Bill > S306

This bill aims to modernize school construction in several ways: 1. It increases the percentage of state school aid that school districts with disproportionately aging or poor-quality school buildings can use to cover the costs of renovating or replacing those buildings, from 1% to up to 2%. 2. It requires the Massachusetts School Building Authority to provide more flexibility in the reimbursement rates for school construction projects, setting a minimum rate based on the average actual construction cost per square foot over the previous 3 fiscal years. 3. It increases the maximum reimbursement rate for school construction projects from 80% to 100%, and adds an additional 10 percentage points for projects that can demonstrate they will significantly improve racial integration of students. 4. It sets a minimum project eligibility threshold of $100,000 for the Accelerated Repair Program, and allows extraordinary maintenance projects up to $500,000 per school to qualify as net school spending. Overall, the bill seeks to make it easier and more financially feasible for school districts to undertake necessary renovations, repairs, and replacements of aging school buildings.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S306