Dear Muraco School Community,

Many of you know, or will see tonight at the Open House, that we made some improvements to the inside of our school this past summer. We updated the classrooms, installed new floors, and painted. This was made possible by the Muraco Elementary School Parent Association (MESPA) and the support of our Select Board and School Committee. Some work is still going on. We are replacing the remaining classroom sinks. We expect this to be done by winter. These necessary upgrades have improved the learning environment. But they are just the beginning. Our primary goal is to collaborate with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to renovate or rebuild the Muraco School.

We have exciting news! This news helps us get closer to our goal. The District recently had a visit from representatives of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). This was a crucial step for districts that submitted Statements of Interest this year, including us, which we did in April. This visit shows we are making progress. It does not mean our project is approved. However, it indicates that the MSBA is considering our needs and evaluating our school. This is the kind of progress we had hoped for. It gives us a good reason to be hopeful about the future of Muraco.

You may remember that Lynch Elementary School recently opened. It was another project of the MSBA. The process for these projects is very detailed. Here is some information to answer common questions about what to expect.

General Information:

What is the MSBA?
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is a state group. It works with towns to help plan, design, and build schools. They provide funding to support school building projects.

What is happening with Muraco Elementary School?
Winchester Public Schools sent a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the 2025 Core Program. This is for the Muraco Elementary School. The MSBA looked at the project on September 16, 2025.

When will we find out if Muraco can move on?
The MSBA will inform us in late November or early December 2025 whether we can proceed. The MSBA board will meet on December 12, 2025. They will make the final choices about who can move on. We will tell the community as soon as we know more.

What happens if we can move on?
If chosen, Winchester would start the "Eligibility Period." This is the first part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process. This means they will need to complete certain tasks and conduct further research to plan the project.

What happens next?
The next step is the Feasibility Study/Schematic Design phase. This will need money from the Town.

If the entire project is approved by the MSBA, will they cover all costs?
No. The MSBA provides funding to help cover some of the project costs. The Town has to pay for the rest. How much the MSBA pays depends on the project and the community.

Community Involvement

How will families be kept informed?
Winchester Public Schools wants to keep families informed during the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process. We will keep you updated as the project progresses and new information becomes available.

Will there be opportunities for community input?
Yes. If the project progresses into the Eligibility Period and beyond, there will be numerous opportunities for the community to get involved and share their ideas during the design and planning process.

Where can I find more information about the MSBA process?
The MSBA website (www.massschoolbuildings.org) has detailed information. This includes the rules for the Eligibility Period, cost information, and the whole process.

We look forward to hearing from the MSBA soon, hopefully with good news!

Sincerely,

Frank Hackett, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools