The state approved the plan to build a new school.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts School Building Authority agreed Wednesday to move to the design phase for a brand new Taconic High School.

 

The Board of Directors voted in favor of the moving the project to the schematic design phase when architects will design the final product. 

 

"Listening to the needs of a community and developing projects accordingly are priorities at the MSBA, and the Taconic High School project is a case study in that sentiment," said Treasurer Steven Grossman said in a statement.

 

"Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a safe and modern educational facility that will provide students with a top-notch learning environment."

 

The project is expected to cost in the $115,700,000 range, with the final numbers being fleshed out in the coming months. 

 

"Production and approval of a schematic design will help us to determine the final budget for the potential project," MSBA Executive Director Jack McCarthy said.

 

Locally, the city would borrow that amount and receive about 80 percent reimbursements for a majority of the items. In total, the city is expect to pay about $40 million with the state covering the rest.

 

"We then begin discussions with the City Council. I am guardedly optimistic for their support, too," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said. "I think a new career, vocational high school fits in with everything else we are trying to do. We've got the Berkshire Innovation Center, which is going to help small businesses grow ... 

 

"But, it is really going to help direct the way our applied materials companies and our life sciences companies grow in the future."

 

The mayor calls the project part of the "master plan" for business development — with the school feeding to Berkshire Community College and then to the local businesses. 

 

A new 247,770 square-foot school built to accommodate 920 students was chosen as the preferred option by the School Building Needs Commission. The commission opted for new construction over renovating the current building or a mixture of renovation and new construction.

 

The current building will be occupied throughout the two-year construction. The new building will be located across the driveway to the north, where ball fields are currently located.

 

After construction, the students will move into the new building and the current structure will be torn down.

 

Architects Drumney Rosane & Anderson Architects Inc. and consultants Skanska USA has led the city through the feasibility study to get to this point.