Worcester Switches All Windows in Almost 100-Year-Old School Building
Wanjiru Waweru, Jadetimes Contributor
W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering America News
Worcester, Massachusetts — Worcester Public Schools has started the new year with several changes either completed or soon to launch.
At Worcester East Middle School, students and staff returned to a building in which all 375 windows had been replaced. The state Improving Ventilation and Air Quality grant program provided $4 million for the project, approved with federal American Rescue Plan funds, along with municipal contributions.
School district leaders said the 1929 building had experienced severe window deterioration since at least 2012, and they had previously used plastic sheeting and tape to secure weakening frames.
City Manager Eric Batista announced upcoming facility repair plans for other deteriorating district schools such as Burncoat, Rice Square, and Belmont Street.
Additionally, the city recently made an announcement that City View Elementary School has received a $2.73 million grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Green School Works – the largest energy efficiency grant the municipality has earned for a single school facility.
According to MassLive, “this is part of MassCEC’s granting of $19 million to upgrade public school facilities through the second round of the Green School Works program. Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the program aims to make K-12 public school buildings more modern and energy-efficient.”
This is part of MassCEC’s granting of $19 million to change public school facilities throughout the second round of the Green School Works. Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education, the program intends to create K-12 public school buildings more modern and energy-efficient.
Worcester’s achievement, between Worcester Public Schools and the Department of Sustainability and Resilience, would reserve a phased decarbonization project at City View, a project that would update the old-fashioned building with new equipment, including a modern electric air-water heat pump system, combined with new insulation and airflow. Existing gas boilers would continue to operate in the presence of extreme water conditions.
Construction and upgrades are expected to finish by the end of 2027.
“This project will make a real difference for the students, teachers and staff at City View Discovery School — giving them a healthier, more comfortable place to learn and work every day,” said Batista. “This is the first project of its kind for Worcester and serves as an example of how we can modernize our schools with the right support. We're going to use what we learn here to explore similar upgrades at other schools across the city as part of our broader commitment to the Green Worcester Plan and to healthy, equitable schools for every student in the city.”
Brian E. Allen, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools, spoke about the project.
“We are grateful for the substantial and continuous support of our local and state partners to provide this energy efficiency upgrade at City View Discovery School,” said Allen. “This project helps meet our district's strategic plan priority of modernized and safe facilities to benefit our students and staff.”
Worcester Public Schools
Address: 20 Irving Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01609
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 AM - 3 PM
Phone: (508) 799-3115
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