Melrose Advances in State Funding for School Roof Replacements

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Board of Directors voted today to invite the City of Melrose to participate in the Accelerated Repair Program (ARP), which will provide grant funds for roof replacement projects at the Hoover and Horace Mann Elementary Schools.

The ARP is a competitive grant program that funds new roofs, boilers, and windows and doors in school buildings where these building elements are deteriorated and past their useful life. The roofs at both the Hoover and the Horace Mann are over 30 years old and can no longer provide weather tight conditions without regular patches and repairs. New roofs will not only provide a safer and healthier educational environment, but they will also be more energy efficient and save the City thousands of dollars annually in repair costs.

“I’m excited that the MSBA has recognized that Melrose, like so many cities and towns, is facing important and basic infrastructure needs in our schools and has made funding available to help us address them,” said Mayor Paul Brodeur. “I’m looking forward to working with the MSBA to move this project to completion.”

Melrose expects to receive approximately 50% of the total project cost for these two projects.  The next step in the process will be to request a funding authorization from the City Council for the Feasibility Study/Schematic Design Phase, which will determine the final scope and budget for the projects.