Four New Bedford schools complete $14.1 million upgrades

City and school officials joined students at Hayden McFadden Elementary School to announce the completion of new school window and door replacement projects at four large elementary schools. The Accelerated Repair Plan (ARP) was completed at Hayden McFadden, Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School, Casimir Pulaski Elementary School and Sgt. William H. Carney Academy over the past school year and included replacement of opaque windows, doors, and upgraded boiler systems at the schools.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursed $11.2 million of the $14.1 million project, with the remaining $2.9 million funded by the City through bonds.

The approximately 1,000 windows replaced at the schools were four decades old and had become clouded and opaque over the years due to the material used to produce them. The replacement process began in 2016 and included approval of loan orders for the City’s $2.9 million share by the City Council.

“New Bedford students deserve to have a well-kept, bright school environment, and the transformation of these four schools over the past year has been remarkable,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “The accelerated repairs to the schools are part of a larger focus on reinvesting in City buildings to ensure they are maintained to provide the best possible environments for our residents – and to avoid the major costs incurred when they are not kept up adequately. The support of the City Council and the Massachusetts School Building Authority, each committed to this major project, ensured its success.”

“These improvements make an incredible difference in our learning environments. The bright natural light adds undeniably to a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere for our students and staff. In addition to the energy savings, the ability to ventilate rooms in season with fresh air is a wonderful enhancement for our classrooms,” said Superintendent Pia Durkin.