Schools
Worcester School Lands $2.7M Grant For Major Upgrades
The school will undergo a decarbonization project through a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Green School Works Program.
WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester public school has received a major grant to upgrade its building.
City View Discovery School will undergo a phased decarbonization project through a $2,730,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Green School Works Program, the city and school district announced Wednesday.
The state program aims to modernize K–12 public school buildings, make them more energy-efficient, lower school district costs, reduce pollution, and create safer, healthier learning environments for students and educators, according to the announcement.
The Prospect Street school serves Pre-K through sixth grade students. The project which will replace the school's original 1991 heating equipment with a modern, high-efficiency electric air-water heat pump system and building upgrades that improve insulation and airflow. However, the school's existing gas boilers will remain in place as a backup for extreme winter conditions.
Construction and upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of 2027, according to the announcement.
“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 City Manager Eric D. 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."
At City View, the upgrades are expected to significantly improve indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and system reliability for those who use the building after hours, the school district said.
This comes as roughly 10.3 percent of students at City View require asthma-related supports, compared to a statewide average of 8.9 percent.
Batista said the city will use what it learns to explore similar upgrades at schools across the city.
The project is also meant to strengthen the school's resilience by reducing its need for a single fossil fuel system.
“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 Brian E. Allen, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools. “This project helps meet our district’s strategic plan priority of modernized and safe facilities to benefit our students and staff.”
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