The Massachusetts School Building Authority has voted to approve the Proposed Accelerated Repair Project for the City of Chicopee for a roof replacement projects at the Belcher and Fairview Veterans Memorial Elementary Schools.

The approval of the projects by the MSBA will allow approximately 80% of the total cost of the project to be reimbursed to the City up to $3,009,624.

"This is great news for the City as we continue to update our school infrastructure at a greatly reduced cost to the local taxpayer” said Mayor Richard Kos. "I greatly appreciate the longstanding commitment from Treasurer Goldberg and the MSBA to our City which has allowed us to update many school buildings. With the states partnership, we are able to maintain a sound learning environment for Chicopee students.”

"I'm very pleased that the MSBA has agreed to support Chicopee's public schools through these projects," said Representative Wagner. "The Accelerated Repair Program recognizes that maintaining our existing schools with these kinds of cost-saving upgrades is the most fiscally responsible way to provide our students with a high-quality learning environment. I'm glad that our students will benefit from the program."

“Once again through the cooperation of the Mayor, City Council, School Committee and Massachusetts School Building Authority we have been successful in providing for capital improvement to several of our schools that require structural repairs in order to maintain safe and healthy environments for our students and staff,” said Superintendent Richard Rege. “This is confirmation of what is possible when City Departments work together in pursuit of a common and mutually beneficial goal.”

With the roof repairs at both elementary schools, it marks the eleventh MSBA reimbursement project for Chicopee, all of which either began or ended under Mayor Kos over the last 15 years.

Construction on these projects is expected to begin this summer.