district a grant of up to $140.8 million grant for a new building. Northeast Metro is operating out of a more than 50-yearold building that requires educational, capital and maintenance improvements. The new school will address the current facility’s outdated building systems, including much-needed ADA accessibility and code compliance upgrades, in addition to overcrowding. The new facility will allow Northeast Metro Tech to grow enrollment from 1,270 students to 1,600, a 26 percent increase. This is expected to dramatically shorten the district’s annual waitlist, which averages 400 students. “We are grateful to the MSBA for supporting a new Northeast Metro Tech, giving our next generation of students new and expanded opportunities,” Superintendent DiBarri said. “MSBA has been a great partner throughout this process, guiding us toward a state-of-the-art career technical education center while keeping costs in check. Most importantly, this grant significantly reduces the financial impact on residents and businesses in our 12 District communities … This would not have been possible without the commitment and support of the District’s delegation at the State House, which advocated strongly on our behalf,” Superintendent DiBarri said. The new school will feature 21st-century learning environments, improved Individualized Education Program (IEP) accommodations, state-ofthe-art shop space, expanded program offerings, a new primary access roadway from Farm Street to reduce traffic congestion, a full-size gym, a 750-seat auditorium, outdoor space for learning and a new cafeteria. With a focus on sustainability, the project is targeting LEED Silver+ certification with A rendering of the proposed Northeast Metro Tech building energy-efficient mechanical systems, provisions for solar panels, and vegetated roofs. The compact, four-story design will feature an upper-level courtyard, roof decks and a double-height library rotunda. The project is estimated to cost $317.4 million. The District will now have up to 120 days to receive support from its 12 sending communities. The District must receive all approvals before Dec. 23, 2021; doing so will result in sending communities saving about $24 million in additional funds. With the vote of the MSBA Board, tax impact information for all 12 communities will be available and communities will have the opportunity to vote on the project this fall. Updates regarding the project and details about future community forums, as they become available, will be posted to the building project’s website and Facebook page. The project is being designed by architectural firm DRA with PMA Consultants as owner’s project manager and Gilbane Building Co. serving as construction manager at risk. Long weekends... The best kind of weekends. Happy Labor Day from your friends at Everett Bank! We’ll be closed Monday September 6th in observance of the holiday. As always, you can access your accounts using our ATMs and Online & Mobile Banking. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus program resumes for the 21-22 school year (Editor’s Note: The following info is from an announcement submitted by Julie Cicolini, a member of the Board of Directors for Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2), providing information about the return of the program for the new school year) Who we are: Healthy Stu419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 61 7-38 7 - 1 1 10 7 7 1 SALEM ST, LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 7 8 1 - 7 7 6 - 4444 WWW.EVERETTBANK .COM Member FDIC | Member DIF dents-Healthy Saugus (HS2) is a nonprofit group of volunteers that is helping to offset food insecurity in households. HS2 provides students/families that enroll in the program a weekend’s supply of nutritious food when school lunches and breakfasts are unavailable to them on weekends. How HS2 can help you: HS2 bags are distributed at school on Fridays to take home. Bags include such items as peanut butter, jelly, a loaf of bread, canned meals/soups/tuna/ vegetables, pasta/sauce, fruit cups, cereal, oatmeal, goldfish, pretzels and granola bars. To sign up, access https://forms. gle/gmMGguycSHBdziuE9. Want to partner with us: HS2 relies on donations to create take-home bags for a weekend full of meals. All food is provided to children free of charge. It is hoped that these resources will support the health, behavior and achievement of every student who participates. HS2 would love to partner with organizations, youth groups, PTOs, businesses and individuals to assist in feeding students of Saugus. To learn more about how you can partner with HS2, visit the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Facebook page or email HS2Saugus@gmail.com. Checks can also be sent directly to: Salem Five c/o Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus, 855-5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906. Online donations can also be made at: https:// givebutter.com/HealthySaugus. Find us at Founder’s Day: Come by our table and say hello! Learn about the organization. Sign up for volunteer opportunities. Donations of nonperishables will be accepted at Founder’s Day! Items have been carefulHEALTHY | SEE PAGE 3
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