How will this project be funded?

The project will be jointly funded by the MSBA and the Town of Andover. The Town’s base reimbursement rate for this project has been estimated by the MSBA to be in the range of 40 to 42 percent. The higher figure includes an incentive for a plan that incorporates energy efficiency and preventive maintenance. The final rate will be determined later in the process. However, because MSBA utilizes a set cost per square foot and only reimburses for spaces it has approved, the actual reimbursement rate is likely to be in the range of 25 to 30 percent.

With Bancroft, for example, the final construction cost was $49.5M; MSBA accepted $36M as eligible project costs and then reimbursed $15.8M. Thus, although we were approved for a reimbursement rate of 43.9 percent for Bancroft, the actual reimbursement rate was 31.9 percent.

MSBA makes several adjustments that affect the bottom-line reimbursement rate. For example, the estimated cost to build West Elementary is $599 per square foot, but MSBA will reimburse us at a rate of only about $350 per square foot. The town will also be required to fund any design elements that MSBA deems ineligible for reimbursement.

Show All Answers

1. What is the purpose of the West Elementary project?
2. What is the MSBA?
3. What process was followed to identify West Elementary for this project?
4. What factors were considered in deciding whether to seek an addition/renovation or new construction?
5. Why does West El need a new or renovated building?
6. What is the history of the current West Elementary facility?
7. Is an enrollment of 925 the right projection for West Elementary?
8. What is the extent of the overcrowding at the current facility?
9. What is the scope of the proposed project?
10. Why is the Shawsheen preschool being considered as part of this project?
11. How are Andover school buildings maintained?
12. Will the current West Elementary continue to be maintained during construction of the new West Elementary/Pre-K facility?
13. What is Shawsheen’s current enrollment and what is the capacity of the proposed preschool wing?
14. What is West’s current enrollment and what is the capacity of the proposed elementary school?
15. Will this project involve any redistricting of elementary student attendance areas?
16. What is the physical status of Andover’s other elementary schools?
17. How will a new West Elementary facility improve the program that is offered to the K-5 students at West?
18. How will a new special education preschool wing improve the program and services that are offered to the PreK students?
19. If approved, what will the new West Elementary look like?
20. Where will the new West Elementary be located?
21. Have any issues been sticking points in our negotiations with MSBA?
22. What will happen to the existing West El facility?
23. What will happen to the existing Shawsheen facility if its students are moved to the West Elementary site?
24. How will the construction process affect students’ learning environment?
25. What will be the impact on the staff of the current West and Shawsheen facilities?
26. What is the timeline for the project?
27. How much will this project cost?
28. How will this project be funded?
29. How does the town pay for facility construction projects?
30. What is a debt exclusion?
31. What is the potential impact of this school project on my real estate taxes?
32. What happens if Town Meeting does not approve the funds necessary for Andover’s portion of the costs?
33. What happens if the town voters do not pass the requested debt exclusion?
34. Why is the cost of this project so much more than when we built Bancroft?
35. What is Andover’s track record for past school construction being on or under budget?
36. I have no children who attend Andover Public Schools. How will this project benefit me and the community?
37. Doesn’t Andover also need a new high school?
38. Who are the project contractors?
39. Who serves on the West Elementary School Building Committee?
40. How can I stay informed?
41. How can I become involved?