October 31, 2025 by Hingham Public Schools
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has voted to accept three Hingham Public Schools (HPS) building projects into the Accelerated Repair Program, which provides funding for the repair or replacement of roofs and heat pump conversions in schools that are otherwise structurally, functionally and educationally sound.
The MSBA invited a total of 93 schools from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts into the Accelerated Repair Program, including the following Hingham projects:.
● Hingham High School roof and heat pump conversion replacement project
● Plymouth River Elementary School roof replacement project
● South Elementary School roof replacement project
A 2021 HPS facilities assessment by Habeeb & Associates Architects determined that the roofs at these three schools have reached the end of their useful life. Since then, ongoing leaks and weather-related damage have continued to worsen and can no longer be addressed through regular maintenance and repairs.
The successful vote by the MSBA means that HPS can proceed with pursuing schematic designs, which were previously approved at Town Meeting in April of 2025, for each of the projects listed above. The MSBA typically funds 30-40% of such projects, with the remaining construction costs subject to approval at a future Town Meeting.
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg shared, “The Accelerated Repair Program allows us to partner with school districts on much-needed repairs that can greatly extend a school’s lifespan.” Goldberg continued, “Besides making the learning environment more comfortable for our schoolchildren, these repairs also make our schools more energy efficient and generate substantial cost savings.” Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has approved 1,138 projects and has made over $18.3 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects across the Commonwealth.