LITTLETON – School Superintendent Kelly Clenchy and Town Administrator Anthony M. Ansaldi Jr. are pleased to announce that the Littleton School Department has been invited to submit a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the Shaker Lane Elementary School.
A Statement of Interest is the first step in applying for building project funding assistance from the MSBA, which works with communities to support educationally-appropriate, flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective public school facilities.
The MSBA invitation lays out a 270-day eligibility period, during which the Town and District must take several actions, including creating a School Building Committee, documenting financial and community readiness, and developing an agreement for a feasibility study.
Local communities must follow the MSBA’s statute to qualify for future funding.
Shaker Lane Elementary School serves the Town’s PreK-2 population, about 400 students. Shaker Lane opened in 1961, and was last renovated in 1998. The building faces numerous capital and maintenance issues. Due to its age, Shaker Lane’s spaces are inflexible and do not allow the District to realize its vision of a 21st century education for Littleton students.
“Our Shaker Lane students and staff have done great work within the confines of an out-of-date building,” Superintendent Clenchy said. “This approval is the first step toward designing and building a new, dynamic Shaker Lane that will meet our Town’s vision for educational excellence.”
Littleton was one of just 17 communities that were invited by the MSBA’s Board of Directors to advance further into the review process.
“This is great news for the Littleton community,” Town Administrator Ansaldi said. “We are grateful to the MSBA Board of Directors for recognizing this need, and look forward to working with the state as partners in the coming months and years.”
“The prospect of a new Shaker Lane is exciting. This project will once again bring together our town boards, town staffs, and members of our community, working toward a common goal,” School Committee Chairman Matthew Hunt said. “The end result will make our District and community much stronger.”